New Jersey Turnpike

[jeffandnicole]

The VMS's on NJ 42 North just say "Turnpike Exit 6 Closed / Use Alternate Route". Presumably they expect people to still get on the Turnpike where the alternate route is spelled out. But from that far south, would taking I-76 (and/or I-95 North depending on where you're headed) be a better alternate to the PA Turnpike? Or does going through Philly negate any benefits of taking that route?

While it depends where you're going, in general, I can't think of a good reason to ever go from Rt. 42 to the NJ TPK to Exit 6, as there are numerous other cheaper routes that are more direct to get to anywhere one needs to go, including the 2 you mentioned.  But...the world's drivers aren't made up of everyone using the most direct route, or the cheapest route, or the fastest route.  And it is impossible to know exactly where one needs to go.  Thus, the generic 'Use Alt Routes'.

NJDOT has put the same message on a limited number of VMSs, including on 295 North, north of Exit 52 and NJ 29 South, south of the tunnel.

[tckma]

The VMS on 195 said "PA Turnpike Customers (yes, customers), Take I-95 to Pennsylvania" (or something close to that).  195 to 29 was packed...but fairly normal for a rush hour.

I saw that same message on 195 VMS signs too, coming back home last week, and thought the wording was extremely odd.  But "customers" is technically correct... If you choose to drive on the PA Turnpike, you are choosing to pay for that service just like a customer of anything else.  There are other "providers" (roads) where you can "take your business" (drive) if you so choose; you just pay for those roads with your property tax dollars instead.

Though technically I suppose my employer was the "customer" here, since I was driving a company car with their logos all over it and using their E-Z Pass tag.  If I were driving my own car I might have chosen to be a "customer" of some other road instead.

[NJRoadfan]

A VMS on US-22 West (well west of the Turnpike) ran the generic "Exit 6 Closed, use alt routes" message. Someone must have hit the key to place it on all the sign boards instead of a few.

[Alps]

A VMS on US-22 West (well west of the Turnpike) ran the generic "Exit 6 Closed, use alt routes" message. Someone must have hit the key to place it on all the sign boards instead of a few.

Could be reinforcement for anyone who might follow 287 to 18 or the like to keep heading west to 202/206.

[storm2k]

A VMS on US-22 West (well west of the Turnpike) ran the generic "Exit 6 Closed, use alt routes" message. Someone must have hit the key to place it on all the sign boards instead of a few.

Could be reinforcement for anyone who might follow 287 to 18 or the like to keep heading west to 202/206.

I know which sign NJRoadfan is referring to. It's this one which is past the 287 interchange, before the 202/206 on. I noticed the same message when I drove through there last Saturday. It's not in a sensible place, unless the idea is that they would have motorists stay on 22 to 78 west, or take 202/206 NB to 287NB to 78WB.

[noelbotevera]

I feel like they're going overkill. Most of the VMS signs here in Pennsylvania warn of the message as far west as Harrisburg...I found one on I-81 NB lit (basically, I-276 closed at exit 358), and it was 133 miles west...

I'm not sure if they've got it up north, since the last time I've been around the exit 6 area was a couple months ago.

[PHLBOS]

I feel like they're going overkill. Most of the VMS signs here in Pennsylvania warn of the message as far west as Harrisburg...I found one on I-81 NB lit (basically, I-276 closed at exit 358), and it was 133 miles west...

On the contrary, given that a sizeable chunk of long-distance truck traffic along I-81 northbound will normally exit off onto an eastbound highway (be it I-76, 78, 80 or 84) throughout the Keystone State; that far of an advance notice allows one to completely avoid the vicinity of that closed Delaware River crossing as they see fit.

[NJRoadfan]

FWIW, all the VMSes on both sides of 22 between 202-206 and the GSP appeared to have run the message last weekend. I've seen other non-related messages on them before, like Bayonne Bridge closures.

[Alps]

FWIW, all the VMSes on both sides of 22 between 202-206 and the GSP appeared to have run the message last weekend. I've seen other non-related messages on them before, like Bayonne Bridge closures.

I haven't noticed that problem statewide, so I don't know if it's corridor or regional related. Certainly doesn't sound right.

[cl94]

I feel like they're going overkill. Most of the VMS signs here in Pennsylvania warn of the message as far west as Harrisburg...I found one on I-81 NB lit (basically, I-276 closed at exit 358), and it was 133 miles west...

On the contrary, given that a sizeable chunk of long-distance truck traffic along I-81 northbound will normally exit off onto an eastbound highway (be it I-76, 78, 80 or 84) throughout the Keystone State; that far of an advance notice allows one to completely avoid the vicinity of that closed Delaware River crossing as they see fit.

I completely agree. I don't have counts, but I'd say at least half of the traffic on I-81 south of the Turnpike is to/from the east. If you're going between the northeast and much of the south and southeast, that's the fastest route.

[cpzilliacus]

Images of the northbound side of the N.J. 700 part of the New Jersey Turnpike approaching the Exit 6 closure can be found on Facebook (you do not need an account with Facebook) here.

[PHLBOS]

Images of the northbound side of the N.J. 700 part of the New Jersey Turnpike approaching the Exit 6 closure can be found on Facebook (you do not need an account with Facebook) here.

The above-link is either incorrect or obsolete.  The link's an article regarding NY subway-related complaints.

[NE2]

Images of the northbound side of the N.J. 700 part of the New Jersey Turnpike approaching the Exit 6 closure can be found on Facebook (you do not need an account with Facebook) here.

The above-link is either incorrect or obsolete.  The link's an article regarding NY subway-related complaints.

That's what happens when your main purpose here is to post links elsewhere.

[cpzilliacus]

Images of the northbound side of the N.J. 700 part of the New Jersey Turnpike approaching the Exit 6 closure can be found on Facebook (you do not need an account with Facebook) here.

The above-link is either incorrect or obsolete.  The link's an article regarding NY subway-related complaints.

Thank you and corrected. 

[SignBridge]

It's working now. Good photos.

[jeffandnicole]

In the minutes of the NJ Turnpike meeting on January 31, 2017, contracts were authorized by the NJ Turnpike Authority to start the repair process of the Delaware River Bridge between the NJ & PA Turnpikes.  One project is to construct the foundations for the 8 towers that will be used to lift the bridge back into place.  This work includes drilling 6 shafts up to 125' deep for each tower.  The project was given to Moretrench American Corp of Rockaway, NJ...a company the Turnpike had preauthorized in the past for construction work, although they have never done work for the authority (I don't recall seeing their name all that often on bid results, so it's possible they simply haven't placed a bid on many/any Turnpike projects).

Cornell and Company was also requested to do some work with this project (this company happens to be located near me), including building the actual towers.  They were also already involved in the painting project that discovered the crack as a subcontractor, and had a lot of their equipment on site.  This company has also done a fair amount of emergency bridge work when necessary as well, and is apparently a preferred contact when emergencies arise.

Other work was approved for engineering, which includes the closures, barricades and signage necessary for the closing of the roadway leading to the bridge.  Design, inspection, and supervisory work was also approved.

The approvals can be viewed in full here: http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/BM_Minutes_1-31-2017.pdf , pages 10 - 13 and 16 - 18 of the pdf.  No mention was made of splitting costs with the PA Turnpike Authority, although historically large repair projects with the bridge are split 50/50, with the NJTA being the lead agency.

[roadman65]

The question is now when the actual twinning that was discussed for many years becomes a reality, will the two agencies now consider just building a completely new bridge with 6 lanes, full width inner and outer shoulders and a sidewalk?  9 million plus as NJ.com quoted the repairs to be 9.6M in their article on the subject.

I know that would be 9 million thrown away if so, but either way it may just be better off to plan for a replacement rather than a twin structure when the next phase of I-95 comes into play.

[cpzilliacus]

The question is now when the actual twinning that was discussed for many years becomes a reality, will the two agencies now consider just building a completely new bridge with 6 lanes, full width inner and outer shoulders and a sidewalk?  9 million plus as NJ.com quoted the repairs to be 9.6M in their article on the subject.

I know that would be 9 million thrown away if so, but either way it may just be better off to plan for a replacement rather than a twin structure when the next phase of I-95 comes into play.

I agree that a new bridge over the Delaware River is needed (when  the Bristol, Pennsylvania interchange is complete, this will be the only four lane section of I-95 between Petersburg, Virginia and New Haven, Connecticut (save for I-95 through Wilmington, Delaware, where I-495 is an easy alternative routing and effectively provides 8 lanes of traffic for I-95 there)).

However, getting the current bridge repaired and again open to traffic should be a higher priority (given that PTC and PennDOT are still slowly working to partly complete the Bristol interchange - at least enough to finish I-95).

[jeffandnicole]

The question is now when the actual twinning that was discussed for many years becomes a reality, will the two agencies now consider just building a completely new bridge with 6 lanes, full width inner and outer shoulders and a sidewalk?  9 million plus as NJ.com quoted the repairs to be 9.6M in their article on the subject.

I know that would be 9 million thrown away if so, but either way it may just be better off to plan for a replacement rather than a twin structure when the next phase of I-95 comes into play.

The first part will be - can the repairs be done?

A major issue will be dealing with the homeowners on the PA side that sit practically beneath the bridge.  There may be a few houses on the PA side that will have to be taken for the 2nd bridge.  There's some sort of trucking depot on the NJ side that will be condemned as well.

If the bridge is replaced completed in its currently location, it may minimize or remove any necessary property takeovers, but the project will take longer as the old bridge will have to be demolished before the current one could be built.

I agree that a new bridge over the Delaware River is needed (when  the Bristol, Pennsylvania interchange is complete, this will be the only four lane section of I-95 between Petersburg, Virginia and New Haven, Connecticut (save for I-95 through Wilmington, Delaware, where I-495 is an easy alternative routing and effectively provides 8 lanes of traffic for I-95 there)).

10, actually.  495 is 3 lanes per direction.  Only at the very northern tip where 495 meets 95 at the PA State line is it 2 lanes per direction, along with 495 Southbound as it meets 95 South.

[SignBridge]

J&N, I'm glad you mentioned that NJTA is the lead agency on any major projects involving the bridge. That way, the work will be completed efficiently, in the short possible time. If PTC were the lead, it would take the next ten years to fix the bridge.

[jeffandnicole]

EZ Pass usage for the Turnpike and Parkway for years 2016, 2015 & 2014:

http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/EZPass_Usage_TPK_December_2016.pdf
http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/EZPass_Usage_GSP_December_2016.pdf

To sum it up, average for 2016:

NJ Turnpike:
   Cars (and other non-commercial vehicles): 81.4% used EZ Pass
   Commercial Vehicles: 90.8% used EZ Pass

GS Parkway:
   Cars:  79.5%
   Commercial Vehicles: 89.0%

[SteveG1988]

The question is now when the actual twinning that was discussed for many years becomes a reality, will the two agencies now consider just building a completely new bridge with 6 lanes, full width inner and outer shoulders and a sidewalk?  9 million plus as NJ.com quoted the repairs to be 9.6M in their article on the subject.

I know that would be 9 million thrown away if so, but either way it may just be better off to plan for a replacement rather than a twin structure when the next phase of I-95 comes into play.

The first part will be - can the repairs be done?

A major issue will be dealing with the homeowners on the PA side that sit practically beneath the bridge.  There may be a few houses on the PA side that will have to be taken for the 2nd bridge.  There's some sort of trucking depot on the NJ side that will be condemned as well.

If the bridge is replaced completed in its currently location, it may minimize or remove any necessary property takeovers, but the project will take longer as the old bridge will have to be demolished before the current one could be built.

I agree that a new bridge over the Delaware River is needed (when  the Bristol, Pennsylvania interchange is complete, this will be the only four lane section of I-95 between Petersburg, Virginia and New Haven, Connecticut (save for I-95 through Wilmington, Delaware, where I-495 is an easy alternative routing and effectively provides 8 lanes of traffic for I-95 there)).

10, actually.  495 is 3 lanes per direction.  Only at the very northern tip where 495 meets 95 at the PA State line is it 2 lanes per direction, along with 495 Southbound as it meets 95 South.

They've been spending a ton of money on this span. Suspender cable replacement, redecking, etc. It's repairable.

[cpzilliacus]

I agree that a new bridge over the Delaware River is needed (when  the Bristol, Pennsylvania interchange is complete, this will be the only four lane section of I-95 between Petersburg, Virginia and New Haven, Connecticut (save for I-95 through Wilmington, Delaware, where I-495 is an easy alternative routing and effectively provides 8 lanes of traffic for I-95 there)).

10, actually.  495 is 3 lanes per direction.  Only at the very northern tip where 495 meets 95 at the PA State line is it 2 lanes per direction, along with 495 Southbound as it meets 95 South.

Yes, there's the lane drop northbound and southbound I-495 at U.S. 13 in Claymont, Delaware.  I was trying to be as conservative as possible, given that the implied discussion was about "thru" movements, from the Delaware Turnpike part of I-95 to the Delaware/Pennsylvania border.

But your point about most of Delaware's I-495 being six lanes is correct. 

Just wish it had a posted speed limit of about 75 MPH. 

[cpzilliacus]

They've been spending a ton of money on this span. Suspender cable replacement, redecking, etc. It's repairable.

Yes, all of the structural steel was just scraped and cleaned and primered and re-painted by a contractor working for NJTA (that's how the beam fracture was discovered, when an engineer working for New Jersey was out inspecting the work).

And I recall reading that the ropes were recently replaced too.

But I am not a bridge engineer, and this failure could have had catastrophic consequences had it not been discovered, so I will wait to hear what the real engineers have to say first (for example, I thought  that the fractured beam (once it was identified) could be simply repaired by a splice or complete replacement, and then the bridge would be ready to carry traffic - but unfortunately, things are not quite so easy).

[02 Park Ave]

Could it be that eventually the Connector Bridge is only reopened to automobiles?