95/295 in Delaware

[bluecountry]

Are they ever going to get this intersection right?
I can't believe somebody thought extending by a few thousand feet the 2 lanes of 295 SB before it becomes 1 lane and merges onto 95 SB would cut it?
This is one of the most important intersections on the east coast, are they ever going to do it right and have it so:

NB as DE 1 merges 95 is 6 lanes before 4 lanes become 95/295 and 3 go to 295?
SB where 295 maintains 3 lanes after the Newport left exit, then has 1 of those lanes flyover for direct access to DE 1, with 2 lanes of 295 meeting 3 lanes of 95 (merging to 4 thru lanes) and 3 local lanes until the DE 1 exit?

[mrsman]

We've certainly discussed this before.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=372.msg2877959#msg2877959

I believe that there are also some messages that I may have posted in Fictional threads with some other ideas.  Yeah, I agree, a lot can be done to spread the merging more evenly among the different highways that feed into I-95 south in Delaware and not force such a big backup for the 295 traffic.

[mrsman]

My quick fixes (as I quickly think about this before bed):

2 lanes of 95 SB in Downtown Wilmington.  Left lane enters from MLK, but that left lane is now forced to exit onto 295 NB, leaving 2 lanes (not 3 lanes) of SB 95 approaching the merge with 495.

495 SB is left the same, except that the two lanes do not merge together at the 95 junction.  Instead 2 lanes of 495 join together with 2 lanes of 95 to provide for a combined 4 lane 95 at that point.  [Remember that since 95 is only 2 lanes at that point with the above changes, the far left lane of the combination does not need to end, but will continue.]

The flyover from 495 is added in to become the new 5th lane. (no changes).  The 5 lanes approach the 141 exit, with the 5th lane forcing an exit onto 141 north (no changes) and the 4th lane forced onto the C/D lanes (with the eventual option of rejoining 95), and the three left lanes become the main lanes of 95.  So this central section will have three lanes not four.

295 remains separated from 95 and comes in with only 2 lanes.  But we do not let it shrink any further.  The SB roadway at this point is 2-3-1, 2 from 295, 3 the 3 lanes from the combined 95/495, and the C/D lane.  The C/D lane, as it currently does, eventually merges into the main lanes and thus we have the 5 lanes of 95 approaching the swampland and then eventually the DE-1 interchange.

All of the above changes only need a repainting of the lane lines.

TL;DR:  Shrinking 95 from Wilmington from 3 lanes to 2 as it merges in with 495 and then pushing the right most lane of the combination (95/495) into the C/D lane will leave 3 lanes (not 4) in the central portion of 95.  This allows the 2 lanes of 295 to merge in smoothly into the left two lanes of 95 without forcing the two very busy lanes from 295 merging with each other. 

An eventual (but expensive) expansion on the above concept expands the road further so that the C/D lane does not need to merge into an existing lane, but that six southbound lanes are preserved all the way to the De-1 split.

[A somewhat similar concept is employed as SB 95 merges in with EB 495 in College Park, MD.  95 SB maintains two lanes, 495's 4 lanes are shrunk eventually into 2 lanes, with the help of the C/D lanes to US 1 to help with the traffic flow issues.]

[bluecountry]

We've certainly discussed this before.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=372.msg2877959#msg2877959

I believe that there are also some messages that I may have posted in Fictional threads with some other ideas.  Yeah, I agree, a lot can be done to spread the merging more evenly among the different highways that feed into I-95 south in Delaware and not force such a big backup for the 295 traffic.

I do not get why they wasted time and money extending 295 SB with another lane 1000 feet recently, that has done nothing to help.

My quick fixes (as I quickly think about this before bed):

2 lanes of 95 SB in Downtown Wilmington.  Left lane enters from MLK, but that left lane is now forced to exit onto 295 NB, leaving 2 lanes (not 3 lanes) of SB 95 approaching the merge with 495.

495 SB is left the same, except that the two lanes do not merge together at the 95 junction.  Instead 2 lanes of 495 join together with 2 lanes of 95 to provide for a combined 4 lane 95 at that point.  [Remember that since 95 is only 2 lanes at that point with the above changes, the far left lane of the combination does not need to end, but will continue.]

The flyover from 495 is added in to become the new 5th lane. (no changes).  The 5 lanes approach the 141 exit, with the 5th lane forcing an exit onto 141 north (no changes) and the 4th lane forced onto the C/D lanes (with the eventual option of rejoining 95), and the three left lanes become the main lanes of 95.  So this central section will have three lanes not four.

295 remains separated from 95 and comes in with only 2 lanes.  But we do not let it shrink any further.  The SB roadway at this point is 2-3-1, 2 from 295, 3 the 3 lanes from the combined 95/495, and the C/D lane.  The C/D lane, as it currently does, eventually merges into the main lanes and thus we have the 5 lanes of 95 approaching the swampland and then eventually the DE-1 interchange.

All of the above changes only need a repainting of the lane lines.

TL;DR:  Shrinking 95 from Wilmington from 3 lanes to 2 as it merges in with 495 and then pushing the right most lane of the combination (95/495) into the C/D lane will leave 3 lanes (not 4) in the central portion of 95.  This allows the 2 lanes of 295 to merge in smoothly into the left two lanes of 95 without forcing the two very busy lanes from 295 merging with each other. 

An eventual (but expensive) expansion on the above concept expands the road further so that the C/D lane does not need to merge into an existing lane, but that six southbound lanes are preserved all the way to the De-1 split.

[A somewhat similar concept is employed as SB 95 merges in with EB 495 in College Park, MD.  95 SB maintains two lanes, 495's 4 lanes are shrunk eventually into 2 lanes, with the help of the C/D lanes to US 1 to help with the traffic flow issues.]

The flyover from 495?  495 SB already merged with 2 lanes.

I think your solution as a cheap stop gap is ok (Why won't DelDOT do it now?).
However it does not solve the weaving issue, I think the C/D needs to extend to exit 4/DE1 with merging 295 SB traffic being able to exit directly to DE-1 either flying over 95SB or exiting from the left at DE1.
So at the merge it would be 2 295 lanes+2 95/495 lanes = 4 95 SB lanes and 2 C/D to DE 1...295 SB as it enters 95 would have to choose to merge onto 95 or flyover to the C/D.
Or 295 would be separated from 95 as 1+2 with the far left being a left exit for DE1, only when the far left lane exits would the 2 SB lanes merge with the 95 lanes.

[mrsman]

The flyover refers to the exit from 495 to 141.  It essentially merges in with 95 traffic on the right.  If you stay in the lane, you are forced to exit onto 141 north, but you can also merge one lane over to stay on the C/D lane to merge back into 95 southbound.  You could also merge over to the main lanes, but I see your point about weaving so we may not necessarily want to allow this movement, so perhaps extending the C/D lanes north would restrict the flyover traffic to the C/D lanes only.

You are correct that the weaving is a problem, but the primary problem is what is the shrinking of the 295 traffic into essentially 1 lane of southbound 95. It seems so easy to fix the primary problem, without the need for any overall lane widening of SB 95 (or any of the approach roads).

[jeffandnicole]

DelDOT has had a history of catering to DE residents going to/from work in Wilmington to the Newark/Hockessin/Bear/Middletown suburbs, and screwing with traffic patterns that would be otherwise sensible.  Working with the DRBA to improve 295, only to later on cut their 2 lane access to 95 down to 1 lane, is mindboggling.  But again, that's what DelDOT does.

My quick fixes (as I quickly think about this before bed):

2 lanes of 95 SB in Downtown Wilmington.  Left lane enters from MLK, but that left lane is now forced to exit onto 295 NB, leaving 2 lanes (not 3 lanes) of SB 95 approaching the merge with 495.

495 SB is left the same, except that the two lanes do not merge together at the 95 junction.  Instead 2 lanes of 495 join together with 2 lanes of 95 to provide for a combined 4 lane 95 at that point.  [Remember that since 95 is only 2 lanes at that point with the above changes, the far left lane of the combination does not need to end, but will continue.]

The flyover from 495 is added in to become the new 5th lane. (no changes).  The 5 lanes approach the 141 exit, with the 5th lane forcing an exit onto 141 north (no changes) and the 4th lane forced onto the C/D lanes (with the eventual option of rejoining 95), and the three left lanes become the main lanes of 95.  So this central section will have three lanes not four.

295 remains separated from 95 and comes in with only 2 lanes.  But we do not let it shrink any further.  The SB roadway at this point is 2-3-1, 2 from 295, 3 the 3 lanes from the combined 95/495, and the C/D lane.  The C/D lane, as it currently does, eventually merges into the main lanes and thus we have the 5 lanes of 95 approaching the swampland and then eventually the DE-1 interchange.

All of the above changes only need a repainting of the lane lines.

This is basically exactly the traffic pattern in the past.  So unless DelDOT admits they screwed up, they have no reason to change it back since it's helping Delaware residents during the weekday rush hours.

[bluecountry]

How is it helping DE residents when it causes congestion?

[vdeane]

How is it helping DE residents when it causes congestion?

Simple: the majority of the congestion is felt by out of state drivers.  The lane configuration favors the route taken by most of the DE drivers on I-95.

It's really amazing how big the disparity can be.  I've had trips across the state on I-95/I-295 where I could count the number of cars with DE plates I saw with my hands.  Or at least it felt like it.

[bluecountry]

How is it helping DE residents when it causes congestion?

Simple: the majority of the congestion is felt by out of state drivers.  The lane configuration favors the route taken by most of the DE drivers on I-95.

It's really amazing how big the disparity can be.  I've had trips across the state on I-95/I-295 where I could count the number of cars with DE plates I saw with my hands.  Or at least it felt like it.

So it's felt by only 295 merging traffic not 95/495 merging to 295?

[jeffandnicole]

How is it helping DE residents when it causes congestion?

Simple: the majority of the congestion is felt by out of state drivers.  The lane configuration favors the route taken by most of the DE drivers on I-95.

It's really amazing how big the disparity can be.  I've had trips across the state on I-95/I-295 where I could count the number of cars with DE plates I saw with my hands.  Or at least it felt like it.

So it's felt by only 295 merging traffic not 95/495 merging to 295?

Going Southbound:  Exactly.

[bluecountry]

I hope DE someday fixes this, it reminds of the tolls in Newark.  I remember before they got the fast lanes, it used to backup horribly into MD.

[MASTERNC]

What they really need to do is create a flyover from 295 SB to the right side of I-95 for traffic trying to access SR 1.  All of the weaving in the Churchmans Marsh area is one major issue.  DelDOT somewhat fixed that going NB by dividing traffic coming from SR 1.

[bluecountry]

What they really need to do is create a flyover from 295 SB to the right side of I-95 for traffic trying to access SR 1.  All of the weaving in the Churchmans Marsh area is one major issue.  DelDOT somewhat fixed that going NB by dividing traffic coming from SR 1.

That's exactly what I said before.

[Alex4897]

I hope DE someday fixes this, it reminds of the tolls in Newark.  I remember before they got the fast lanes, it used to backup horribly into MD.

The dumb thing is it still backs up, and that's only because most of the traffic on the interstate mindlessly tries squeezing into the two high speed lanes not thinking about the fact that the physical tollbooth still takes EZPass and is completely wide open, devoid of traffic.

[Rothman]

I hope DE someday fixes this, it reminds of the tolls in Newark.  I remember before they got the fast lanes, it used to backup horribly into MD.

The dumb thing is it still backs up, and that's only because most of the traffic on the interstate mindlessly tries squeezing into the two high speed lanes not thinking about the fact that the physical tollbooth still takes EZPass and is completely wide open, devoid of traffic.

Pfft.  You go through the tollbooth, then.

[jeffandnicole]

I hope DE someday fixes this, it reminds of the tolls in Newark.  I remember before they got the fast lanes, it used to backup horribly into MD.

The dumb thing is it still backs up, and that's only because most of the traffic on the interstate mindlessly tries squeezing into the two high speed lanes not thinking about the fact that the physical tollbooth still takes EZPass and is completely wide open, devoid of traffic.

There's no guarantee an EZ Pass Only lane is open at the toll plaza, causing motorists to possibly get stuck behind a cash payer.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LdgLthmAXqhsrqEn8

[Rothman]

I hope DE someday fixes this, it reminds of the tolls in Newark.  I remember before they got the fast lanes, it used to backup horribly into MD.

The dumb thing is it still backs up, and that's only because most of the traffic on the interstate mindlessly tries squeezing into the two high speed lanes not thinking about the fact that the physical tollbooth still takes EZPass and is completely wide open, devoid of traffic.

There's no guarantee an EZ Pass Only lane is open at the toll plaza, causing motorists to possibly get stuck behind a cash payer.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LdgLthmAXqhsrqEn8

I've yet to experience that situation in real life.

[jeffandnicole]

I hope DE someday fixes this, it reminds of the tolls in Newark.  I remember before they got the fast lanes, it used to backup horribly into MD.

The dumb thing is it still backs up, and that's only because most of the traffic on the interstate mindlessly tries squeezing into the two high speed lanes not thinking about the fact that the physical tollbooth still takes EZPass and is completely wide open, devoid of traffic.

There's no guarantee an EZ Pass Only lane is open at the toll plaza, causing motorists to possibly get stuck behind a cash payer.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LdgLthmAXqhsrqEn8

I've yet to experience that situation in real life.

Ive seen it both here and on the AC Expressway.

[1995hoo]

The bigger problem I've had at toll plazas is when traffic is heavy and a cash-payer blocks the E-ZPass Only lane either deliberately (trying to cut the line for the adjacent cash lane) or supposedly by mistake ("supposedly" because I tend to think you'd have to be unbelievably stupid to think people just don't realize that lane is available).

[Rothman]

I hope DE someday fixes this, it reminds of the tolls in Newark.  I remember before they got the fast lanes, it used to backup horribly into MD.

The dumb thing is it still backs up, and that's only because most of the traffic on the interstate mindlessly tries squeezing into the two high speed lanes not thinking about the fact that the physical tollbooth still takes EZPass and is completely wide open, devoid of traffic.

There's no guarantee an EZ Pass Only lane is open at the toll plaza, causing motorists to possibly get stuck behind a cash payer.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LdgLthmAXqhsrqEn8

I've yet to experience that situation in real life.

Ive seen it both here and on the AC Expressway.

Nobody goes to AC anymore, anyway.

[jmacswimmer]

I hope DE someday fixes this, it reminds of the tolls in Newark.  I remember before they got the fast lanes, it used to backup horribly into MD.

The dumb thing is it still backs up, and that's only because most of the traffic on the interstate mindlessly tries squeezing into the two high speed lanes not thinking about the fact that the physical tollbooth still takes EZPass and is completely wide open, devoid of traffic.

There's no guarantee an EZ Pass Only lane is open at the toll plaza, causing motorists to possibly get stuck behind a cash payer.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LdgLthmAXqhsrqEn8

I've yet to experience that situation in real life.

Ive seen it both here and on the AC Expressway.

I think I've mentioned it elsewhere but it is interesting seeing some of the early ORT-converted toll plazas starting to become victims of their own success - The Newark toll plaza is the poster-child of this, but the Hampton toll plaza on I-95/NH Turnpike comes to mind as well. IIRC someone had posted here somewhere that NHDOT recently patched the cash signs to instead show "Cash/E-ZPass".

I think the Newark toll plaza has always had at least E-ZPass only lane open southbound unlike the northbound streetview above, presumably because the onramp from DE 896 merges in past the divide point. Whereas northbound it is possible to do a quick double lane change from express lanes merge to DE 896 offramp.

The bigger problem I've had at toll plazas is when traffic is heavy and a cash-payer blocks the E-ZPass Only lane either deliberately (trying to cut the line for the adjacent cash lane) or supposedly by mistake ("supposedly" because I tend to think you'd have to be unbelievably stupid to think people just don't realize that lane is available).

I remember this used to be a huge problem at the I-95 JFK Highway toll plaza north of the Tydings Bridge (a moot point now following the AET conversion).

[jeffandnicole]

I hope DE someday fixes this, it reminds of the tolls in Newark.  I remember before they got the fast lanes, it used to backup horribly into MD.

The dumb thing is it still backs up, and that's only because most of the traffic on the interstate mindlessly tries squeezing into the two high speed lanes not thinking about the fact that the physical tollbooth still takes EZPass and is completely wide open, devoid of traffic.

There's no guarantee an EZ Pass Only lane is open at the toll plaza, causing motorists to possibly get stuck behind a cash payer.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LdgLthmAXqhsrqEn8

I've yet to experience that situation in real life.

Ive seen it both here and on the AC Expressway.

Nobody goes to AC anymore, anyway.

Lotsa money in the casinos say otherwise.  Looking at June's reports, over a $1 billion in "winnings" for the casinos, which is what they net after they pay out the winners.  Winnings for the casino tend to be about 9% - 10% roughly of what's bet, with average payouts around 90% - 91%.  Based on those estimates, about $10 Billion was bet.  And that's just slots and table games in the casinos.  Online betting, including sports betting, isn't included in those figures.

Besides, there's also the Great Egg Harbor toll plaza, capturing everyone headed to the southern shore region.  That's the main plaza which can experience some delays in the summertime, although nothing like what it used to see without the Express lanes.

The bigger problem I've had at toll plazas is when traffic is heavy and a cash-payer blocks the E-ZPass Only lane either deliberately (trying to cut the line for the adjacent cash lane) or supposedly by mistake ("supposedly" because I tend to think you'd have to be unbelievably stupid to think people just don't realize that lane is available).

It doesn't happen as much now as it used to, but people are oblivious to signage.  It was daily when I worked the toll plazas where I would have a motorist enter a EZ Pass Only lane then yell over there's no attendant in the booth, or ask me what "EZ Pass Only" means.  A few of them would want me to leave my booth to help them enter my lane, which, nope, I'm not leaving my booth and my money.  Regardless of signage and lighting, the only thing many motorists paid attention to was if there was a cone in the lane.  No cone:  They would enter.  Cone: they stayed away.  It was truly amazing what the power of a cone blocking a lane does.

[1995hoo]

....

It doesn't happen as much now as it used to, but people are oblivious to signage.  It was daily when I worked the toll plazas where I would have a motorist enter a EZ Pass Only lane then yell over there's no attendant in the booth, or ask me what "EZ Pass Only" means.  A few of them would want me to leave my booth to help them enter my lane, which, nope, I'm not leaving my booth and my money.  Regardless of signage and lighting, the only thing many motorists paid attention to was if there was a cone in the lane.  No cone:  They would enter.  Cone: they stayed away.  It was truly amazing what the power of a cone blocking a lane does.

The thing is, I get it that people don't read signs. But the thing about the toll plaza is that I cannot fathom how stupid someone has to be to think, essentially, "Hey, look, this lane is wide-open with no line at all, so why are all those idiots waiting on line forever over there when we can sail right up in this lane?" It's like the old saying about how if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

I don't doubt some of those people are just buttheads doing it on purpose, of course. Whenever I saw it happen in New York City, I also noticed that the people in the cash lanes were quite aggressive about closing up really tightly on each other's bumpers to keep the line-cutters out. The toll plaza where I saw it the most often, though, was the Tydings "Crosswinds Bridge" in Maryland as jmacswimmer mentions, and people there were not as diligent as the New Yorkers about boxing out the line-cutters. I don't doubt there was probably more line-cutting in New York on a relative basis given the nature of the traffic with I-95 in Maryland carrying more long-distance traffic, including people from non-toll areas.

[jeffandnicole]

....

It doesn't happen as much now as it used to, but people are oblivious to signage.  It was daily when I worked the toll plazas where I would have a motorist enter a EZ Pass Only lane then yell over there's no attendant in the booth, or ask me what "EZ Pass Only" means.  A few of them would want me to leave my booth to help them enter my lane, which, nope, I'm not leaving my booth and my money.  Regardless of signage and lighting, the only thing many motorists paid attention to was if there was a cone in the lane.  No cone:  They would enter.  Cone: they stayed away.  It was truly amazing what the power of a cone blocking a lane does.

The thing is, I get it that people don't read signs. But the thing about the toll plaza is that I cannot fathom how stupid someone has to be to think, essentially, "Hey, look, this lane is wide-open with no line at all, so why are all those idiots waiting on line forever over there when we can sail right up in this lane?" It's like the old saying about how if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The opposite occurs also. People just get behind other cars in line at a toll plaza, ignoring that there's an open lane right next to them.

I always said back when I worked the toll plaza, it's absolutely scary to see who you're driving alongside with at 70/75 mph on the highway.  And I would say, work a toll plaza...Just for 2 weeks. A toll plaza is a great place to see this this firsthand and talk with motorists, because so many just have no clue.

[froggie]

^ I admit I haven't often said this, but this is one thing I've always appreciated about you Jeff...your positions (plow truck operator too, right?) have given you a rather unique perspective amongst the forum/hobby crowd.