New Jersey Turnpike

[roadman65]

The signs are old, yes, but it still is a piece of history gone when they are gone.  I did not lose sleep over the old Exit 6 sign when it came down for good, but it was at the same time a sad moment in roading.

[MrDisco99]

Is there a comprehensive list of the variable BGSes on the Turnpike and what their options are?

[SignBridge]

You can add my vote for the Pa.-Del.-Md. sign. Although that type of destination display does not meet MUTCD standards, it is effective and in my case kind of sentimental. When I go away on a vacation and pass that sign approaching the Turnpike, I know I'm on my way!

[roadman65]

Hey it lasted as long as the reconfigured 16E and 17 project that eliminated the original 17, and made the north mainline toll plaza at Exit 16E.  That is well over 50 years.

Hey we made it through the gantry on US 1 & 9 being removed at North Avenue in Elizabeth that was also a piece of history.  I thought for sure that would last forever, and that NJDOT would just replace the panels for the next upgrades.  For those of you who are wondering which structure that is, was the old wrought iron gantry just north of North Avenue and at the split between Express and local that also had a twin in State Road, DE at the US 13 & 40 split that DelDOT removed as well.

[ixnay]

Hey it lasted as long as the reconfigured 16E and 17 project that eliminated the original 17, and made the north mainline toll plaza at Exit 16E.  That is well over 50 years.

Hey we made it through the gantry on US 1 & 9 being removed at North Avenue in Elizabeth that was also a piece of history.  I thought for sure that would last forever, and that NJDOT would just replace the panels for the next upgrades.  For those of you who are wondering which structure that is, was the old wrought iron gantry just north of North Avenue and at the split between Express and local that also had a twin in State Road, DE at the US 13 & 40 split that DelDOT removed as well.

That twin in State Road, DE was a landmark on my trips to summer vacations at the Delaware beaches growing up in the '60s and '70s.  I believe there was another one arching over U.S. 13 SB as you passed Delaware State Hospital approaching the I-295 interchange. 

Both of those old gantries came down during the '80s I believe.

ixnay

[storm2k]

was there a recent sign replacement on the bottom of the Turnpike? (South of Exit 6) those signs seem newer than I remember with different destinations (Mt Laurel replaced Philadelphia on one of them if I remember right) they're still in the unique Turnpike style.

They were replaced approximately 5 years ago (I forget exactly when).

It was in the 2009-10 timeframe. At the time I was commuting on the regular from Union to Bala Cynwyd PA for work so I saw all the new shiny signs down through Exit 4.

[roadman65]

Hey it lasted as long as the reconfigured 16E and 17 project that eliminated the original 17, and made the north mainline toll plaza at Exit 16E.  That is well over 50 years.

Hey we made it through the gantry on US 1 & 9 being removed at North Avenue in Elizabeth that was also a piece of history.  I thought for sure that would last forever, and that NJDOT would just replace the panels for the next upgrades.  For those of you who are wondering which structure that is, was the old wrought iron gantry just north of North Avenue and at the split between Express and local that also had a twin in State Road, DE at the US 13 & 40 split that DelDOT removed as well.

That twin in State Road, DE was a landmark on my trips to summer vacations at the Delaware beaches growing up in the '60s and '70s.  I believe there was another one arching over U.S. 13 SB as you passed Delaware State Hospital approaching the I-295 interchange. 

Both of those old gantries came down during the '80s I believe.

ixnay

Come to think of it there was a triplet at the entrance to the Cape May Ferry in Lewes on US 9.  I think that is gone as well.  Either DelDOT or the DRBA replaced it as well.

[storm2k]

Hey it lasted as long as the reconfigured 16E and 17 project that eliminated the original 17, and made the north mainline toll plaza at Exit 16E.  That is well over 50 years.

Hey we made it through the gantry on US 1 & 9 being removed at North Avenue in Elizabeth that was also a piece of history.  I thought for sure that would last forever, and that NJDOT would just replace the panels for the next upgrades.  For those of you who are wondering which structure that is, was the old wrought iron gantry just north of North Avenue and at the split between Express and local that also had a twin in State Road, DE at the US 13 & 40 split that DelDOT removed as well.

That twin in State Road, DE was a landmark on my trips to summer vacations at the Delaware beaches growing up in the '60s and '70s.  I believe there was another one arching over U.S. 13 SB as you passed Delaware State Hospital approaching the I-295 interchange. 

Both of those old gantries came down during the '80s I believe.

ixnay

The one for 1-9 at the Express/Local lane split in Elizabeth lasted well into the aughts, actually. It only was replaced in the last decade or so (sadly GSV only goes back to 09 and it was replaced by that point). I would have loved to see some pictures of the vintage signage on it before it was replaced in the 80s.

[roadman65]

I have a picture of it taken in 09 on my flickr, and it had the current one installed already.  I had a previous shot taken early in the 00's, but I cannot find the old pics as it was on my old 35mm Nikon I shot it with.

I want to say that in 03, it was there, but I cannot be sure without the photograph. However, when I saw the new gantry in 09, I was surprised to see it then, so it must of been there the previous time I was there which was September 03.

[storm2k]

I have a picture of it taken in 09 on my flickr, and it had the current one installed already.  I had a previous shot taken early in the 00's, but I cannot find the old pics as it was on my old 35mm Nikon I shot it with.

I want to say that in 03, it was there, but I cannot be sure without the photograph. However, when I saw the new gantry in 09, I was surprised to see it then, so it must of been there the previous time I was there which was September 03.

Alps has a shot of it on his site. He might be able to chime in with when those photos were taken to narrow down the time when it was replaced.

[NJRoadfan]

the NJ state archives has a picture of the original signs. The gantry was replaced when they rebuilt the North Ave. interchange.



Along with a rendering of the sign at the US-22 circle.


Complete archive listing is here: http://www.nj.gov/state/archives/str00001.html

[Alps]

I have a picture of it taken in 09 on my flickr, and it had the current one installed already.  I had a previous shot taken early in the 00's, but I cannot find the old pics as it was on my old 35mm Nikon I shot it with.

I want to say that in 03, it was there, but I cannot be sure without the photograph. However, when I saw the new gantry in 09, I was surprised to see it then, so it must of been there the previous time I was there which was September 03.

Alps has a shot of it on his site. He might be able to chime in with when those photos were taken to narrow down the time when it was replaced.

nel.jpg - 9/16/06
nelb.jpg - No date, predates 2006

[roadman65]

the NJ state archives has a picture of the original signs. The gantry was replaced when they rebuilt the North Ave. interchange.



Along with a rendering of the sign at the US-22 circle.


Complete archive listing is here: http://www.nj.gov/state/archives/str00001.html

I remember the one SB on US 1 for US 22 before the current overpass that carries the connector road for the Newark- Liberty International Airport to Exit 57 on I-78.  It was removed when they built the overpass, and I remember seeing it I thought that we were in Elizabeth as I did not realize that they had two identical gantries that looked the same. I had to be about 4 or 5 at the time, so that overpass was either built in 69 or 70.  The signs that were on that gantry were moved to the bridge after it was completed while the gantry came down.

[NJRoadfan]

Looks like Philly got some love in NJ back then. Now all the signs say Trenton and New Brunswick. 

[noelbotevera]

Looks like Philly got some love in NJ back then. Now all the signs say Trenton and New Brunswick. 

I guess they think Philly is some dinky city in the middle of nowhere. And you're right! WRONG!

[bzakharin]

Looks like Philly got some love in NJ back then. Now all the signs say Trenton and New Brunswick. 

No one in their right mind would take US 1 from Newark to Philadelphia today. The turnpike should be signed for it, though, regardless of whether the interchange with the PA Turnpike is there or not.

[storm2k]

Looks like Philly got some love in NJ back then. Now all the signs say Trenton and New Brunswick. 

It was before the Turnpike or any iteration of 95. It makes perfect sense for that to be the way to Philadelphia at the time this thing was built.

[roadman65]

It does look odd to see Philly on US 1 signs in New Jersey.  I wonder if they guided you onto US 130, or made you stay on US 1?  Remember the mileage signs along US 130 do give out mileage to Philly as well as Camden.

I imagine that US 130 was the better way to go to Philly in the pre Turnpike days.

[roadman65]

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8402193,-74.017941,3a,75y,0.99h,88.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snYRfgLrTxlAKTuLjBWeQpA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
Does anyone know what is behind the flip panels for I-95 North to Fort Lee and the GWB?

[NJ]

I LOVE this sign!

[kkt]

I LOVE this sign!

We need some of those here.  You'd think driving in the rain would be one thing Seattle drivers would be good at, but no.

[NJ]

I LOVE this sign!

We need some of those here.  You'd think driving in the rain would be one thing Seattle drivers would be good at, but no.

Doesn't Washington State require "Headlights on Wipers On"? In NJ it's a state law

[kkt]

Oh, it's a law all right, but law enforcement is more interested in speeding tickets than safety issues.

[thenetwork]

I had driven a Hyundai Sonata for nearly 5 years.  It had an option in which when the lights automatically go on when the engine was on (low beams = daytime running lights).  I got so used to leaving that option on that I find myself having to double back and turn off the lights on my Honda Civic Hybrid after exiting the car all the time now -- not to mention to remember to tun on the lights at night, since my car now does have running lights, I think they are already on.

[SignBridge]

A point of info re: wipers on/headlights on laws. At least in New York your daytime running lights do not satisfy the requirement in the rain. The entire headlight circuit must be on including tailights, etc.