Traffic Intersection Lights Being Removed Along Garden State Parkway

[elsmere241]

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/02/04/traffic-intersection-lights-being-removed-along-garden-state-parkway/

[paragraphs consolidated]

Traffic Intersection Lights Being Removed Along Garden State Parkway
February 4, 2013 2:25 PM

By Tim Jimenez

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) – Work is officially underway to remove the only three traffic lights on the Garden State Parkway.  The traffic lights are at exits 9, 10, and 11, in Cape May County, near the southern end of the 172-mile, limited-access highway.  "We've had a problem with congestion,"  says New Jersey Transportation commissioner Jim Simpson, "and also, in terms of safety, with three traffic lights that people really don't expect to have on a parkway."

But now, a $110-million project has begun, to get rid of those lights and build bridges to carry parkway traffic over local streets.  "(Drivers) will no longer have to stop on the Garden State Parkway at a traffic light and also be inconvenienced and lose time and also, from a safety standpoint, will make the roadway and the trip a lot safer,"  Simpson tells KYW Newsradio.  He says they'll make sure Garden State Parkway motorists won't be inconvenienced during construction, which is expected be completed within 2½ years.

[jeffandnicole]

In the end, outside of having 3 interchanges within about a 4 mile span, this will be a much needed improvement.  The project would've been completed a number of years sooner but Cape May County officials refused to allow new tolls to be part of the project, so the GSP (NJ Turnpike Authority) said it would have to wait for available funding.  They also didn't want to lose an interchange as originally proposed (local whining), even though 2 interchanges in this area would've been more than adequate.

The mainline will be reduced from 3 lanes (no paved shoulders) to 2 lanes (with normal sized shoulders), but will be identical in size (both in lanes and shoulders) to the rest of the GSP in the area North & South of the project.  I would expect the speed limit to be increased to 65 mph, as is currently the case both north & south of the project area.

The project will construct the overpasses for the Northbound lanes first. Northbound traffic will be shifted west to the Southbound lanes.  Southbound traffic will be shifted west to a temporary alignment at each of the intersections. 

[hurricanehink]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130205_Parkway_lights_at_Shore_to_go_out.html - it was also in the Philadelphia Inquirer today, and the article has a bit more history on the project (such as how it was supposed to start in 2011, but got delayed).

[NJRoadfan]

In the end, outside of having 3 interchanges within about a 4 mile span, this will be a much needed improvement.  The project would've been completed a number of years sooner but Cape May County officials refused to allow new tolls to be part of the project, so the GSP (NJ Turnpike Authority) said it would have to wait for available funding.  They also didn't want to lose an interchange as originally proposed (local whining), even though 2 interchanges in this area would've been more than adequate.

That portion of the highway was also originally built by NJDOT and is eligible to receive federal funding for improvements. They received some TEA-21 funding for that project if I recall. There was also a stipulation from NJDOT when they sold those sections for $1 to the NJHA back in 1987 that they couldn't toll those sections. That article is also inaccurate, the GSP was always supposed to go to Cape May County.

[jeffandnicole]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130205_Parkway_lights_at_Shore_to_go_out.html - it was also in the Philadelphia Inquirer today, and the article has a bit more history on the project (such as how it was supposed to start in 2011, but got delayed).

""When the Parkway was built, it was supposed to end in Atlantic County, and finally, after a lot of arm-twisting and lobbying, it was extended to Cape May County," Van Drew recalled. "But they ran out of money, so instead of making full interchanges, they left the traffic lights, always promising that someday they would correct this serious engineering flaw.""

I've never heard this version of the story.  A nice website I found trying to look up info: http://www.gsphistory.com/home.htm doesn't mention it either, and seems to strongly indicate that the Cape May portion of the GSP was always part of the project.

[hurricanehink]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130205_Parkway_lights_at_Shore_to_go_out.html - it was also in the Philadelphia Inquirer today, and the article has a bit more history on the project (such as how it was supposed to start in 2011, but got delayed).

""When the Parkway was built, it was supposed to end in Atlantic County, and finally, after a lot of arm-twisting and lobbying, it was extended to Cape May County," Van Drew recalled. "But they ran out of money, so instead of making full interchanges, they left the traffic lights, always promising that someday they would correct this serious engineering flaw.""

I've never heard this version of the story.  A nice website I found trying to look up info: http://www.gsphistory.com/home.htm doesn't mention it either, and seems to strongly indicate that the Cape May portion of the GSP was always part of the project.

Yea, that bit caught my eye in the newspaper when I read it. So you think Van Drew is just making it up? 

[Alps]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130205_Parkway_lights_at_Shore_to_go_out.html - it was also in the Philadelphia Inquirer today, and the article has a bit more history on the project (such as how it was supposed to start in 2011, but got delayed).

""When the Parkway was built, it was supposed to end in Atlantic County, and finally, after a lot of arm-twisting and lobbying, it was extended to Cape May County," Van Drew recalled. "But they ran out of money, so instead of making full interchanges, they left the traffic lights, always promising that someday they would correct this serious engineering flaw.""

I've never heard this version of the story.  A nice website I found trying to look up info: http://www.gsphistory.com/home.htm doesn't mention it either, and seems to strongly indicate that the Cape May portion of the GSP was always part of the project.

Yea, that bit caught my eye in the newspaper when I read it. So you think Van Drew is just making it up? 

Probably asked someone who gave him that story and he just went with it.

[roadman65]

I am just guessing, about this one, but there were certain sections of the Parkway that were built first.  My dad, and the history of the Parkway via Wikipedia and other sites, tell the story of how the GSP came about by originally being proposed as to be built as a free highway. Therefore the first sections were built with no bonds, such as the Woodbridge to Union segment and the US 9 overlap at Toms River and that is why they were NJDOT maintained up until 1986. Wikipedia does confirm that only 18 miles were constructed prior to the 1952 creation of the NJ Higwhay Authority and the math does add up.  Also, No additional ramp tolls can be added as part of the deal for the former NJ Highway Authority (who ran the GSP operations until the NJTA took it over) to acquire it so Union and Northern Middlessex could remain toll free which is why there are no ramp tolls from 129 to 140.

I think, but I am not 100 percent sure, that this section where the signals are might of also been originally state maintained such as 129 to 140 and 80 to 83 were.  I have not seen any information to support that theory nor not support it either, but it fits into why a few miles of a freeway that  extends for almost 173 miles has a very small expressway segment.  Maybe, in South Jersey original engineers did not see a big deal to have grade separations, but when they later got funding through bonds they decided to go the entire 100 yards and do it full freeway the rest of the way.

It is something to consider as well as it would make sense to the mystery of the signals for a short part of the highway.  I do not know the original signs on that section as I first traveled it in 87 after the current exit guides were erected, but if they matched the 80 to 83 (  only Exits 81 and 82  really as 80 and 83 always had regular signing that we know of for the GSP) and the 129 to 140 that both had lgses instead of bgses, it might tell whether that was state maintained before 87 or originally.   If it was just like the other two segments then it could very well be an original first roadway segment. 

Remember, this is only a theory and a conclusion based on events and I have no articles yet to support this.  Just a possible explanation to this mystery.

[hurricanehink]

I just drove down the parkway today. They're clearing large areas of trees on the east side, although minimal on the west side for now. The turnoffs for the small side roads (not signalized) are still there, but it looks like they have some traffic cones ready for when they're closed. Parkway northbound from mile 6 is one lane, but not sure if that's related to the project.

[jp the roadgeek]

Now if only CONNDot would follow suit with CT 9 in Middletown...

[Sykotyk]

Now if only CONNDot would follow suit with CT 9 in Middletown...

I drove that last year for the first time and had failed to remember there being lights. Really caught me by surprise.

[roadman65]

I am surprised that the NJTA does not copy TexDOT and have a local lane service road running parallel on both sides of the Parkway there.  This would allow all three intersections to be made into one interchange,  and all the side roads would have access to both directions of the Parkway.  It would not allow three full interchanges within 4 miles, and still keep Cape May County happy.

Having all these three interchanges so close will be like Connecticut on I-95 or in Gloucester County on the I-295/ US 130 concurrency having off and on conditions too frequently.  Having this will not change anything as the same three intersections will have the same three signals as well, but the through movement will be freeway.

[vdeane]

Which is the point: to make the through movement the freeway.  Growing up in Rochester, three interchanges in four miles strikes me as perfectly normal for anything that isn't rural.  It always amazes me how few interchanges suburban roads outside of the northeast have.

[Alps]

I am surprised that the NJTA does not copy TexDOT and have a local lane service road running parallel on both sides of the Parkway there.  This would allow all three intersections to be made into one interchange,  and all the side roads would have access to both directions of the Parkway.  It would not allow three full interchanges within 4 miles, and still keep Cape May County happy.

Having all these three interchanges so close will be like Connecticut on I-95 or in Gloucester County on the I-295/ US 130 concurrency having off and on conditions too frequently.  Having this will not change anything as the same three intersections will have the same three signals as well, but the through movement will be freeway.

More lanes means more right of way, which means acquiring all of the businesses on either side of the Parkway. That's a bad thing.

[jeffandnicole]

US 9 already runs parallel within a thousand feet or so to the GSP, and Bayberry Drive runs parallel next to the GSP between 3 of the 4 exits.  The original plans were to eliminate one of the interchanges, but Cape May County and/or the local Townships didn't want to lose their access to the Parkway.

The situation on 295 was vastly improved when they rebuilt the roadway several years ago. All the interchanges still exist, but accel/decel lanes were lengthened considerably.

[roadman65]

US 9 already runs parallel within a thousand feet or so to the GSP, and Bayberry Drive runs parallel next to the GSP between 3 of the 4 exits.  The original plans were to eliminate one of the interchanges, but Cape May County and/or the local Townships didn't want to lose their access to the Parkway.

The situation on 295 was vastly improved when they rebuilt the roadway several years ago. All the interchanges still exist, but accel/decel lanes were lengthened considerably.

Then if US 9 runs close eliminating an interchange or two is not that much hardship.  There are plenty of places around where interchanges have been sacrificed because of closeness and other easy access.  Cape May County needs not to complain then.

I-295 is not that bad, but still some interchanges can be sacrificed or even combined.  I do know that the RIRO near Mount Royal was eliminated when the road was reconfigured and so were the ones on the former Jersey Freeway near Woodbury and Red Bank so that it could be a full freeway.

[jeffandnicole]

US 9 already runs parallel within a thousand feet or so to the GSP, and Bayberry Drive runs parallel next to the GSP between 3 of the 4 exits.  The original plans were to eliminate one of the interchanges, but Cape May County and/or the local Townships didn't want to lose their access to the Parkway.

The situation on 295 was vastly improved when they rebuilt the roadway several years ago. All the interchanges still exist, but accel/decel lanes were lengthened considerably.

Then if US 9 runs close eliminating an interchange or two is not that much hardship.  There are plenty of places around where interchanges have been sacrificed because of closeness and other easy access.  Cape May County needs not to complain then.

I-295 is not that bad, but still some interchanges can be sacrificed or even combined.  I do know that the RIRO near Mount Royal was eliminated when the road was reconfigured and so were the ones on the former Jersey Freeway near Woodbury and Red Bank so that it could be a full freeway.

Exit 18, I believe you are referring to.  On the SB side, the interchange ramps were so closed they criss-crossed one another.  Not a CD lane...literally an X intersection on the ramps!

Closer to the Woodbury/West Deptford area, the roadway not only had RIRO ramps, it even had driveways directly into the businesses along the road. 

[roadman65]

This RIRO was not part of the original Jersey Freeway US 130 near Woodbury that had tons of driveways and RIRO situations.  There was a side street on the NB side that accessed a Motel just before the Mount Royal interchange.

It looks like it might of been Timberlane Road as it has a hook interchange with the exit ramp to Berkley Road.  From GSV or from the air as the street car did not capture Timberlane or the Exit 18 NB ramp, it looks like there could have been a motel at one time there as the 295 widening could have displaced it along with old motels going out with the era they were in or  being absorbed by Indians operating roach motels.  Or simply it was too old and the 295 improvements took precidence.

Anyway, it looks like they improved that freeway quite a bit over time.  The last time I drove it NJDOT allowed the 65 mph maximum, so if it still stayed in the 130 mode with tight turn ramps, it probably would still be 55 mph through there.

[jeffandnicole]

This RIRO was not part of the original Jersey Freeway US 130 near Woodbury that had tons of driveways and RIRO situations.  There was a side street on the NB side that accessed a Motel just before the Mount Royal interchange.

It looks like it might of been Timberlane Road as it has a hook interchange with the exit ramp to Berkley Road.  From GSV or from the air as the street car did not capture Timberlane or the Exit 18 NB ramp, it looks like there could have been a motel at one time there as the 295 widening could have displaced it along with old motels going out with the era they were in or  being absorbed by Indians operating roach motels.  Or simply it was too old and the 295 improvements took precidence.

Anyway, it looks like they improved that freeway quite a bit over time.  The last time I drove it NJDOT allowed the 65 mph maximum, so if it still stayed in the 130 mode with tight turn ramps, it probably would still be 55 mph through there.

This road has been 65 mph since 1998.  Exits 15 and 16A are 15 mph exit speed, hard right turn ramps. Exit 16B is the same, with a 20mph exit speed.  The more recent reconstruction projects lengthened the accel/decel lanes, but left the ramp radii as is.

True, the RIRO from the parking lots have been gone for a long time.  And the Timberline Lane Road was worked into a very long Exit ramp for Exit 18, so it's not directly connecting with the mainline highway.

[Henry]

It's a tricky situation, but we'll see how it goes. I think it's good that they're finally remedying the one (or three) flaws on that stretch of the Parkway. (Except at drawbridges, termini at surface roads and toll plazas, there should be no traffic lights on any limited-access highway.)

[ilvny]

I just drove down the parkway today. They're clearing large areas of trees on the east side, although minimal on the west side for now. The turnoffs for the small side roads (not signalized) are still there, but it looks like they have some traffic cones ready for when they're closed. Parkway northbound from mile 6 is one lane, but not sure if that's related to the project.

I noticed that this past weekend.  I can't wait to see the finished project.

[roadman65]

It is a shame I cannot get up there any time soon.  I would love to see this part of the Parkway before it becomes a memory.  Although badly needed, it is sort of sad to see this go.

[hurricanehink]

They're making some quick progress. There is plenty of dirt and traffic cones, and more trees have been cut down. If I had to guess, they're trying to do as much as they can before the tourism season starts and there are endless streams of cars. I'll try and get a picture the next time I go down that way.

[DeaconG]

About time they did something about that stretch of the GSP.  It always irritated me when I was younger and made trips down to the Wildwoods and had to encounter them..."Why did they do that?"

Short of NJ 55 being extended to the GSP (and probably not in my lifetime, if ever), this will do.

[hurricanehink]

I took these the last time I was driving down by the exits on the parkway. They're making progress in removing the trees and moving dirt around.