NJ Turnpike Construction rolls on

[jeffandnicole]

The ramp from the Turnpike NB to the Newark Bay Extension EB is actually in the middle of the ramps from the inner and outer roadways.  From the inner roadway, you bear right to get to the Extension and from the outer roadway, you bear left.

All the Exit 14 ramps leave the mainline highway from the right side, there are no left exits there.

Using the outer drive, the ramp from the mainline is on the right side of the roadway.

When on the ramp, the ramp splits.  Take the left split and you'll meet up with the inner drive, headed to the Extension.  Take the right split and you'll go to the Interchange 14 toll plaza.

But...that's a left/right split on the ramp, not a left exit from the mainline highway.

[Steve D]

"Chief Engineer Raczynski stated that the Turnpike Widening is progressed and motorists
are already using eighteen (18) new bridges and ramps. In the Northbound direction, the
Authority opened a third lane between Interchanges 8A and 9, making this a full outer roadway.
Another ramp is being opened today from the Pennsylvania Extension through the inner roadway
on the Turnpike at Interchange 6. The public works facility for East Windsor has been completed.
In addition, Raczynski stated around Thanksgiving the new Interchange 8 Toll Plaza will be
opened..."

The opening of the new Interchange 8 is delayed. The steel work on the SPUI bridge over NJ 33 has not even started.  From what I hear they are splitting the opening of the new interchange into two phases.  The first phase will open around January for traffic exiting the Turnpike, through the new toll booth and SPUI.  Traffic entering the Turnpike will continue to use the old toll booths and ramps until sometime late next year.  The phased approach is due to the overlap of existing and new ramp configurations, however I have not been able to figure out how they can open the new ST (south-to-toll) ramp without crossing the existing ramp from the old toll booth to the Turnpike.

[vdeane]

Perhaps the split is different?  Having the traffic to/from the south use the new ramps and traffic to/from the north use the old ramps would fit perfectly.

[roadman65]

I see that the old neon REDUCE SPEED signs are finally a thing of the past.  The NJTA is now spending over 3 million to have new VMSes to replace these.  Although, the GSP is having the matrix yellow VMSes replaced under the same contract, so all 3 mill does not go to the Turnpike.

In addition to the pull through signs changes south of Exit 6, I see control cities have been changed at exits.  Philadelphia is now on a tacked on sign for the Exit 4 guide signs at the bottom while "Mount Laurel" covers the old Philadelphia above Camden.  Chester, PA is removed and now replaced with Glassboro on Exit 2 guides.  Also, only Philly and Woodbury are left on the 2 mile guide signs for Exit 3 with the ACE being a control city in place of Woodbury (SB) and Philadelphia (NB) on the 1 mile and at exit guides for NJ 168.

[Mr. Matté]

I couldn't really get a good picture of the signage at the new diverge, at least not from 535, just this:


But in this photo, you can see the actual diverge (photo from the 522 bridge, looking south)

Looks like 8A-->NB traffic is forced into a single lane for a mile and then into the truck lanes though I'm sure if the truck lanes are closed, they can still get to the other side through the existing ramps.

[Steve D]

The new "through" signs on the Turnpike are not being done consistently.  South of exit 6, most have been changed from the old "THRU TRAFFIC Next Exit X Miles (with arrows)" to (Turnpike shield) N/S, New York/Wilmington (no arrows).  However, a new sign at Exit 5 northbound is a hybrid - it has the Turnpike Shield/North along with "THRU TRAFFIC" and arrows. Same for the new signs between exits 6 and 8.

I also noticed that several new standards are being used for the exit 6/9 widening.  Overhead exit signs for the 1 and 2 mile approaches are now placed over both the inner and outer roadways, instead of one sign in the middle (butterfly version) as used north of exit 8a.  They do however use the butterfly for supplemental signs such as "Exit 7 for Fort Dix" etc...   Also noticed that most new overpasses do not have a column in the center median, therefore containing only four piers instead of the usual five.

At Hightstown-Cranbury Road, the mainline Turnpike overpass will be demolished and replaced as it was found to be the highest risk overpass on the Turnpike in a seismographic study (wow, they did a study on this?) due in part to the use of risers that support the Turnpike bridge and extend about 30 feet away from the Turnpike (which, by the way, also block the placement of the outer lanes directly next to the Turnpike).  It was built this way in the 1955 widening of the Turnpike from 2 to 3 lanes due to the very tight angle (about 80 degrees) over the road and a rail line below.  The original design for the current widening called for the outer lanes to be raised 11 feet higher than the inner lanes to go over the risers but based on the height difference and the earthquake issue the current approach was selected instead.  Work has already progressed - the local road was closed about a year ago (and still is), the risers were removed, and temporary supports placed to hold up the Turnpike until the outer lanes are finished and traffic diverted to them temporarily in 2013 while the inner lanes are rebuilt.  This is the only mainline overpass to be entirely replaced during the widening.   The unique configuration and risers can be clearly seen on Google Maps overhead view. 

[Alps]

The new "through" signs on the Turnpike are not being done consistently.  South of exit 6, most have been changed from the old "THRU TRAFFIC Next Exit X Miles (with arrows)" to (Turnpike shield) N/S, New York/Wilmington (no arrows).  However, a new sign at Exit 5 northbound is a hybrid - it has the Turnpike Shield/North along with "THRU TRAFFIC" and arrows. Same for the new signs between exits 6 and 8.

Yup, different projects. The ones you saw south of 6 are the future. The ones for 6-9 widening (including 5 NB, apparently) were the last of the old generation, designed before the policy shift.

[NJRoadfan]

Work has already progressed - the local road was closed about a year ago (and still is), the risers were removed, and temporary supports placed to hold up the Turnpike until the outer lanes are finished and traffic diverted to them temporarily in 2013 while the inner lanes are rebuilt.  This is the only mainline overpass to be entirely replaced during the widening.   The unique configuration and risers can be clearly seen on Google Maps overhead view. 

Do they plan on shutting down the rest of the old roadway to rebuild it after the new lanes open?

[Steve D]

Work has already progressed - the local road was closed about a year ago (and still is), the risers were removed, and temporary supports placed to hold up the Turnpike until the outer lanes are finished and traffic diverted to them temporarily in 2013 while the inner lanes are rebuilt.  This is the only mainline overpass to be entirely replaced during the widening.   The unique configuration and risers can be clearly seen on Google Maps overhead view. 

Do they plan on shutting down the rest of the old roadway to rebuild it after the new lanes open?

Yes, they plan on shutting the current (inner) lanes for re-pavement in 2014 for several months before opening both roadways.

[roadman65]

Are they going to add NJ 33 (as well as NJ 133) shields for the at exit overhead guides at Exit 8?  For years that particular assembly lacked a NJ 33 shied, and only the 1 mile and 2 mile had shields where the at exit only used Hightstown- Freehold. 

[jeffandnicole]

Work has already progressed - the local road was closed about a year ago (and still is), the risers were removed, and temporary supports placed to hold up the Turnpike until the outer lanes are finished and traffic diverted to them temporarily in 2013 while the inner lanes are rebuilt.  This is the only mainline overpass to be entirely replaced during the widening.   The unique configuration and risers can be clearly seen on Google Maps overhead view. 

Do they plan on shutting down the rest of the old roadway to rebuild it after the new lanes open?

Yes, they plan on shutting the current (inner) lanes for re-pavement in 2014 for several months before opening both roadways.

Are they shutting them down completely, or just overnight?  A complete shutdown would require the entire inner roadway network from north of Interchange 14 down to 6 to be closed off, since I would imagine there won't be a way to merge traffic down from 2 roadways to one....unless they are indeed going to build a temporary merge point for this reason.

[PHLBOS]

Are they going to add NJ 33 (as well as NJ 133) shields for the at exit overhead guides at Exit 8?  For years that particular assembly lacked a NJ 33 shied, and only the 1 mile and 2 mile had shields where the at exit only used Hightstown- Freehold. 

Along the northbound Turnpike, the new & uncovered approach BGS' for that exit bear both shields.  I'm assuming that the replacement assemblies, when erected, will feature similar BGS' w/both NJ 33/133 shields.

For some reason, the overhead Exit 8 BGS' that lacked the NJ 33 shields seemed to be smaller/lower-profile BGS' than the approach BGS'.  One has to wonder if either the designer or fabricator decided to trim costs and opt for these lower-profile boards at the exits.

Speaking of shields on NJ Turnpike BGS'; will there ever be CR 541 shields placed on the Exit 5 BGS' (Burlington-Mt. Holly)?  To my knowledge, this is the only County Route that interchanges w/the Turnpike.

[Steve D]

Work has already progressed - the local road was closed about a year ago (and still is), the risers were removed, and temporary supports placed to hold up the Turnpike until the outer lanes are finished and traffic diverted to them temporarily in 2013 while the inner lanes are rebuilt.  This is the only mainline overpass to be entirely replaced during the widening.   The unique configuration and risers can be clearly seen on Google Maps overhead view. 

Do they plan on shutting down the rest of the old roadway to rebuild it after the new lanes open?

Yes, they plan on shutting the current (inner) lanes for re-pavement in 2014 for several months before opening both roadways.

Are they shutting them down completely, or just overnight?  A complete shutdown would require the entire inner roadway network from north of Interchange 14 down to 6 to be closed off, since I would imagine there won't be a way to merge traffic down from 2 roadways to one....unless they are indeed going to build a temporary merge point for this reason.

They will be using the new temporary merge just north of 8a, which will be retrofitted to connect to the outer lanes instead of the inner lanes south of the merge.  This will allow all operations to proceed normally north of 8a.

[NJRoadfan]

Speaking of shields on NJ Turnpike BGS'; will there ever be CR 541 shields placed on the Exit 5 BGS' (Burlington-Mt. Holly)?  To my knowledge, this is the only County Route that interchanges w/the Turnpike.

It is certainly possible. Exit 1 signs CR-540 and NJ-140 now. Also Exit 12 leads to Middlesex CR-602, but I doubt a 6XX route would ever be signed on the turnpike. They still haven't gotten around to posting GSP shields at Exit 11 and they maintain that road!

[Steve D]

Speaking of shields on NJ Turnpike BGS'; will there ever be CR 541 shields placed on the Exit 5 BGS' (Burlington-Mt. Holly)?  To my knowledge, this is the only County Route that interchanges w/the Turnpike.

It is certainly possible. Exit 1 signs CR-540 and NJ-140 now. Also Exit 12 leads to Middlesex CR-602, but I doubt a 6XX route would ever be signed on the turnpike. They still haven't gotten around to posting GSP shields at Exit 11 and they maintain that road!

Yes the NJTP has some very unusual sign standards.  Many are published in a design document available on their web site.  However many are also not mentioned in that document. For example, there seems to be a standard of capitalizing all letters of GARDEN STATE PARKWAY (with the word parkway much larger) for some reason dating back to the 1970s.   Palisades Parkway also received this treatment when the Turnpike took over the I-95 portion past Exit 18E/W in the 1990s.  Yet Pennsylvania Turnpike was downgraded on the new signs to "Pa. Turnpike".

[Alps]

Speaking of shields on NJ Turnpike BGS'; will there ever be CR 541 shields placed on the Exit 5 BGS' (Burlington-Mt. Holly)?  To my knowledge, this is the only County Route that interchanges w/the Turnpike.

Policy is to sign 5xx routes, so they should be appearing whenever new signs are installed. They're not going to install new signs just for that though.

Speaking of shields on NJ Turnpike BGS'; will there ever be CR 541 shields placed on the Exit 5 BGS' (Burlington-Mt. Holly)?  To my knowledge, this is the only County Route that interchanges w/the Turnpike.

It is certainly possible. Exit 1 signs CR-540 and NJ-140 now. Also Exit 12 leads to Middlesex CR-602, but I doubt a 6XX route would ever be signed on the turnpike. They still haven't gotten around to posting GSP shields at Exit 11 and they maintain that road!

It is policy not to sign 6xx routes - even on the Parkway. Yes, they're signed currently, but that's the sporadic practice of the old NJ Highway Authority.

[roadman65]

The Garden State Parkway with larger capital PARKWAY chosen wording probably has to do with the fact that New Jersians like to call the GSP as The Parkway. So it makes sense to enlarge that descriptor so it can be seen at first for all locals.  Then when you get closer to the sign and start to see the smaller Garden State name, it helps the out of area motorists who are unfamiliar with the local jargon.

I guess someone later copied the idea when signing the Exit 73 sign recently because the designer thought it looked neat.   To me I think the name and shield for the PIP is redundant  on this particular assembly and it serves no purpose as locals refer to it as the Palisades Parkway and not like the GSP as The Parkway.

[Mr. Matté]

This will be the last week of operation for the current Exit 8 tollbooths as the new interchange will be opening in stages over the next couple of days:
http://www.njturnpikewidening.com/pdf/603%20Construction%20Activity%20Notice%20revisions_1-18-13.pdf

[NJRoadfan]

For those wondering about the northbound car-truck lane split, it has been completely relocated north of Exit 8A. The southbound merge wasn't modified yet when I drove through there on December 27th. Also traffic entering the Turnpike northbound from Exit 8A can still directly enter the outer roadway even though mainline traffic is limited to the car lanes there still.

[jeffandnicole]

This will be the last week of operation for the current Exit 8 tollbooths as the new interchange will be opening in stages over the next couple of days:
http://www.njturnpikewidening.com/pdf/603%20Construction%20Activity%20Notice%20revisions_1-18-13.pdf

It should be noted that the direct connection thru the toll plaza onto 133 won't be open as of yet...they just completed installing the steel I-beams over 33 a few weeks ago, so the bridge decking has a ways to go before the SPUI is truly completed.

[lepidopteran]

I drove the NJTP last night (1/27) from Exit 11 to 1.  At Exit 8, NB exiting, and all entering traffic was through the new toll plaza, but the SB exiting traffic was actually still using the old tollbooth.  I think this was because of Friday's cold and icy weather.  An portable VMS reading "NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN" said that the final switchover would take place 1/29 at 1 a.m.  So, roadgeek that I am, I got off the Turnpike to bid farewell to the old tollbooth, then went around to check out the Milford Rd. realignment, then got right back on.

After the tollbooth closes, I presume they will set about demolishing the overpass associated with the trumpet interchange on NJ-33/Franklin St. and digging up the ramps.  (By today's standards, a trumpet interchange at that location was arguably overkill for as much traffic as there was, but it seems like lots of toll roads built trumpets where a signalized intersection would have done just as well.)  Does anyone remember how, until about 2004, there was a looming, old-school dark grey water tower just beyond the motel next to the loop ramp?  Or when the Town House Motel's restaurant was called the "Coach and Four"?  Or, if you go way back, remember the other motel located between the cloverleaf and the turnpike overpass?  It was called the "TV Motel" (so named from a time when having a TV in each hotel room was noteworthy), and was demolished in 1974.  It's visible on HistoricAerials.com, and I think the motel's driveway still exists as a small bridge over the Timber Run creek, a tiny waterway which hugs the edge of the loop ramp, and also runs under the new exit ramp.

[swbrotha100]

Just out of curiousity, are there any current I-95 shields anywhere on the Turnpike south of exit 10? I know they don't have to offically sign anything yet, but just womdering. Maybe a lone "To I-95" sign or two somewhere.

[NE2]

Just out of curiousity, are there any current I-95 shields anywhere on the Turnpike south of exit 10? I know they don't have to offically sign anything yet, but just womdering. Maybe a lone "To I-95" sign or two somewhere.

Yes. They've been there for decades. As a kid I was amused by the fact that 295 and 'to 95' were right next to each other.

[roadman65]

What is very interesting is the fact that the plans of the new interchange call for no control cities on the NJ Turnpike itself.  From both NJ 33 and NJ 133 it is just your typical I-95 and NJT green shield and NJ Turnpike on the entrance signs and post toll booth it has the I-95 shields mentioned, but TURNPIKE NORTH & TURNPIKE SOUTH in a separate square beneath it.

I thought control cities would be the issue being that the typical THRU TRAFFIC NEXT EXIT X MILES is being phased out for pull through control points.

[jeffandnicole]

Just out of curiousity, are there any current I-95 shields anywhere on the Turnpike south of exit 10? I know they don't have to offically sign anything yet, but just womdering. Maybe a lone "To I-95" sign or two somewhere.

Officially, it's been 95 for many years from Interchange 10 thru Interchange 6.

The problem is this project and the PA Turnpike/I-95 project were supposed to be constructed simultaneously.  The PA Turnpike is running behind from its originally scheduled construction/completion dates, so the actual traffic flow may not match up with what was projected until that PA project is completed.  Included is the fact that the actual signs at Interchange 6 of the NJ Turnpike do say I-95, but they are covered up, leaving the off-centered I-276 as the routing on those signs, most likely until the PA project is complete.

My thinking is that this will affect Southbound Traffic more than Northbound.  Northbound traffic has been accustomed to using I-95 in Del to I-295 to the NJ Turnpike.  Depending on actual mileage and time, online maps and directions may STILL recommend this as the fastest route after the PA Tpk/95 project is complete.

Driving South though, motorists may see the I-95 signage at Interchange 6 and go that route (even if it's not the shortest or most direct).

One of the main factors that determines continuing driver behavior is the additional traffic that 95 may carry thru Philly & Chester, PA.  The highway there is already congested with many places operating without modern standards (full size shoulders, ramp lengths, etc), and really can't handle the additional traffic the signage from the NJ Turnpike may inflict onto this highway. This effect won't be fully seen for another decade or more from now.

Personally, this is the fault of the DVRPC (the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission) which services the greater Delaware Valley, including NJ and PA.  They should be monitoring that the traffic construction in one portion of the region won't harshly affect another portion of the region.  Instead, they seem to be more concerned about bicycle, pedestrian and mass transit projects, and fail to work all of the projects in the region into a comprehensive traffic program.  In a case like the NJ/PA Turnpike construction projects, they fail to even try to encourage the two projects to try to meet a relatively mutual end date, and then fail even further by ignoring areas that may be severely affected by the resulting traffic flow.  This supposedly is why these regional planning commissions exist in the first place.