NJ Turnpike Construction rolls on

[jeffandnicole]

Took a quick roadgeeking ride at lunch between 7A & 8:

A few notes: 

The new long flyover ramp from the Exit 7A toll plaza northbound definitely has a feel of a roller coaster dipping down and back up again, albeit at 50 mph over several hundred feet, it's not quite Rolling Thunder at Great Adventure (and without the creaking of the wooden coaster structure).

At Exit 8, the toll lanes are surprisingly narrow considering a few of them are set up for EZ Pass only.  I'm sure it's to keep speeds down thru the toll plaza, and I believe the outer lanes are set up in a temporary configuration so they can easily be converted when the Turnpike eventually goes all-electronic.

Off Exit 8, at the SPUI intersection with 33/133, unlike the majority of the Eastern US which uses 'upward arrows' on gore signs to point traffic towards a ramp, the Turnpike is using downward arrows, more commonly found in Nevada, California and elsewhere out west. Personally, I always liked the look of these arrows better.

It's hard to tell how complete the 133 overpass is over 33.  And the traffic lights, at least currently, are arkwardly far away for a SPUI configuration, especially on 33.  They would look a bit better if they were underneath the overpass.

[Alps]

At Exit 8, the toll lanes are surprisingly narrow considering a few of them are set up for EZ Pass only.  I'm sure it's to keep speeds down thru the toll plaza, and I believe the outer lanes are set up in a temporary configuration so they can easily be converted when the Turnpike eventually goes all-electronic.

Yes, and yes. The islands I believe are bolt-down instead of cast so that they can just be picked up with minimal resurfacing below. They settled on a "medium-speed" (my own term, NOT theirs) E-ZPass that's better than the 15 mph at most booths - doable because there's no toll booth on the island, so they can make the lane that much wider.

Off Exit 8, at the SPUI intersection with 33/133, unlike the majority of the Eastern US which uses 'upward arrows' on gore signs to point traffic towards a ramp, the Turnpike is using downward arrows, more commonly found in Nevada, California and elsewhere out west. Personally, I always liked the look of these arrows better.

Not sure when those entered the MUTCD - if it was there by the 2003 edition, that would explain it, as the sign designs I think were done before the 2009 came out. (Do not quote me on that.) I would have to drive by to see how the arrows are oriented relative to Route 33 and the ramps.

[Don'tKnowYet]

It has been two months since someone posted to this topic.  Does anyone have any major observations to share?

[jeffandnicole]

Of the sections I go thru most often (Interchange 7 and south), Interchange 6 and slightly below that has a lot of work to do.  They've been working on a few of the ramps, although the work on the Turnpike South Inner Lanes to the PA Turnpike Extension ramp has been at a standstill for several months now.  Just below the interchange, a LOT of work needs to be done to raise the level of the land to construct the SB Outer lanes.  A local road that goes thru the interchange still needs a new bridge structure, and it appears very little work has been done to start that as well.

The merge/diverge area below Interchange 6 is complete, except for a few signs and sign structures.  I'm a little disappointed they have this area where the road curves and on a hill, rather than extending it about another mile south where the road is straight for over a mile with excellent site lines.

North of Interchange 7, there are areas where the new roadway is complete, and some areas where construction is ongoing.  Most of the new overpasses have been constructed or nearing completion.  The SPUI interchange off Interchange 8 should be close to completion.  One of these days, I'll have to take a ride up to around 8A to see the temporary merge/diverge point there.

[ChezeHed81]

Building on jeffandnicole's post, the southbound temporary merge is open.  Lane drops occur in the same fashion as before.


I've been taking a series of photos showing samples of what the Turnpike is displaying on the new VMSes.  This is the first time I've seen a VMS used like a guide sign.


Those in the truck lanes get (2) chances to exit at 8A -- one prior to the merge and one about 1¼ miles further at the ramp for the car lanes.  It's kind of trippy at first when one exit is listed as 2 miles for the car lanes and ¾ mile in the truck lanes, but when you realize that it's due to the temporary merge point, it makes sense.  It's my guess that the "¾" is a green-out on the 2 mile guide sign.


Signage related to the merge is simple and crisp.  As was mentioned upthread, the construction methods of many sign structures related to the temporary merge don't seem so "temporary".


The merge occurs about 1¼ miles prior to Exit 8A.

[roadman65]

For the signs that are in place at the temporary merge, the structures they're attached to look permanent.  Obviously, the gantries will be used for other guide signs or information I would assume.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Geez, they are already rusty

[roadman65]

Geez, they are already rusty

No, the NJTA uses these type of assemblies that look that part on both the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

[Alps]

Those in the truck lanes get (2) chances to exit at 8A -- one prior to the merge and one about 1¼ miles further at the ramp for the car lanes.  It's kind of trippy at first when one exit is listed as 2 miles for the car lanes and ¾ mile in the truck lanes, but when you realize that it's due to the temporary merge point, it makes sense.  It's my guess that the "¾" is a green-out on the 2 mile guide sign.

NJTA doesn't do greenout.

[jeffandnicole]

Actually, from what those signs and assemblies look to me, we are seeing the actual assemblies with the actual signage!  The 3/4 mile ahead message will simply revert to 2 miles ahead.  But otherwise, the only thing needed to be done is removing the Lanes Merge Ahead signs.

For the median sign, that assembly looked like it will become a blue Lodging sign for the upcoming Interchange 8A.

Those in the truck lanes get (2) chances to exit at 8A -- one prior to the merge and one about 1¼ miles further at the ramp for the car lanes.  It's kind of trippy at first when one exit is listed as 2 miles for the car lanes and ¾ mile in the truck lanes, but when you realize that it's due to the temporary merge point, it makes sense.  It's my guess that the "¾" is a green-out on the 2 mile guide sign.

NJTA doesn't do greenout.

The new Exit signs for Interchange 6 have greened out the 'South 95', which is why 'West 276' is well off-centered.

[roadman65]

Actually I was referring to the final photo.

Building on jeffandnicole's post, the southbound temporary merge is open.  Lane drops occur in the same fashion as before.


I've been taking a series of photos showing samples of what the Turnpike is displaying on the new VMSes.  This is the first time I've seen a VMS used like a guide sign.


Those in the truck lanes get (2) chances to exit at 8A -- one prior to the merge and one about 1¼ miles further at the ramp for the car lanes.  It's kind of trippy at first when one exit is listed as 2 miles for the car lanes and ¾ mile in the truck lanes, but when you realize that it's due to the temporary merge point, it makes sense.  It's my guess that the "¾" is a green-out on the 2 mile guide sign.


Signage related to the merge is simple and crisp.  As was mentioned upthread, the construction methods of many sign structures related to the temporary merge don't seem so "temporary".


The merge occurs about 1¼ miles prior to Exit 8A.

[lepidopteran]

NJTA doesn't do greenout.

I saw some greenout on the NJTP once, albeit some 39 years ago.  At Exit 8, the SB pull-through sign read:

THRU TRAFFIC
Next Exit 13 Miles

This is how it was signed until we moved out of NJ in early 1974.  But when we visited the old neighborhood that summer, Exit 7A had been completed.  The sign now read "Next Exit 7 Miles", with the 7 on a greenout rectangle.  (Not sure how long it lasted, though; the next time we would visit the area, in 1978, it seemed like the whole sign -- along with several others on the pike -- had been replaced with one in a darker shade of green.)

[PHLBOS]

I'm a bit surprised that nobody yet noticed/commented that the new Exit 8A BGS' now have route shields.  Previous variants only listed the control destinations.

[NJRoadfan]

I'm a bit surprised that nobody yet noticed/commented that the new Exit 8A BGS' now have route shields.  Previous variants only listed the control destinations.

Yet, they aren't MUTCD compliant.

[jeffandnicole]

I'm a bit surprised that nobody yet noticed/commented that the new Exit 8A BGS' now have route shields.  Previous variants only listed the control destinations.

Yet, they aren't MUTCD compliant.

Good.

[Steve D]

I'm a bit surprised that nobody yet noticed/commented that the new Exit 8A BGS' now have route shields.  Previous variants only listed the control destinations.

It only took them 48 years to put NJ 32 on the sign. 

[roadman65]

I'm a bit surprised that nobody yet noticed/commented that the new Exit 8A BGS' now have route shields.  Previous variants only listed the control destinations.

It only took them 48 years to put NJ 32 on the sign. 

Actually I was going to.  I was even going to point out that they went even further and included US 130 as well.  I wonder if NJ 81 will make it to Exit 13A signs or even NJ 495 for Exit 16E someday?

[NE2]

No CR 612? Fuck 'em.

[NJRoadfan]

No CR 612? Fuck 'em.

Its in the signing standards to not sign 600 series county routes. Whats interesting is that NJDOT finally decided to sign NJ-81 complete with big, clear, BEGIN and END assemblies. Prior to that, there was zero signing that the route even existed.

[Roadgeek Adam]

No CR 612? Fuck 'em.

Its in the signing standards to not sign 600 series county routes. Whats interesting is that NJDOT finally decided to sign NJ-81 complete with big, clear, BEGIN and END assemblies. Prior to that, there was zero signing that the route even existed.

Unless you used ex-NJ 164 (Dowd Avenue), where even new NJDOT signage says 81 runs on Dowd.

[lepidopteran]

It only took them 48 years to put NJ 32 on the sign.

(for NJTP Exit 8A)

There was a plan for a time to build a turnpike extension from Exit 8A to US-1.   I think this was to be the now-cancelled NJ-92.  Perhaps the sign was kept blank until the plan was finalized.

[NE2]

There was a plan for a time to build a turnpike extension from Exit 8A to US-1.   I think this was to be the now-cancelled NJ-92.  Perhaps the sign was kept blank until the plan was finalized.

There wasn't room for shields on the old signs...?

[Steve D]

I'm a bit surprised that nobody yet noticed/commented that the new Exit 8A BGS' now have route shields.  Previous variants only listed the control destinations.

It only took them 48 years to put NJ 32 on the sign. 

Actually I was going to.  I was even going to point out that they went even further and included US 130 as well.  I wonder if NJ 81 will make it to Exit 13A signs or even NJ 495 for Exit 16E someday?

By the way, exit 8A opened in 1965, not in 1968 as Wikipedia says. 

[NJRoadfan]

NJTA doesn't do greenout.

http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/i-95/7ag.jpg
The 195 West sign has greenout. They added Hamilton to the sign about 10 years ago.

[Alps]

NJTA doesn't do greenout.

http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/i-95/7ag.jpg
The 195 West sign has greenout. They added Hamilton to the sign about 10 years ago.

It's odd, because I've worked on more than one project where greenout would have been by far the easiest solution, and we were told not to. It might depend on the project engineer, it might depend on who's in charge of the entire Engineering Department at the given time.