New Jersey Turnpike

[jeffandnicole]

Again...THERE IS NO BRIDGE TOLL. We're not talking about some rural no man land road that maybe a select few would ever drive on. We are talking a major highway which is used by tens of thousands of people every day. You exit one highway and pay a toll. You go over the bridge. You get to the next highway, and you get a ticket (or the start destination for EZ Pass).

The US 130 situation can be a bit unfair, but oh well. They can drive a few miles to pick up the NJ Turnpike at Exit 7 if they want to save a few bucks.

If you absolutely still don't trust this info, both toll roads have a website complete with toll info.

[Roadrunner75]

Do they split the maintenance, or is it owned by one of the two turnpikes?  And so the US 130 onramp toll WB toward the bridge is a toll paid to the NJ Turnpike for use of a very short distance of the extension?

[akotchi]

Each toll agency maintains their portion of the bridge -- the state line is at the center of the main span of the bridge.  My employer has been involved in deck replacement projects on both sides of the bridge in the last 20 years.

The mainline plazas on either side of the bridge simply mark the ends of the closed ticket systems for each toll agency.  Presumably, toll revenues from both agencies go toward maintenance of the bridge, but no specific plaza is dedicated to the Turnpike Connector Bridge.

[Roadrunner75]

The US 130 situation can be a bit unfair, but oh well. They can drive a few miles to pick up the NJ Turnpike at Exit 7 if they want to save a few bucks.

I looked over the toll rate chart here:
http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/c1sched-2012.pdf
If I'm reading this right, the toll booths I'm referring to (entry at 130 toward bridge) are "6A" and the toll from '6A to 6A' is 3 bucks.  Meanwhile if I got on at 7 I can get to the bridge for only $1.65.  So the Turnpike Authority is charging a big premium to people along the 130 corridor in that area just to drive that mile of turnpike.  Now I understand what you meant by the above. 

I realize they got a shiny new interchange, but they originally had access to and from the bridge before, although with a slightly more circuitous route from 130.  Looking at an older aerial showing the original barrier tolls closer to the bridge, I can see that the earlier entrance WB from 130 also went through the toll plaza, and if I recall it was separated from the mainline lanes which were on the ticket system, so that someone entering from Florence only paid the cash toll.  Were they socked with the premium rate in those days?

6A is great for me going EB coming home from Pennsylvania to avoid the inevitable backups on the Turnpike mainline NB.  I hop off onto 130 north, make the first right and right out to 295 I go.

[PHLBOS]

The US 130 situation can be a bit unfair, but oh well. They can drive a few miles to pick up the NJ Turnpike at Exit 7 if they want to save a few bucks.

I looked over the toll rate chart here:
http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/c1sched-2012.pdf
If I'm reading this right, the toll booths I'm referring to (entry at 130 toward bridge) are "6A" and the toll from '6A to 6A' is 3 bucks.  Meanwhile if I got on at 7 I can get to the bridge for only $1.65.  So the Turnpike Authority is charging a big premium to people along the 130 corridor in that area just to drive that mile of turnpike.  Now I understand what you meant by the above. 

I realize they got a shiny new interchange, but they originally had access to and from the bridge before, although with a slightly more circuitous route from 130.  Looking at an older aerial showing the original barrier tolls closer to the bridge, I can see that the earlier entrance WB from 130 also went through the toll plaza, and if I recall it was separated from the mainline lanes which were on the ticket system, so that someone entering from Florence only paid the cash toll.  Were they socked with the premium rate in those days?

The locals can always use the nearby Burlington-Bristol Bridge as an alternate crossing.  The PA-bound toll for that bridge is only $2.

[vdeane]

When I'm saying that there's a toll for the bridge, I'm not saying there's a separate booth, but that the amount for the bridge is built-in to the 6A barrier/PTC ticket toll as an additional amount over the normal per-mile rate.  The Thruway's Castleton-on-Hudson bridge is a good example of this type of system: there is no separate toll barrier for the bridge, and motorists just see one number on the ticket, but that number is 65 cents higher than it would be for a trip of equivalent length not crossing the bridge.  Even people with the Thruway E-ZPass Annual Permit Program pay a 65 cent surcharge for every trip over the bridge even if it was under 30 miles and therefore otherwise free.

[Roadrunner75]

The locals can always use the nearby Burlington-Bristol Bridge as an alternate crossing.  The PA-bound toll for that bridge is only $2.

I like the Burlington-Bristol and use it occasionally.  Save some money and get that element of danger excitement - Am I getting in a head-on collision today?

I also noticed on the Turnpike's website there is a discount available for Florence and Roebling residents for exit 6...unclear if it's for 6 going EB to the turnpike mainline only or also for 6A to offset some of the fleecing at that booth.

[PHLBOS]

I also noticed on the Turnpike's website there is a discount available for Florence and Roebling residents for exit 6...unclear if it's for 6 going EB to the turnpike mainline only or also for 6A to offset some of the fleecing at that booth.

Chances are, it's likely the latter.

[Mergingtraffic]

What is covered up on this sign? I-95 shield?...but wouldn't the direction be showing
or a US-130 shield?

[Zeffy]

IIRC, that sign is housing the future I-95 shield since whenever the interchange with the PA Turnpike and current I-95 is built, I-276 east into New Jersey will be designated as I-95, which will eliminate the most notorious of gaps in the Interstate System.

[PHLBOS]

What is covered up on this sign? I-95 shield?...but wouldn't the direction be showing
or a US-130 shield?

If you look closely at the photo, there's actually two green covers: one for the I-95 shield, the other for the SOUTH (and maybe a TO) cardinal.

[akotchi]

There are actually (at least) two overlay panels.  One covers the message "SOUTH/(95)/TO," as suspected -- though it looks like two here.  The other is at the bottom, covering the message "Philadelphia."  It was designed that way for when the interchange in Pa. is completed.

[Zeffy]

Study results of N.J. Turnpike widening project through East Windsor to be presented

Nothing too much in the article itself, but they have nice photos of some new signs being put up, and thankfully, all of them are not ugly. Here's what some of them look like:




The new Interchange 8 Toll Plaza is set to open on January 26th, which is fucking awesome. Why is it fucking awesome? Because that's my 21st birthday, and maybe I'll get to swing by and check it out! Of course, it's weather permitting, so if the weather is shit (not too uncommon on my birthday it seems...), I'll be pissed.

One thing on the general signage - I'm guessing these are Turnpike Authority signs, because they have the corners rounded off, as well as omit the black background behind the NJ shields that would normally be present.

[vdeane]

The image caption is regarding a note that was posted a long time ago.  The new toll plaza opened around January 26 2014.

[Roadrunner75]

Not to worry, Zeffy.  There are other things you can now do on your 21st birthday.

[Zeffy]

The image caption is regarding a note that was posted a long time ago.  The new toll plaza opened around January 26 2014.

I knew something wasn't right either... my brain is just in overdrive from anxiety and not to mention I'm just tired all around everyday it seems like now... 

Not to worry, Zeffy.  There are other things you can now do on your 21st birthday.

One of my friends mentioned something about Atlantic City for my 21st... I'm not so sure of that though, mainly because I'm too poor to gamble any of the money I do have anyway. I don't really care for drinking anyway... I've tried a lot of crap already and I'm not a fan of mostly anything alcoholic.

That of course is dependent on me not ending up in the hospital again for a random episode of severe vertigo...

[jeffandnicole]

Prior to the Exit 6 signs being installed, they were laying on the ground of the outer roadway for a bit, with the 'South 95' exposed (shame I never was able to get a picture - it was a bad angle to look at, and would've been a very quick second to snap the pic at the right time).  I'm pretty sure there was no 'To' on the sign

Study results of N.J. Turnpike widening project through East Windsor to be presented

nj.com is just going downhill in their reporting and accompanying photos (sadly, many newspaper companies just seem to be destroying themselves).  The headline is fairly misleading - the story appears to be talking about development potential on the local roads near Interchange 8...whereas the headline seems to refer to a study of the Turnpike expansion.

And the pictures - nj.com is now attaching old pictures with old captions to their stories.  Why?  It's terribly confusing.

[Mr. Matté]

The image caption is regarding a note that was posted a long time ago.  The new toll plaza opened around January 26 2014.

The new interchange opened in 2013.

[vdeane]

The image caption is regarding a note that was posted a long time ago.  The new toll plaza opened around January 26 2014.

The new interchange opened in 2013.

Clearly this year has gone by WAY too fast.  And clearly I need to be more careful about posting after driving for seven hours.

[MikeSantNY78]

What is covered up on this sign? I-95 shield?...but wouldn't the direction be showing
or a US-130 shield?

Probably covering South I-95 (and maybe To US-130); lousy re-making of the classic NJTP arrow, by the by...

[jeffandnicole]

There is no 'To US 130' coverup. It's just South 95.

[storm2k]

There is no 'To US 130' coverup. It's just South 95.

Correct. They've put up some secondary signage indicating that you can reach 130 from Exit 6. There is a coverup for 95 and a second coverup that says Philadelphia.

[jeffandnicole]

The massive NJ Turnpike Construction Widening Project is Finally nearing Completion!!!

All 6 Northbound lanes of the NJ Turnpike are expected to open this Friday (weather dependent) between Interchanges 6 & 8A.  All 6 Southbound Lanes between Interchanges 9 & 6 should open next weekend.

http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2014/10/new_nj_turnpike_lanes_to_open_friday.html#incart_river

The goal was to have it open by Thanksgiving, which they will easily exceed.  The current work to repair various structures and repave the inner roadways wasn't part of the original construction project, but when the Turnpike saved at least $200 million from fortunate timing of the works (when the economy was in a tailspin), the Turnpike added on 2 contracts to fix up nearly 25 miles of the existing highway in the construction zone.

When I drove this stretch of the Turnpike last Sunday (about 10 days ago), there was some work that still needed to be done - jersey barrier that needed to be filled with concrete, jersey barrier painting (which covers the patchwork that was done to fill in holes and cracks), some repaving work, and other misc work, but other areas were completely finished - stripped and everything. 

After the Turnpike is open, some construction work will need to continue, such as removing the crossover north of Interchange 8A.  But that stuff can be done overnight and during offpeak hours.

[Zeffy]

I'll give the Turnpike Authority a gold star on this project, because it was executed beautifully. Given how popular and busy the Turnpike is, these 170 miles of new lanes will definitely help with the congestion in the area. Hopefully I can get the chance to use the Turnpike in the next week or two just to see the new lanes.

There is no 'To US 130' coverup. It's just South 95.

Correct. They've put up some secondary signage indicating that you can reach 130 from Exit 6. There is a coverup for 95 and a second coverup that says Philadelphia.

Is there really a need to sign US 130 though? The only thing I can think of is for people looking for Bordentown and some of the Burlington County communities along 130 - but that's pretty much it. Trenton - US 206 and I-195; Camden (or (Philadelphia) - NJ 70 or NJ 168; New Brunswick - US 1 or NJ 18; etc. 

Also, semi-related, what the hell happened to the NJ 168 interchange on Google Maps?

[jeffandnicole]

What's wrong with it?