I-195, does it *REALLY* need to be extended???

[Alps]

And NJ 29/129.

Oy!  It's just safe to say that Princeton really screwed the state of NJ as far as infrastructure goes.  The Somerset Freeway would have been so helpful.

Actually, it may have even further consequences.  We all know how bad driving I-95 thru the Philly region is now.  Imagine if traffic used I-95 thru NJ as originally planned.  Could you imagine all that traffic that now uses the NJ Turnpike (and to a lesser extent, I-295) using 3 lanes of I-95 thru Philly?  Or 2 lanes of I-95 where it meets I-476, or 3 lanes of I-95 where US 322 multiplexes with 95 for a 1/2 mile or so? 

The bottleneck would be where the Somerset Freeway would merge into what today is I-287, along with the Turnpike Exit 10 interchange. I-287 would have needed to be widened considerably and a new high speed interchange with the Turnpike built. South of the proposed Somerset Freeway, you have I-295 as already noted. I-295 would have actually been somewhat busy from I-195 down to the Philly suburbs.

I-287 is quite congested now on that stretch, but I bet it wasn't 50 years ago. There has been so much development along the southern fringes of the NY metro area, from Bedminster/Bridgewater on east to Highland Park. Back in the 60s, it may have made sense to have 4 lanes each way and I-95/287 traffic together. Now, you'd need another 3 lanes each way for such a thing.

[Beltway]

I-287 is quite congested now on that stretch, but I bet it wasn't 50 years ago. There has been so much development along the southern fringes of the NY metro area, from Bedminster/Bridgewater on east to Highland Park. Back in the 60s, it may have made sense to have 4 lanes each way and I-95/287 traffic together. Now, you'd need another 3 lanes each way for such a thing.

The I-95 Somerset Freeway and the I-695 connector would have provided a much better and shorter connection to use I-287 to bypass New York City, than the current I-95 NJTP connection to I-287.  That would have reduced the need to use the northernmost NJTP to bypass NYC.

[Alps]

I-287 is quite congested now on that stretch, but I bet it wasn't 50 years ago. There has been so much development along the southern fringes of the NY metro area, from Bedminster/Bridgewater on east to Highland Park. Back in the 60s, it may have made sense to have 4 lanes each way and I-95/287 traffic together. Now, you'd need another 3 lanes each way for such a thing.

The I-95 Somerset Freeway and the I-695 connector would have provided a much better and shorter connection to use I-287 to bypass New York City, than the current I-95 NJTP connection to I-287.  That would have reduced the need to use the northernmost NJTP to bypass NYC.

That much is true, but then again, I-287 is now more congested than I-95 in that area thanks to development. 50 years ago, definitely not an issue. At this point, it doesn't make sense to construct a freeway like I-95 without serious upgrades = serious $$ to I-287.

[jeffandnicole]

Actually, it may have even further consequences.  We all know how bad driving I-95 thru the Philly region is now.  Imagine if traffic used I-95 thru NJ as originally planned.  Could you imagine all that traffic that now uses the NJ Turnpike (and to a lesser extent, I-295) using 3 lanes of I-95 thru Philly?  Or 2 lanes of I-95 where it meets I-476, or 3 lanes of I-95 where US 322 multiplexes with 95 for a 1/2 mile or so? 

I-295 and the NJTP was planned to be the bypass of Wilmington, SE PA, and Trenton.  I doubt that the I-95 Somerset Freeway segment would have affected traffic in Philadelphia, other than providing Philadelphia a direct route to and from the rest of I-95 to the north.

I think it would have affected it in a big way. 

Why would travelers want to take 295, when 95 is the most direct route.  Think of the traffic that stays on 95 rather than taking beltways around other cities (Baltimore; DC (the western side thru Tyson's Corner, Richmond, etc).

Additionally (using the assumption the toll situations would be the same today regardless), 95 South would be a free crossing over the Delaware, whereas 295 would require a $4 toll into Delaware.

Heading North in Delaware, the signs for 95 would most likely say 'New York', unlike the way they read today, which directs New York travelers to New Jersey instead.

Obviously, the whole corridor between the Wilmington, DE & Woodbridge, NJ would be drastically different if 95 was completed.  The NJ Turnpike below Exit 10 would be the exception, not the rule, if 95 was completed. 

Heck, maybe they would have even built an interchange with Rt. 42 to generate traffic on the NJ Turnpike! (HA)

[Alex]

Heading North in Delaware, the signs for 95 would most likely say 'New York', unlike the way they read today, which directs New York travelers to New Jersey instead.

FWIW there was at least one sign originally posted in Bucks County listing New York for I-95 northbound:



This sign was posted along US 1 southbound. The replacement amended New York to Princeton.

[Beltway]

I-295 and the NJTP was planned to be the bypass of Wilmington, SE PA, and Trenton.  I doubt that the I-95 Somerset Freeway segment would have affected traffic in Philadelphia, other than providing Philadelphia a direct route to and from the rest of I-95 to the north.

I think it would have affected it in a big way. 

Why would travelers want to take 295, when 95 is the most direct route.  Think of the traffic that stays on 95 rather than taking beltways around other cities (Baltimore; DC (the western side thru Tyson's Corner, Richmond, etc).

I-295 would not be a beltway, but a very long I-95 bypass of Wilmington, SE PA, and Trenton, close to the same length as that section of I-95.  I-295 would be vastly better than slogging through that segment of I-95, both in traffic and design.

[Henry]

I-295 and the NJTP was planned to be the bypass of Wilmington, SE PA, and Trenton.  I doubt that the I-95 Somerset Freeway segment would have affected traffic in Philadelphia, other than providing Philadelphia a direct route to and from the rest of I-95 to the north.

I think it would have affected it in a big way. 

Why would travelers want to take 295, when 95 is the most direct route.  Think of the traffic that stays on 95 rather than taking beltways around other cities (Baltimore; DC (the western side thru Tyson's Corner, Richmond, etc).

I-295 would not be a beltway, but a very long I-95 bypass of Wilmington, SE PA, and Trenton, close to the same length as that section of I-95.  I-295 would be vastly better than slogging through that segment of I-95, both in traffic and design.

And had the Somerset Freeway been built, those travelers would get a nonstop shunpiking option between the Delaware Memorial Bridge and I-287. But thanks to the NJTP and ongoing opposition, that will never be.

[route_82]

People shunpike anyways... it's Route 1.  You just have to deal with too many lights.  If they at least converted Route 1 to a 'Jersey Freeway' from I-295 to Route 18 that would at least help some.  They got the land to do it... and they should do it now while they still can.

There is no convenient way to get from Northern Trenton up to the NY Metro area.  Unless you go down to 195 & the TPK.  Or endure Route 1's lights.

Somerset Fwy definitely would have opened up more development through the Mercer & Somerset county areas... BUT, the development came anyways.  Now they have no infrastructure to improve upon.  They got what they wanted... clogged rural roads.

I don't go through there, so what do I care.  But it sure would be nice to use the Somerset freeway on those rare occasions I travel to Sayreville.

[PHLBOS]

But it sure would be nice to use the Somerset freeway on those rare occasions I travel to Sayreville.

Had it been built, I definitely would've used it for my various trips to New England to visit family (have done so for the last 22 years).  The only toll roads I would've encountered in that scenario would be just the Tappen Zee Bridge (I-87/287) and the Mass Pike (I-90).

[Roadsguy]

From right after 291 swoops straight down, build a freeway over to NJ 133 and upgrade (again) the interchange with the Turnpike.

Now to make my statement about ending the fictionality to avoid being banned.

[Alps]

From right after 291 swoops straight down, build a freeway over to NJ 133 and upgrade (again) the interchange with the Turnpike.

Now to make my statement about ending the fictionality to avoid being banned.

overly large smiley ban 

[roadman65]

I think the NJTA screwed itself when they fought the Somerset Freeway deal cause if it had been built they would have never had to widen the roadway from New Brunswick to the PA Turnpike Extension like they have to now.  Traffic would have shifted between both roads as ME to FL travelers would stay on the Turnpike and bypass the Philly mess and locals between NYC and Philadelphia would use the I-95 taking much of the extra volume off the NJT in Central Jersey and the future need for six laning the Turnpike from 1-4 would not be there either.

[route_82]

I think the NJTA screwed itself when they fought the Somerset Freeway deal cause if it had been built they would have never had to widen the roadway from New Brunswick to the PA Turnpike Extension like they have to now.  Traffic would have shifted between both roads as ME to FL travelers would stay on the Turnpike and bypass the Philly mess and locals between NYC and Philadelphia would use the I-95 taking much of the extra volume off the NJT in Central Jersey and the future need for six laning the Turnpike from 1-4 would not be there either.

I agree.  Putting all your eggs in one basket is never a good idea. 

[roadman65]

I think the NJTA screwed itself when they fought the Somerset Freeway deal cause if it had been built they would have never had to widen the roadway from New Brunswick to the PA Turnpike Extension like they have to now.  Traffic would have shifted between both roads as ME to FL travelers would stay on the Turnpike and bypass the Philly mess and locals between NYC and Philadelphia would use the I-95 taking much of the extra volume off the NJT in Central Jersey and the future need for six laning the Turnpike from 1-4 would not be there either.

I agree.  Putting all your eggs in one basket is never a good idea. 

What goes around comes around as it is always said.