Why does I-70 not go to Philadelphia?

[bzakharin]

That's not really the point, though. Even with ACE and the Parkway, Atlantic City is given a lot more significance by the US routes than by freeways or potential interstates. This is unlike, say, Trenton, which was at least planned to have been a fairly major destination on the Interstate system, with links to Philly, New York, and Baltimore (and Belmar, or is that Shore Points?)

[roadman65]

That's not really the point, though. Even with ACE and the Parkway, Atlantic City is given a lot more significance by the US routes than by freeways or potential interstates. This is unlike, say, Trenton, which was at least planned to have been a fairly major destination on the Interstate system, with links to Philly, New York, and Baltimore (and Belmar, or is that Shore Points?)

That is my point too.  We do not need more than what we have for AC.  The road system is quite well, despite it not having official interstate numbered routes.

I may like the idea of the ACE and Route 42 becoming interstate, but I am not going to lose sleep over it and lead a crusade against NJDOT or NJ for getting I-76 extended either.  I understand that AC is fine the way it is, and we New Jerseyans are fine with not all of our freeways being interstate numbers or part of the national system.

It would be nice if they did and if NJ did change it, I would not stop them or complain either.  I just said what I said to answer someone's question about why AC never got an interstate which I basically said what you did.

Also we can add in if the Parkway or ACE was never built, we might of had the NJ interstate mileage different then.  Just like in PA, the Penn Turnpike is responsible for where both I-70 and I-80 are located today, I believe the NJ non interstate freeways set forth where NJ's interstates are today as well.

[jwolfer]

That's not really the point, though. Even with ACE and the Parkway, Atlantic City is given a lot more significance by the US routes than by freeways or potential interstates. This is unlike, say, Trenton, which was at least planned to have been a fairly major destination on the Interstate system, with links to Philly, New York, and Baltimore (and Belmar, or is that Shore Points?)

That is my point too.  We do not need more than what we have for AC.  The road system is quite well, despite it not having official interstate numbered routes.

I may like the idea of the ACE and Route 42 becoming interstate, but I am not going to lose sleep over it and lead a crusade against NJDOT or NJ for getting I-76 extended either.  I understand that AC is fine the way it is, and we New Jerseyans are fine with not all of our freeways being interstate numbers or part of the national system.

It would be nice if they did and if NJ did change it, I would not stop them or complain either.  I just said what I said to answer someone's question about why AC never got an interstate which I basically said what you did.

Also we can add in if the Parkway or ACE was never built, we might of had the NJ interstate mileage different then.  Just like in PA, the Penn Turnpike is responsible for where both I-70 and I-80 are located today, I believe the NJ non interstate freeways set forth where NJ's interstates are today as well.

The GSP could be 87.. It would make 287 make more sense.. But they would need to allow trucks the entire route. Another delaware crossing and go to Dover de and to Norfolk.. Pipe dreams. NJ had an ambition plan of freeways back in the 1960s. Most of it not built. Now the state is left with inadequate 2 lane roads that would be 6 or 8 lanes in other states (us 9 in Lakewood and Toms River)

[SteveG1988]

We have talked about it so much here of making the ACE part of I-76 many times it has gotten old already.  Yes, it is odd, but no New Jersey does not seem interested in adding more interstates and most of us New Jerseyans consider the Parkway and ACE as interstates even though they are not.

Having driven all of the ACE as recently as January 2015, I believe it would require a fair amount of upgrading in order to be awarded an Interstate number.  For starters, several of the overpasses are not Interstate-standard height.

That and NJ 42 has a lot of substandard issues as well. 

NJDOT wrote me back once saying that your reason above is that it would require a lot of work to get it done to be interstate quality. 

That is another reason to add to the list.  However, I do not see why this would be a problem since I-70 from New Stanton to Washington, PA is not to standards, I-78 from Hamburg to Fogelsville in PA is certainly not, and NJ 495 was allowed for years to be interstate and that we know is far from it.

Thing is, those were grandfathered in the early history of the interstate system, in the past. Key word...Past, as in before the 21st century. What they would let slide in the 60s and 70s would not slide today, look at how long it is taking to make US78 into I-22. If this was the 1960s the road would already be I-22. I-70 was built as a different  road, and was accepted due to it being "close enough" along with the PA turnpike itself (that may explain why 476 got to be put onto PA9, it was close enough and they did not want to argue it. Would the PA turnpike be I-76 if they were to apply for it today, versus back in the 50s. No, it would be given a Future I-76 designation, and upgraded as time went on until it fully met all standards. I-68 may have started out as US48 for example, but it was mostly built to interstate standards, except for the Cumberland thruway.

The Expressway and Parkway while on the surface look to be interstate standard, they are not, and would cost a lot to upgrade for what would mostly add up to a name change. All you have to do is put better signage up saying Atlantic City and Shore Points Traffic Follow 42 to Atlantic City Expressway and the Garden State Parkway. You do not need to have 76 extended to Atlantic City, no argument can be won when you bring up "it would direct people there due to it being on an Interstate" if a road bearing the name of the city it serves, and it only directly serves that city, does not do it. Then nothing will, it would be a needless waste of funding to do. Does NJ need more interstates, no it does not, does it need more expressways, yes it does. NJ55 is a prime example of what NJDOT should do, build a 4 lane interstate standard road that does not have a Interstate number. It may be held in limbo for the final section, but what is built works out well.

[GCrites]

Hey I am amazed that Jake from San Diego did not respond to this one in the first post something like " Because it goes to Baltimore."

Beat me to it.  I was going to say, "Because it goes to Wheeling." 

Rush would say, "Because it doesn't, Roll the Bones"