New Jersey Turnpike

[ixnay]

Refresh our memories about the deaths connected with the widening of the Turnpike in central NJ, which were referred to on another thread (I don't have time to do a search this morning).  I'm sure they were mentioned on this board (maybe on this thread but, you know...)

ixnay

[jeffandnicole]

Refresh our memories about the deaths connected with the widening of the Turnpike in central NJ, which were referred to on another thread (I don't have time to do a search this morning).  I'm sure they were mentioned on this board (maybe on this thread but, you know...)

ixnay

The ones I recall off the top of my head connected with the construction include a guy onsite that was killed when a new jerseybarrier-type wall fell off a truck and hit him, and a trucker carrying old material away from the turnpike hit a school bus that ran a stop sign at the intersection of two county roads, killing one of the students onboard the bus.

[jeffandnicole]

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has published the "2018 Capital Project & Investment Plan" report, which heavily details the projects that were included in the October, 2008 $7 Billion Capital Improvement Plan for the Turnpike & Parkway.  The largest, most visible components of that plan were the dual-dual widening of the NJ Turnpike, along with the 3rd lane widening of the Parkway (much of which wasn't originally part of the plan).  Interesting of note is that while the NJ Turnpike widening was substantially completed in 2014, the Turnpike still has $75 million to pay out for that project, which will bring the net total to $2.23 billion; still well under the original estimated cost of the project.

The majority of that $7 billion has now been spent or allocated to current and projected 2018 projects.

Descriptions of many of the projects and their current status are within the report.  Many of the current projects are bridge/overpass related improvements, interchange/intersection improvements, and building facilities projects, including State Police, maintenance and salt shed buildings.

Also noted under Sections 3.0, Other Capital Spending, is that repaving projects should increase by 150 lane miles.  In 2016, $26 million was spend on repaving projects.  In 2017, $51 million was budgeted for repavings.  In 2018, $70 million is budgeted on repavings.  NJ Turnpike had historically been very good on keeping up with a smooth surface.  There's been a notable increase in rutting on the southern end of the Turnpike and more significant pavement deterioration on the northern end, and projects that only repave the travel lanes while deferring on shoulder lanes.  Since large areas of both the Turnpike and Parkway have been reconstructed over the past several years, this $70 million will go a long way towards fixing up other areas of both highways that haven't been touched over the past decade.

The report, for your reading amusement: http://www.njta.com/media/3511/2018-capital-project-investment-plan.pdf

[storm2k]

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has published the "2018 Capital Project & Investment Plan" report, which heavily details the projects that were included in the October, 2008 $7 Billion Capital Improvement Plan for the Turnpike & Parkway.  The largest, most visible components of that plan were the dual-dual widening of the NJ Turnpike, along with the 3rd lane widening of the Parkway (much of which wasn't originally part of the plan).  Interesting of note is that while the NJ Turnpike widening was substantially completed in 2014, the Turnpike still has $75 million to pay out for that project, which will bring the net total to $2.23 billion; still well under the original estimated cost of the project.

The majority of that $7 billion has now been spent or allocated to current and projected 2018 projects.

Descriptions of many of the projects and their current status are within the report.  Many of the current projects are bridge/overpass related improvements, interchange/intersection improvements, and building facilities projects, including State Police, maintenance and salt shed buildings.

Also noted under Sections 3.0, Other Capital Spending, is that repaving projects should increase by 150 lane miles.  In 2016, $26 million was spend on repaving projects.  In 2017, $51 million was budgeted for repavings.  In 2018, $70 million is budgeted on repavings.  NJ Turnpike had historically been very good on keeping up with a smooth surface.  There's been a notable increase in rutting on the southern end of the Turnpike and more significant pavement deterioration on the northern end, and projects that only repave the travel lanes while deferring on shoulder lanes.  Since large areas of both the Turnpike and Parkway have been reconstructed over the past several years, this $70 million will go a long way towards fixing up other areas of both highways that haven't been touched over the past decade.

The report, for your reading amusement: http://www.njta.com/media/3511/2018-capital-project-investment-plan.pdf

Guess they've worked out some more money from paving. I know there's been a big focus on bridge work since a lot of the bridges--especially on the southern stretch of the Turnpike below Exit 6--are now pretty old and need work or replacement.

Another interesting tidbit is the replacement of the toll plaza canopy signs (denoting if it's an ezpass lane or not) are being replaced at a bunch of toll plazas. I'm hoping this means the expanded thing of putting a sign over every lane to say it's ezpass only, or ticket/cash and ezpass.

[Alps]

Coming down the Pike - ha, ha, ha - will be some heavier infrastructure projects. Based on recent news, you might have an idea which area will be the focus over the next 10 years. I will not say more than that.

[cpzilliacus]

Guess they've worked out some more money from paving. I know there's been a big focus on bridge work since a lot of the bridges--especially on the southern stretch of the Turnpike below Exit 6--are now pretty old and need work or replacement.

Another interesting tidbit is the replacement of the toll plaza canopy signs (denoting if it's an ezpass lane or not) are being replaced at a bunch of toll plazas. I'm hoping this means the expanded thing of putting a sign over every lane to say it's ezpass only, or ticket/cash and ezpass.

There is a fair amount of bridge work going  on along the northern parts of the  Turnpike.  Consider the big bridge that carries the I-78 (Exits 14A, 14B, 14C) part of the Turnpike over Newark Bay, which is getting love and attention these days.

[jeffandnicole]

Another interesting tidbit is the replacement of the toll plaza canopy signs (denoting if it's an ezpass lane or not) are being replaced at a bunch of toll plazas. I'm hoping this means the expanded thing of putting a sign over every lane to say it's ezpass only, or ticket/cash and ezpass.

I believe every exit lane does have some sort of signage now...which became more important when the cash lanes went bi.  I don't think all entry lanes have signage yet, but those in the know (most commuters) know they can fly thru any open entry lane with EZ Pass. The canopy sign replacement project appears to replace the older hand-crank version (ie: Exit 3: https://goo.gl/maps/kTeH7qHWpoB2 ) with the newer, electronic version...which are probably heavier as well (ie: Exit 7A: https://goo.gl/maps/9uudQNDNjy62 )

Coming down the Pike - ha, ha, ha - will be some heavier infrastructure projects. Based on recent news, you might have an idea which area will be the focus over the next 10 years. I will not say more than that.

Bicycle lanes?  Oh, please, let there be bicycle lanes.  OMG...I want me some bicycle lanes!  Jeff Tittle will be sooooooo happy! OMG OMG OMG!!!

[J Route Z]

I find it interesting that when the Pearl Harbor Extension becomes I-95, traveling northbound onto the mainline turnpike, I-95 through traffic has to merge onto the turnpike which continues as I-95 north seen here: https://goo.gl/maps/WVzCSdHGZnQ2  This shows the merge onto the trucks buses and cars roadway. I actually don't like how when you're driving on I-95 and your lane suddenly ends. They could've had the left lane of the mainline turnpike merge into the middle lane and had the I-95 (exit 6) traffic continue with their own lane for the inner roadway and for the outer roadway start out with 2 lanes when the turnpike divides prior to exit 6 and have the lane extended all the way for I-95 through traffic. I can't think of any other place along the entire I-95 where this happens.

[bzakharin]

I find it interesting that when the Pearl Harbor Extension becomes I-95, traveling northbound onto the mainline turnpike, I-95 through traffic has to merge onto the turnpike which continues as I-95 north seen here: https://goo.gl/maps/WVzCSdHGZnQ2  This shows the merge onto the trucks buses and cars roadway. I actually don't like how when you're driving on I-95 and your lane suddenly ends. They could've had the left lane of the mainline turnpike merge into the middle lane and had the I-95 (exit 6) traffic continue with their own lane for the inner roadway and for the outer roadway start out with 2 lanes when the turnpike divides prior to exit 6 and have the lane extended all the way for I-95 through traffic. I can't think of any other place along the entire I-95 where this happens.

It'll be happening on the PA side at the new interchange in both directions as well if I understand correctly.

[roadman65]

Just because the number comes in from one road to make this other road the continuation will not change the traffic pattern much.  Yes it seems weird that the straight through in number has to merge, still the Turnpike is the same on both sides of the merge as well.  Though the NJ Turnpike is not a continuous number its like it is one.

There are lots of places where an interstate merges onto another freeway and loses its lanes.   I-280 in Newark is prime example of that hence its main lanes going westbound become the ramp lanes to the Garden State Parkway and Clinton Street.  Yet NJDOT has kept this arrangement for well over four decades.

[bzakharin]

Just because the number comes in from one road to make this other road the continuation will not change the traffic pattern much.  Yes it seems weird that the straight through in number has to merge, still the Turnpike is the same on both sides of the merge as well.  Though the NJ Turnpike is not a continuous number its like it is one.

There are lots of places where an interstate merges onto another freeway and loses its lanes.   I-280 in Newark is prime example of that hence its main lanes going westbound become the ramp lanes to the Garden State Parkway and Clinton Street.  Yet NJDOT has kept this arrangement for well over four decades.

I-76 in PA does this at least twice too, first when turning into an exit only lane for Exit 346B, and then when merging into the PA Turnpike.

[jeffandnicole]

I find it interesting that when the Pearl Harbor Extension becomes I-95, traveling northbound onto the mainline turnpike, I-95 through traffic has to merge onto the turnpike which continues as I-95 north seen here: https://goo.gl/maps/WVzCSdHGZnQ2  This shows the merge onto the trucks buses and cars roadway. I actually don't like how when you're driving on I-95 and your lane suddenly ends. They could've had the left lane of the mainline turnpike merge into the middle lane and had the I-95 (exit 6) traffic continue with their own lane for the inner roadway and for the outer roadway start out with 2 lanes when the turnpike divides prior to exit 6 and have the lane extended all the way for I-95 through traffic. I can't think of any other place along the entire I-95 where this happens.

The reasoning behind this was to prevent the Turnpike mainline from being reduced to 2 lanes, especially when either the inner provider roadway is closed. 

This stuff was debated well over a decade ago, prior to the dual-dual lengthening. And that included it being known 95 was going to be using Interchange 6.

[02 Park Ave]

This also happens in Ohio and Illinois on I-80.

[cpzilliacus]

I find it interesting that when the Pearl Harbor Extension becomes I-95, traveling northbound onto the mainline turnpike, I-95 through traffic has to merge onto the turnpike which continues as I-95 north seen here: https://goo.gl/maps/WVzCSdHGZnQ2  This shows the merge onto the trucks buses and cars roadway. I actually don't like how when you're driving on I-95 and your lane suddenly ends. They could've had the left lane of the mainline turnpike merge into the middle lane and had the I-95 (exit 6) traffic continue with their own lane for the inner roadway and for the outer roadway start out with 2 lanes when the turnpike divides prior to exit 6 and have the lane extended all the way for I-95 through traffic. I can't think of any other place along the entire I-95 where this happens.

I drove that  recently (December 2018), and there is no lane drop for (what will be signed as) I-95 northbound traffic from the eastbound Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension (I have heard it called the Pennsylvania Extension informally) onto the mainline New Jersey Turnpike north of Exit 6. Unfortunately, the Google car has not been by there recently (or at all) but the lack of a lane drop ahead of the divide ("car" lanes left and "truck/bus" lanes right) is pretty obvious  from the satellite images on Google Maps.

If you are commenting about the points where the ramps carrying I-95 traffic merge onto the mainline turnpike to the north of Exit 6, there is the drop of one right lane (after a very generous merge). 

As for other places where this happens on I-95,  it happens here for northbound traffic just north of the  I-495 interchange in Beltsville, Maryland. 

It also happens here in Canton, Massachusetts, where I-95 exits off of itself to detour around Boston.

[roadman65]

I find it interesting that when the Pearl Harbor Extension becomes I-95, traveling northbound onto the mainline turnpike, I-95 through traffic has to merge onto the turnpike which continues as I-95 north seen here: https://goo.gl/maps/WVzCSdHGZnQ2  This shows the merge onto the trucks buses and cars roadway. I actually don't like how when you're driving on I-95 and your lane suddenly ends. They could've had the left lane of the mainline turnpike merge into the middle lane and had the I-95 (exit 6) traffic continue with their own lane for the inner roadway and for the outer roadway start out with 2 lanes when the turnpike divides prior to exit 6 and have the lane extended all the way for I-95 through traffic. I can't think of any other place along the entire I-95 where this happens.

The reasoning behind this was to prevent the Turnpike mainline from being reduced to 2 lanes, especially when either the inner provider roadway is closed. 

This stuff was debated well over a decade ago, prior to the dual-dual lengthening. And that included it being known 95 was going to be using Interchange 6.

I think that the lane configuration at the East and West Splits in Newark is what should have been used here.  Where the three car and the three truck lanes split into the two lane connectors to the spurs.  The center lane divides into the the right lane of the eastern spur in the car lanes as well as the left lane of the western spur, while the left lane is for the east and the right lane for the west.  Then both two lane roadways merge with their counterparts of the truck lanes to become three again.

The same should have been done at Exit 6, but the NJTA engineers wanted the Pearl Harbor Extension to be a two lane exit off of straight through 3 lane freeway.  It could have split the 3 into the through with the left and split off the center, while the right went for Exit 6 exclusively.  Then the two through lanes of the SB Turnpike could merger with their counterparts to become 3 again would have been a better drop in the end. 

That would make both I-95 and the Turnpike equal as to conform to new designs where interstates can no longer exit themselves (if I hear the owner Alex say it correctly that is) like they did for I-69 in KY where it goes from Parkway to Parkway making the straight through I-69 have a cut off roadway over the cloverleaf ramps.

[Alps]

Not that anyone was asking, but I was always of the opinion that the Turnpike should have split at the interchange instead of before it, similar to the "mixing bowls" in Newark and Teaneck. Split 3 lanes to a 2/2 configuration on the Pike, same on the Extension, then merge the 2/2 into 3 inner and 3 outer. 3+3 = 3+3, even if you get there with 2+2+2+2. However, I was informed that the desire to maintain 3 through lanes on the Turnpike, in case they need to close the inner or outer roadway, was paramount, hence the 3=3+3 scenario that they have. So given that necessity, it makes sense why they wouldn't do the merge you're proposing - because that would compromise the 3 through lanes.

[bzakharin]

I drove that  recently (December 2018)

So you're from the future?

and there is no lane drop for (what will be signed as) I-95 northbound traffic from the eastbound Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension (I have heard it called the Pennsylvania Extension informally) onto the mainline New Jersey Turnpike north of Exit 6. Unfortunately, the Google car has not been by there recently (or at all) but the lack of a lane drop ahead of the divide ("car" lanes left and "truck/bus" lanes right) is pretty obvious  from the satellite images on Google Maps.

Unless something changed since the satellite map you linked to was taken, the two lanes of I-95 enter the Turnpike from the right. First those two lanes merge into one. Then the remaining lane ends.

[NJRoadfan]

However, I was informed that the desire to maintain 3 through lanes on the Turnpike, in case they need to close the inner or outer roadway, was paramount, hence the 3=3+3 scenario that they have.

It also makes it easier to widen the dual-dual roadway south should there ever be the need.

[BrianP]

However, I was informed that the desire to maintain 3 through lanes on the Turnpike, in case they need to close the inner or outer roadway, was paramount, hence the 3=3+3 scenario that they have.

It also makes it easier to widen the dual-dual roadway south should there ever be the need.

In what scenario does anyone envision extending the dual-dual south of exit 6? 

It's basically impossible to not go into fictional territory here. (So move this if you like).  One scenario would be the expansion of I-295 in Delaware AND the Delaware Memorial bridge.  But that's quite unlikely.  Without expanding the bridge there's no need for the southern turnpike to exceed 8 lanes.

Another scenario would be another direct connection to Philadelphia like connecting the Turnpike to NJ 90.  But even that probably is not be enough to warrant a southern dual-dual expansion.  That would only likely require an expansion from 6 to 8 lanes between exit 6 and 4. 

I think the accommodating of a dual-dual southern expansion is pretty much totally unneeded.  I would find it more likely to expand the PA Turnpike connection to 8 lanes after the second Delaware River bridge is built. 

[Alps]

However, I was informed that the desire to maintain 3 through lanes on the Turnpike, in case they need to close the inner or outer roadway, was paramount, hence the 3=3+3 scenario that they have.

It also makes it easier to widen the dual-dual roadway south should there ever be the need.

In what scenario does anyone envision extending the dual-dual south of exit 6? 

It's basically impossible to not go into fictional territory here. (So move this if you like).  One scenario would be the expansion of I-295 in Delaware AND the Delaware Memorial bridge.  But that's quite unlikely.  Without expanding the bridge there's no need for the southern turnpike to exceed 8 lanes.

Another scenario would be another direct connection to Philadelphia like connecting the Turnpike to NJ 90.  But even that probably is not be enough to warrant a southern dual-dual expansion.  That would only likely require an expansion from 6 to 8 lanes between exit 6 and 4. 

I think the accommodating of a dual-dual southern expansion is pretty much totally unneeded.  I would find it more likely to expand the PA Turnpike connection to 8 lanes after the second Delaware River bridge is built. 

The dual-dual is not moving farther south anytime soon, but it'll probably be 4 lanes each way instead of 3 within our lifetimes.

[02 Park Ave]

Don't forget that you t isn't that far south of the end of dual-dual that the Turnpike goes down to two lanes at Exit 34 (old Exit 4).

[Alps]

Don't forget that it isn't that far south of the end of dual-dual that the Turnpike goes down to two lanes at Exit 34 (old Exit 4).

For now. All new bridges are being built with an extra lane of width south of 4.

[jeffandnicole]

Don't forget that you t isn't that far south of the end of dual-dual that the Turnpike goes down to two lanes at Exit 34 (old Exit 4).

It's Exit 4.  Don't confuse or get people all in a tizzy that they'll be changing the exit numbers anytime soon.

The 3 lane per direction part from Interchanges 4 to 6 generally runs pretty good right now, even during the busiest time periods.  The 2 lane roadway between 1 and 4 doesn't.  Many afternoon rush hours, between 3 and 4, experience congestion to the point where it's tough to reach the speed limit.  Many weekends, I've seen the stretch between 2 and 3 completely jammed up, and during otherwise fine times I've seen too many cases of a truck in the right lane going 65 and a (NY or PA) car in the left lane going 65.2, resulting in a clear roadway in front of them, and a line of cars behind them. 

I used to take the Turnpike frequently coming home from work to avoid congestion on 295.  With the congestion on the Turnpike, along with the congestion on Interchange 3 and Rt. 168, my time savings was either minimal or negative, making it pointless to use that as an alternative route in all except for extreme circumstances.

My personal desire: In each direction: 4 lanes from Interchanges 3 to 6; 3 lanes from 1 to 3.  My expectations: 3 lanes from 1 to 6.

[dgolub]

Don't forget that you t isn't that far south of the end of dual-dual that the Turnpike goes down to two lanes at Exit 34 (old Exit 4).

Huh?  Are there plans to renumber the exits on the turnpike?

[jeffandnicole]

Don't forget that you t isn't that far south of the end of dual-dual that the Turnpike goes down to two lanes at Exit 34 (old Exit 4).

Huh?  Are there plans to renumber the exits on the turnpike?

It's Exit 4.  Don't confuse or get people all in a tizzy that they'll be changing the exit numbers anytime soon.