Garden State Parkway

[SignBridge]

Thanks for pointing that out storm2k. I should have realized myself that it was Turnpike authority signing, not NJDOT. Getting slow in my old age.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FeoCWrhtpBSjncRt6
The Parkway, I have to admit, has the coolest entry signage.  Love the trapezoid and the fact over freeway entrance they use what people from NJ call the road instead. To people from New Jersey, the GSP will always be " The Parkway."

[bzakharin]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FeoCWrhtpBSjncRt6
The Parkway, I have to admit, has the coolest entry signage.  Love the trapezoid and the fact over freeway entrance they use what people from NJ call the road instead. To people from New Jersey, the GSP will always be " The Parkway."

Well, NJ never used "Freeway Entrance" signs, so the Parkway had to roll their own. The Turnpike had "Turnpike Entrance" signs too, though they were green on white squares. Very few of them are still around. Here's one near me that's likely to be removed soon, replaced by something more boring.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9303391,-74.9595563,3a,16.2y,133.42h,87.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svS2hPF72TBoH6_W1_mv4vA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu (the one in the other direction was replaced by an identical sign in 2016, but they've been getting removed elsewhere since 2018 or so)

[jeffandnicole]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FeoCWrhtpBSjncRt6
The Parkway, I have to admit, has the coolest entry signage.  Love the trapezoid and the fact over freeway entrance they use what people from NJ call the road instead. To people from New Jersey, the GSP will always be " The Parkway."

Well, NJ never used "Freeway Entrance" signs, so the Parkway had to roll their own. The Turnpike had "Turnpike Entrance" signs too, though they were green on white squares. Very few of them are still around. Here's one near me that's likely to be removed soon, replaced by something more boring.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9303391,-74.9595563,3a,16.2y,133.42h,87.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svS2hPF72TBoH6_W1_mv4vA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu (the one in the other direction was replaced by an identical sign in 2016, but they've been getting removed elsewhere since 2018 or so)

The even older style, https://maps.app.goo.gl/Nn6F4EPQy2xq7rbP9 , had a flip-panel that would cover 'Turnpike' with, I assume, 'Closed'.  I'm not sure if these were ever used.  Even at this particular location (entrance for Exit 6A from 130) it could've been flipped to Closed when the NJ-PA Turnpike was closed due to the bridge crack several years ago, but since the ramp leads to both NB & SB 95 at this point, the ramp itself was still open.

[roadman65]

That one in Florence is interesting. An actual flip panel. Like you said most likely will ever be used.

[storm2k]

I loved that when they originally redid Exit 12 in Carteret, they used green on white Turnpike Entrance signs, including this overhead one for the new ramp from Roosevelt Ave and this one at the corner of the Industrial Hwy and Drift Rd. All of these are gone now.

[roadman65]

I loved that when they originally redid Exit 12 in Carteret, they used green on white Turnpike Entrance signs, including this overhead one for the new ramp from Roosevelt Ave and this one at the corner of the Industrial Hwy and Drift Rd. All of these are gone now.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4vQacMg2gDnW2pu27
It changed for the latter.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VcatsieEsPUqBdFr8
Also for the former.

[roadman65]

Heard this past week an issue occurred on the SB Parkway at Tom's River where the asphalt buckled causing an emergency closure backing up traffic for miles into Monmouth County.

[roadman65]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=894107426198418&set=a.419200653689100&type=3
Classic photo of the Parkway in Irvington looking south.  I don't know ( or care about) the article I'm just showcasing the photo as it shows the amount of traffic then plus the original median fence that was used.

[Rothman]

Looks like headlight deflectors to me.

[roadman65]

Looks like headlight deflectors to me.

. They were. The fence wasn't safety inspired, but to make the Parkway a glare free ride hence the wide South Jersey medians.

Of course driving habits changed over time and now safety is the priority. Although the jersey walls are high enough still to deflect headlights, so they still are keeping their original mission of being glare free.

[SignBridge]

I've often wondered if that original wooden glare fence did stop cars from crossing over the median even if it wasn't specifically designed for that purpose, or was it ?

In the 1960's I believe the Parkway won national recognition for being the safest toll road in the nation, with the lowest fatality rate.  So I would guess the fence did prevent crossover accidents.

[02 Park Ave]

I am surprised that vehicles carrying propane tanks are permitted to drive through that long Clifton Ave./Springfield Ave. underpass in Irvington.

[SignBridge]

I am surprised that vehicles carrying propane tanks are permitted to drive through that long Clifton Ave./Springfield Ave. underpass in Irvington.

Commercial vehicles are prohibited on that section of the Parkway, or were you talking about private passenger cars that may be carrying a barbecue tank?

[02 Park Ave]

Yes, my concern relates to POVs.

[jeffandnicole]

I am surprised that vehicles carrying propane tanks are permitted to drive through that long Clifton Ave./Springfield Ave. underpass in Irvington.

Most tunnels that prohibit individual tanks of propane (the type used for grills with 20 lbs or less of gas) are underwater tunnels.

Other tunnels that prohibit propane prohibit commercial transport of propane - such as a tanker trailer or a truck carrying dozens of containers for resale.

Someone carrying a 20 lb tank in their trunk - or a tank on an RV - aren't at risk for a tank or two causing a safety issue in what's essentially a short cut-and-cover tunnel.

[roadman65]

Parkway was closed in Ocean County due to fire yesterday.

https://6abc.com/post/mandatory-evacuations-ocean-township-county-nj-due-wildfire-greenwood-forest-wildlife-management-area/16224202/

[The Ghostbuster]

The Jones Road Fire is posted on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8042163,-74.2925458,16636m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQyMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

[roadman65]

This sign is correct, but the second exit is a cloverleaf with the second ramp of it, being for Manchester.

The sign should read Manchester Exits 81- 82A.  To use the second exit would have you traveling away from Manchester. 

When the 80-82 construction is completed the sign, of course, should be moved back to the new 80 NB ramp as CR 530 goes there when completed. 81-82 will merge into one exit.

[jeffandnicole]

This sign is correct, but the second exit is a cloverleaf with the second ramp of it, being for Manchester.

The sign should read Manchester Exits 81- 82A.  To use the second exit would have you traveling away from Manchester.

Or "Next 2 Interchanges", which doesn't necessarily mean 2 exits in a row.

[boilerup25]

This sign is correct, but the second exit is a cloverleaf with the second ramp of it, being for Manchester.

The sign should read Manchester Exits 81- 82A.  To use the second exit would have you traveling away from Manchester.

Or "Next 2 Interchanges", which doesn't necessarily mean 2 exits in a row.

Or even better, list the exits that lead to Manchester, like the Parkway did on a previous sign indicating "Philadelphia via Exit 38B".

[roadman65]

Why did the Garden State Parkway remove Camden and Chatsworth from Exit 63 during the 30-80 widening?  I see Pemberton ( where Route 72 actually terminates) is the sole control city now for WB.  Even Manahawkin was removed EB for solo LBI.


To me Camden was fine as most traffic on NJ 72 eventually followed NJ 70 to Camden from the terminus of Rt 72.  Chatsworth was also fine as it was a wye split from Route 72 onto CR 532 continuing west.

Another issue not related to 30-80, but another NJTA sign change is Exit 98 SB removing Spring Lake,  Wall, Manassas, and Point Pleasant as control cities and just using the E-W points of I-195/ NJ 138 of Belmar and Trenton only.

Spring Lake, Manasquan, and Point Pleasant are popular beach destinations and should be at least kept on supplemental guides.  I'm aware the NJTA went MUTCD and scaled down to two control points per guide, but some like Wall, Spring Lake, and Manasquan were originally on supplemental guides before those changes.   Those could have been kept except maybe remove Wall as those were a three destinations sign.  Wall isn't that popular among motorists and far from tourist popular.

[SignBridge]

Re: the NJTA's conversion to MUTCD signing, I get the sense that the Turnpike Authority's position to the Feds was something like: "Okay, you want fully MUTCD compliant signs, you got 'em!" And they followed the Manual to the letter, nothing more, nothing less. And if it's not as effective overall compared to the original signing, then just blame the Feds. "They made us do it; any questions, talk to the FHWA." Something like that. 

[roadman65]

Re: the NJTA's conversion to MUTCD signing, I get the sense that the Turnpike Authority's position to the Feds was something like: "Okay, you want fully MUTCD compliant signs, you got 'em!" And they followed the Manual to the letter, nothing more, nothing less. And if it's not as effective overall compared to the original signing, then just blame the Feds. "They made us do it; any questions, talk to the FHWA." Something like that. 

You figure Mikkie is been fighting you know who, she could actually win for the old style signs pre MUTCD.  Considering an entire state can't be fined or thrown in prison for defying the MUTCD, you figure why not fight it.

I grew up with river crossings and three control destinations on signs and it was fine by many motorists.  Having Spring Lake, Manasqaun, Wall, and Point Pleasant were helpful especially being three of them are popular shore destinations. Now only Belmar and Trenton remain thanks to the MUTCD.

Not that I'm crying over it, but its a shame the Turnpike authority caved in though.