AARoads Forum

I'm planning to host a mini-meet next month to walk over the Atlantic Beach Bridge (NY 878), Nassau County's one and only toll bridge and one of the few in the area that doesn't accept E-ZPass.  The meet will be entirely outdoors, making it super-low risk from a COVID-19 perspective.  It will entail three miles of walking, round-trip, taking us across the bridge and through the tollbooth and the Seagirt Boulevard interchange.  Afterwards, we might head up to New Hyde Park and Mineola to see some of the grade crossing eliminations that have been completed as part of the LIRR Third Track project.

Well this would be a way for me to hopefully cover the Wittpenn Bridge if it is open then.

I'm out-I have a family trip scheduled.

I'm out - this is New York, not Florida.

Maybe.  I've been contemplating a drive south and east to be taken sometime while I'm on my three week vacation in October so I might consider incorporating this into said drive.

Something to consider: There was talk about a meet in Cumberland MD taking place sometime in October.  Not sure what the status is at this time.

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 05, 2021, 07:54:23 PM
Well this would be a way for me to hopefully cover the Wittpenn Bridge if it is open then.

ha
but seriously I just looked today and found no info at all.

Quote from: Alps on September 05, 2021, 11:24:50 PM

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 05, 2021, 07:54:23 PM
Well this would be a way for me to hopefully cover the Wittpenn Bridge if it is open then.

ha
but seriously I just looked today and found no info at all.

Same here (though it would be yesterday when I posted this).

Interesting.  I've been looking to finish up Region 10, so maybe I'll book a hotel for a couple nights and include this.  Might be a good alternate to the Cumberland meet too, which for having not heard anything on it since a month and a half ago, I'm starting to think might not be happening (understandable with Delta).

I've already used up all my road trip time for the year.

I'm postponing the Cumberland/Western MD meet to 2022 so you can go ahead and have it on October 9 (which is currently winning).

Especially since it will be entirely outside with a walking tour, I am interested in attending this mini-meet and my first choice date is October 9. I just have a lot going on personally and don't have the mental bandwidth to host a meet myself right now.

If this meet is October 9th, that could potentially mean two New York trips for me within the same week.  I am planning to meet my parents and some friends of theirs in Cooperstown earlier that week.  (I plan to clinch PA 191 on that trip.  Hopefully, I will not have the same problems that Duke87 had on the northern section of this road.)

Am keeping an eye on this one. There will be a significant amount of weekend work on my job site this fall, so my availability is uncertain - voted for 10/9 b/c I want to see the best turnout possible.

Quote from: Laura on September 08, 2021, 08:57:51 AM
I'm postponing the Cumberland/Western MD meet to 2022 so you can go ahead and have it on October 9 (which is currently winning).

Awesome!  I totally want to go to that, and with the current coronavirus situation, I don't plan on staying in any hotels at the moment.

Facebook event is up at https://www.facebook.com/events/3096769023933773/.

Quote from: dgolub on September 12, 2021, 01:47:54 PM
Facebook event is up at https://www.facebook.com/events/3096769023933773/.

I got the FB invite, and as much as I'd love to make this trip to finally visit Suffolk and Nassau to clinch New York's counties, I am unable to drive such a long distance at this time (or for the foreseeable future).

Are there any details about lunch (are we meeting at a place with picnic tables or something....assume BYO)? Are people planning on a post-meet dinner/event?

I'll try to come but it'll probably be a game time decision.

Quote from: mtantillo on September 12, 2021, 03:34:52 PM
Are there any details about lunch (are we meeting at a place with picnic tables or something....assume BYO)? Are people planning on a post-meet dinner/event?

I'll try to come but it'll probably be a game time decision.

Looking at the area, it looks like we might just be doing street parking?  I don't see anything around the area, so it looks like "eat before you get there" is the name of the game.

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 08, 2021, 03:04:05 PM
If this meet is October 9th, that could potentially mean two New York trips for me within the same week.  I am planning to meet my parents and some friends of theirs in Cooperstown earlier that week.  (I plan to clinch PA 191 on that trip.  Hopefully, I will not have the same problems that Duke87 had on the northern section of this road.)

I drove it between NY 17 and I-80 on my way home from Quad Cities. The road itself is fine and a typical 2 lane rural PA road (both in terms of geometry and pavement quality). Not sure what experience Anthony had on that section, but I had a very close call with a deer in broad daylight near the intersection with PA 371. Expect this section to take 2 hours.

Quote from: signalman on September 13, 2021, 06:18:56 AM

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 08, 2021, 03:04:05 PM
If this meet is October 9th, that could potentially mean two New York trips for me within the same week.  I am planning to meet my parents and some friends of theirs in Cooperstown earlier that week.  (I plan to clinch PA 191 on that trip.  Hopefully, I will not have the same problems that Duke87 had on the northern section of this road.)

I drove it between NY 17 and I-80 on my way home from Quad Cities. The road itself is fine and a typical 2 lane rural PA road (both in terms of geometry and pavement quality). Not sure what experience Anthony had on that section, but I had a very close call with a deer in broad daylight near the intersection with PA 371. Expect this section to take 2 hours.

It was mentioned on one of the roadwaywiz webinars.  I cannot remember which specific one it was offhand,  but I think it was a pothole.

My thoughts on the deer situation are that I should stop driving if I am ruminating about hitting a deer.  I have seen just as many while driving during the day as driving overnight.  (To the point that I saw one crossing the Thruway once just south of Harriman during mid-afternoon)

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 13, 2021, 09:55:27 PM

Quote from: signalman on September 13, 2021, 06:18:56 AM

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 08, 2021, 03:04:05 PM
If this meet is October 9th, that could potentially mean two New York trips for me within the same week.  I am planning to meet my parents and some friends of theirs in Cooperstown earlier that week.  (I plan to clinch PA 191 on that trip.  Hopefully, I will not have the same problems that Duke87 had on the northern section of this road.)

I drove it between NY 17 and I-80 on my way home from Quad Cities. The road itself is fine and a typical 2 lane rural PA road (both in terms of geometry and pavement quality). Not sure what experience Anthony had on that section, but I had a very close call with a deer in broad daylight near the intersection with PA 371. Expect this section to take 2 hours.

It was mentioned on one of the roadwaywiz webinars.  I cannot remember which specific one it was offhand,  but I think it was a pothole.

It was a physical flaw in the road of some sort, most likely a large pothole. It was after dark and I didn't actually see it, but I felt it. Blew out the tire, dented the rim, bent the strut and even after all this was fixed the camber on that wheel remained out of spec for the rest of that car's life.

As this was now seven years ago I would assume whatever it was has long since been fixed (though with PennDOT you never know!)

Quote from: vdeane on September 12, 2021, 09:45:41 PM

Quote from: mtantillo on September 12, 2021, 03:34:52 PM
Are there any details about lunch (are we meeting at a place with picnic tables or something....assume BYO)? Are people planning on a post-meet dinner/event?

I'll try to come but it'll probably be a game time decision.

Looking at the area, it looks like we might just be doing street parking?  I don't see anything around the area, so it looks like "eat before you get there" is the name of the game.

Yes and yes.  Street parking on Doughty Boulevard (Nassau CR 75), and eat before or after.

Quote from: Duke87 on September 17, 2021, 08:08:53 PM

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 13, 2021, 09:55:27 PM

Quote from: signalman on September 13, 2021, 06:18:56 AM

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 08, 2021, 03:04:05 PM
If this meet is October 9th, that could potentially mean two New York trips for me within the same week.  I am planning to meet my parents and some friends of theirs in Cooperstown earlier that week.  (I plan to clinch PA 191 on that trip.  Hopefully, I will not have the same problems that Duke87 had on the northern section of this road.)

I drove it between NY 17 and I-80 on my way home from Quad Cities. The road itself is fine and a typical 2 lane rural PA road (both in terms of geometry and pavement quality). Not sure what experience Anthony had on that section, but I had a very close call with a deer in broad daylight near the intersection with PA 371. Expect this section to take 2 hours.

It was mentioned on one of the roadwaywiz webinars.  I cannot remember which specific one it was offhand,  but I think it was a pothole.

It was a physical flaw in the road of some sort, most likely a large pothole. It was after dark and I didn't actually see it, but I felt it. Blew out the tire, dented the rim, bent the strut and even after all this was fixed the camber on that wheel remained out of spec for the rest of that car's life.

As this was now seven years ago I would assume whatever it was has long since been fixed (though with PennDOT you never know!)

The pavement was of typical crumbling PennDOT quality when I drove it in June. Not great, but not horrible and no actual potholes were observed or felt. Really the only negative experience on the northern section was the fore mentioned deer that darted out of the woods in front of me. Shook me up some, but it was a good test for the quality of my brakes and my reaction time.

While plotting out my route home for this trip, I noticed that there's a section of NJ 7/Kingsland Street (which I had planned to clinch) closed until May 2022 for a bridge replacement project.  Is this like other similar projects where the bridge was closed to vehicles but pedestrian access has been maintained?  I'm wondering if I could at least clinch it as a pedestrian (although those lots don't like people parking in them, but the NJ Transit lot appears to allow parking on weekends at least) or if I have to try to figure out a way to sight clinch it (should be possible on the Washington Avenue side with the Stop & Shop parking lot, but the Passaic Avenue side has a hill that would appear to make this impossible).

All right, I put together a guide for the meet itself: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2nigeiu6shp8fk7/2021%20Atlantic%20Beach%20Mini-Meet%20Guide.pdf?dl=0

Let me know what your thoughts are as to lunch.  Perhaps a picnic at Jones Beach or Eisenhower Park after the meet?  Also, let me know if there's interest in seeing LIRR Third Track stuff.  If so, I can add some of that as an optional post-meet activity.

Quote from: vdeane on September 19, 2021, 04:36:20 PM
While plotting out my route home for this trip, I noticed that there's a section of NJ 7/Kingsland Street (which I had planned to clinch) closed until May 2022 for a bridge replacement project.  Is this like other similar projects where the bridge was closed to vehicles but pedestrian access has been maintained?  I'm wondering if I could at least clinch it as a pedestrian (although those lots don't like people parking in them, but the NJ Transit lot appears to allow parking on weekends at least) or if I have to try to figure out a way to sight clinch it (should be possible on the Washington Avenue side with the Stop & Shop parking lot, but the Passaic Avenue side has a hill that would appear to make this impossible).

I have to think you could walk it, even if unofficially. No one's there on a Saturday morning.

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 05, 2021, 07:54:23 PM
Well this would be a way for me to hopefully cover the Wittpenn Bridge if it is open then.

It's scheduled to open October 1, so it looks like this will work out.
https://www.nj.com/news/2021/09/the-taller-wider-new-wittpenn-bridge-is-opening-soon-officials-say.html

Quote from: vdeane on September 21, 2021, 12:48:39 PM

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 05, 2021, 07:54:23 PM
Well this would be a way for me to hopefully cover the Wittpenn Bridge if it is open then.

It's scheduled to open October 1, so it looks like this will work out.
https://www.nj.com/news/2021/09/the-taller-wider-new-wittpenn-bridge-is-opening-soon-officials-say.html

Yes, I saw that on Travel Mapping, and I am fine with walk-clinching NJ 7 if I have to.  Walk clinching has happened a bit for me over the years (south end of MD 25 and MD 45 Bypass (Towson) are examples), and they help me get steps on those days that I otherwise would not have gotten.

Directions are updated with lunch and the Third Track tour: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2nigeiu6shp8fk7/2021%20Atlantic%20Beach%20Mini-Meet%20Guide.pdf?dl=0

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 22, 2021, 03:08:17 PM

Quote from: vdeane on September 21, 2021, 12:48:39 PM

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 05, 2021, 07:54:23 PM
Well this would be a way for me to hopefully cover the Wittpenn Bridge if it is open then.

It's scheduled to open October 1, so it looks like this will work out.
https://www.nj.com/news/2021/09/the-taller-wider-new-wittpenn-bridge-is-opening-soon-officials-say.html

Yes, I saw that on Travel Mapping, and I am fine with walk-clinching NJ 7 if I have to.  Walk clinching has happened a bit for me over the years (south end of MD 25 and MD 45 Bypass (Towson) are examples), and they help me get steps on those days that I otherwise would not have gotten.

I was there yesterday, and it's not walkable.  The bridge has been completely removed, and you can't cross the river at that point, where by car or on foot.

I honestly doubt that this will be an issue considering that it is technically a holiday weekend anyway.

Quote from: dgolub on October 03, 2021, 07:57:58 AM

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 22, 2021, 03:08:17 PM

Quote from: vdeane on September 21, 2021, 12:48:39 PM

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 05, 2021, 07:54:23 PM
Well this would be a way for me to hopefully cover the Wittpenn Bridge if it is open then.

It's scheduled to open October 1, so it looks like this will work out.
https://www.nj.com/news/2021/09/the-taller-wider-new-wittpenn-bridge-is-opening-soon-officials-say.html

Yes, I saw that on Travel Mapping, and I am fine with walk-clinching NJ 7 if I have to.  Walk clinching has happened a bit for me over the years (south end of MD 25 and MD 45 Bypass (Towson) are examples), and they help me get steps on those days that I otherwise would not have gotten.

I was there yesterday, and it's not walkable.  The bridge has been completely removed, and you can't cross the river at that point, where by car or on foot.

Darn.  I'll have to find some way of sight clinching the area.  The east side is easy enough to just loop around the parking lot for the Stop & Shop plaza, but the west side is more challenging.  Driving down the open part and turning around would seem obvious, but there really isn't a good place to do so (the industrial area is even posted "do not enter/no U turn").  The best bet would seem to be parking in the neighborhood to the south and walking around, but I'm not sure how odd that would look to the residents (although there seems to be a historic building, so maybe not too much?).

(assuming you're talking about the Kingsland Street/NJ 7 bridge even though it's not mentioned in the quote strings)

Well it looks like I will be doing a Laura in Cleveland and driving a rental car to this one.  On my way back from Cooperstown last night (clinching PA 191 of course), I hit truck tire debris on I-78 (around Exit 19) that caused some cosmetic damage on the bottom of my car.  Thankfully that seems to be the only issue, but I am certainly not comfortable with driving it into NYC with this even minor issue.

Quote from: 74/171FAN on October 06, 2021, 10:55:48 AM
Well it looks like I will be doing a Laura in Cleveland and driving a rental car to this one.  On my way back from Cooperstown last night (clinching PA 191 of course), I hit truck tire debris on I-78 (around Exit 19) that caused some cosmetic damage on the bottom of my car.  Thankfully that seems to be the only issue, but I am certainly not comfortable with driving it into NYC with this even minor issue.

I hit a deer a couple of years ago that totally messed up the right front plastic panel of my vehicle, but did not impact it mechanically in any way. It didn't stop me from taking a rather lengthy trip to OH, WV, PA, VA, TN, and NC.

Quote from: hbelkins on October 06, 2021, 01:34:46 PM

Quote from: 74/171FAN on October 06, 2021, 10:55:48 AM
Well it looks like I will be doing a Laura in Cleveland and driving a rental car to this one.  On my way back from Cooperstown last night (clinching PA 191 of course), I hit truck tire debris on I-78 (around Exit 19) that caused some cosmetic damage on the bottom of my car.  Thankfully that seems to be the only issue, but I am certainly not comfortable with driving it into NYC with this even minor issue.

I hit a deer a couple of years ago that totally messed up the right front plastic panel of my vehicle, but did not impact it mechanically in any way. It didn't stop me from taking a rather lengthy trip to OH, WV, PA, VA, TN, and NC.

Yeah, it definitely seems fine mechanically.  I was already considering a rental just because of driving significant mileage on NYC streets instead of just freeways (and to save some mileage after my recent Arizona trip).