Breezewood

[CanesFan27]

Great article by Selena Zito today that discusses the love/hate with Breezewood.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breezewood-stands-at-the-intersection-of-cronyism-and-tradition/article/2645067

[kphoger]

Is there not a Breezewood bypass routing?

Of course there is.  Why people don't just do this instead of having to endure the horror of a break in I-70, I'll never understand.

This route is actually shorter.

Oh, was that the goal?

[MNHighwayMan]

Is there not a Breezewood bypass routing?

Of course there is.  Why people don't just do this instead of having to endure the horror of a break in I-70, I'll never understand.

This route is actually shorter.

Oh, was that the goal?

... fair enough.

[Avalanchez71]

Great article by Selena Zito today that discusses the love/hate with Breezewood.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breezewood-stands-at-the-intersection-of-cronyism-and-tradition/article/2645067

That is a great article.  There is just an inaccuracy.  Every square inch of Pennsylvania is incorporated.  I guess they may mean to say that Breezewood isn't incorporated into it's own borough perhaps.

[empirestate]

Great article by Selena Zito today that discusses the love/hate with Breezewood.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breezewood-stands-at-the-intersection-of-cronyism-and-tradition/article/2645067

That is a great article.  There is just an inaccuracy.  Every square inch of Pennsylvania is incorporated.  I guess they may mean to say that Breezewood isn't incorporated into it's own borough perhaps.

If you're being super technical, it's inaccurate to say "unincorporated town", because every one of Pennsylvania's towns (here's a complete list of them: Bloomsburg) is incorporated.

Otherwise, yes; they simply mean that the place known as Breezewood isn't an incorporated entity of any kind on its own. (Looks like they just recopied the error from Wikipedia, which also lists it as an "unincorporated town", rather than the locally accepted "village".) Breezewood is located with East Providence Township; but is it common in PA to refer to townships as "incorporated"?

[02 Park Ave]

Has there ever been an organized boycott of the businesses at Breezewood?.

[jeffandnicole]

Has there ever been an organized boycott of the businesses at Breezewood?.

Most people don't even know what "Breezewood" is.  Some may be familiar with how I-70 encounters some traffic lights, and some of them may realize that it's in the area known as Breezewood, but hey, the kids need to pee and the car needs gas.  Might as well pull off and do it then.

I-676 has a Breezewood.  But no one calls it "Philly", and I've yet to see anyone say they're not visiting Philly because there's traffic lights on 676.

[ekt8750]

but is it common in PA to refer to townships as "incorporated"?

Pennsylvania townships are incorporated municipalities most of which were formed out of unincorporated villages that weren't apart of any borough or city.

[Avalanchez71]

Great article by Selena Zito today that discusses the love/hate with Breezewood.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breezewood-stands-at-the-intersection-of-cronyism-and-tradition/article/2645067

That is a great article.  There is just an inaccuracy.  Every square inch of Pennsylvania is incorporated.  I guess they may mean to say that Breezewood isn't incorporated into it's own borough perhaps.

If you're being super technical, it's inaccurate to say "unincorporated town", because every one of Pennsylvania's towns (here's a complete list of them: Bloomsburg) is incorporated.

Otherwise, yes; they simply mean that the place known as Breezewood isn't an incorporated entity of any kind on its own. (Looks like they just recopied the error from Wikipedia, which also lists it as an "unincorporated town", rather than the locally accepted "village".) Breezewood is located with East Providence Township; but is it common in PA to refer to townships as "incorporated"?

Townships in PA have the equivalent jurisdiction and power as incorporated cities/towns/villages in other states.  It is common to refer to PA as being entirely incorporated.  There is no functional annexation as any annexation would require the permission of the municipality.  Boroughs were formed as carve outs of townships but they pretty much have the same powers and duties.

[hbelkins]

Has there ever been an organized boycott of the businesses at Breezewood?.

Most people don't even know what "Breezewood" is.  Some may be familiar with how I-70 encounters some traffic lights, and some of them may realize that it's in the area known as Breezewood, but hey, the kids need to pee and the car needs gas.  Might as well pull off and do it then.

I-676 has a Breezewood.  But no one calls it "Philly", and I've yet to see anyone say they're not visiting Philly because there's traffic lights on 676.

That's because Breezewood has such a simple and obvious fix, yet it hasn't been done because, ostensibly, such a small wide spot in the road has such outsized political influence.

[kphoger]

Has there ever been an organized boycott of the businesses at Breezewood?.

Most people don't even know what "Breezewood" is.  Some may be familiar with how I-70 encounters some traffic lights, and some of them may realize that it's in the area known as Breezewood, but hey, the kids need to pee and the car needs gas.  Might as well pull off and do it then.

I-676 has a Breezewood.  But no one calls it "Philly", and I've yet to see anyone say they're not visiting Philly because there's traffic lights on 676.

That's because Breezewood has such a simple and obvious fix, yet it hasn't been done because, ostensibly, such a small wide spot in the road has such outsized political influence.

I-676 has a simple and obvious fix:  close 6th Street between Wood Street and Race Street.

[sparker]

Great article by Selena Zito today that discusses the love/hate with Breezewood.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breezewood-stands-at-the-intersection-of-cronyism-and-tradition/article/2645067

That is a great article.  There is just an inaccuracy.  Every square inch of Pennsylvania is incorporated.  I guess they may mean to say that Breezewood isn't incorporated into it's own borough perhaps.

If you're being super technical, it's inaccurate to say "unincorporated town", because every one of Pennsylvania's towns (here's a complete list of them: Bloomsburg) is incorporated.

Otherwise, yes; they simply mean that the place known as Breezewood isn't an incorporated entity of any kind on its own. (Looks like they just recopied the error from Wikipedia, which also lists it as an "unincorporated town", rather than the locally accepted "village".) Breezewood is located with East Providence Township; but is it common in PA to refer to townships as "incorporated"?

Townships in PA have the equivalent jurisdiction and power as incorporated cities/towns/villages in other states.  It is common to refer to PA as being entirely incorporated.  There is no functional annexation as any annexation would require the permission of the municipality.  Boroughs were formed as carve outs of townships but they pretty much have the same powers and duties.

If I'm to understand this correctly, then the governing jurisdiction in Breezewood is East Providence Township.  If the entire "township" -- which seems to encompass the adjoining areas -- benefits from revenue from those Breezewood businesses that in essence have a quasi-captive clientele in I-70 travelers, then that largely explains (though hardly excuses) the seemingly perpetual inaction toward forging a direct Turnpike connection.  The status quo is also likely bolstered by the very fact that Breezewood is an anomaly with some accrued folklore -- the "little burg that stood up to the big bad highway interests".  Some politicos -- obviously enough in PA to matter -- seem to get deferential when the issue crops up from time to time.  Maybe the solution is to back the Brinks' truck up to the town and keep shoveling out $$ until something gives!  At this point, nothing else has worked.     

[PHLBOS]

I-676 has a simple and obvious fix:  close 6th Street between Wood Street and Race Street.

That only addresses the eastbound direction.  For the westbound direction both 7th & 8th Streets between Race & Callowhill Streets would have to be closed.

[kphoger]

I-676 has a simple and obvious fix:  close 6th Street between Wood Street and Race Street.

That only addresses the eastbound direction.  For the westbound direction both 7th & 8th Streets between Race & Callowhill Streets would have to be closed.

Ah.  Didn't catch that half of the breezewood.

[empirestate]

but is it common in PA to refer to townships as "incorporated"?

Pennsylvania townships are incorporated municipalities most of which were formed out of unincorporated villages that weren't apart of any borough or city.

I don't think so. While a few cities may have been chartered before they were part of any township, the vast majority of boroughs and most cities would have been set off from an underlying township. Townships are more areal divisions than they are organizations of populated paces.

Townships in PA have the equivalent jurisdiction and power as incorporated cities/towns/villages in other states.

Equivalent, perhaps, as far as their governmental tier (state->county->city/borough/township), but many of the townships–particularly those of the second class–have much weaker governments and provide fewer services than a city or borough would. (Those that do exercise broad governmental powers often reorganize as home rule municipalities.)

It is common to refer to PA as being entirely incorporated.

Common among Pennsylvanians, though? It is common to refer to New York the same way, but in local usage the term "incorporated" is reserved for cities and villages, not towns. By contrast, in New England it's typical to regard cities and towns equivalently, as just different kinds of "incorporated" entities. But I don't have a sense of what the local usage in Pennsylvania is.

[02 Park Ave]

Sixth, Seventh, and Eigth Streets in Philadelphia.should be closed off.  Doing this would solve the problem and provide continuous movement on I-676 at almost no cost.  Of course there are tight turns in both directions there that would limit speed but in the long run it would be quite beneficial to the motoring public.

[Alps]

Sixth, Seventh, and Eigth Streets in Philadelphia.should be closed off.  Doing this would solve the problem and provide continuous movement on I-676 at almost no cost.  Of course there are tight turns in both directions there that would limit speed but in the long run it would be quite beneficial to the motoring public.

The real way to close that gap is a flyover. Adding a level completely opens things up for WB and EB traffic. But that violates the sightlines of the monument in the middle.

[SteveG1988]

Sixth, Seventh, and Eigth Streets in Philadelphia.should be closed off.  Doing this would solve the problem and provide continuous movement on I-676 at almost no cost.  Of course there are tight turns in both directions there that would limit speed but in the long run it would be quite beneficial to the motoring public.

The real way to close that gap is a flyover. Adding a level completely opens things up for WB and EB traffic. But that violates the sightlines of the monument in the middle.

you could "fix" it on paper by having i-676 end at i-95. Have US30 be an exit from the freeway, have 676 on the NJ side be NJ42 and have that connect to the bridge. There, no more breezewood situation.

[02 Park Ave]

That wouldn't improve the situation for the motorists though.

[ekt8750]

you could "fix" it on paper by having i-676 end at i-95. Have US30 be an exit from the freeway, have 676 on the NJ side be NJ42 and have that connect to the bridge. There, no more breezewood situation.

Officially that's how PennDOT recognizes SR 676. It stays on the freeway to the ramps to 95. The DRPA recognizes 676 across the bridge to the base of the Lightning Bolt sculpture. Like 02 Park Ave said, your solution doesn't physically fix anything for motorists. Just jumbles some numbers around.

I don't see any real way to fix this situation either. You can't tunnel under the sculpture because the PATCO tunnel is already under it, additional ramps are out of the question due to historical concerns with both the sculpture and Franklin Square. It'll just have to stay like the I-78 approach to the Holland Tunnel.

[jeffandnicole]

Sixth, Seventh, and Eigth Streets in Philadelphia.should be closed off.  Doing this would solve the problem and provide continuous movement on I-676 at almost no cost.  Of course there are tight turns in both directions there that would limit speed but in the long run it would be quite beneficial to the motoring public.

The real way to close that gap is a flyover. Adding a level completely opens things up for WB and EB traffic. But that violates the sightlines of the monument in the middle.

you could "fix" it on paper by having i-676 end at i-95. Have US30 be an exit from the freeway, have 676 on the NJ side be NJ42 and have that connect to the bridge. There, no more breezewood situation.

Well, that'll make it NJ 42 - I-76 - NJ 42.

You could do a NJ 42 - I-76 - I-176 (or other odd number) from I-76 to the Ben Franklin Bridge.  Again, doesn't fix the traffic light issue. Just fixes the traffic-light-on-the-interstate issue.

[vdeane]

Given how short I-76 is in NJ, I wouldn't think it would be much of an issue for NJ 42's mileage/exit numbers to dominate on an overlap.  This would also have the positive side effect of simplifying the exit numbers on the road, since they wouldn't reset so many times.  One could even leave the "exit 354" signs on the Walt Whitman Bridge as-is.

[jeffandnicole]

Given how short I-76 is in NJ, I wouldn't think it would be much of an issue for NJ 42's mileage/exit numbers to dominate on an overlap.  This would also have the positive side effect of simplifying the exit numbers on the road, since they wouldn't reset so many times.  One could even leave the "exit 354" signs on the Walt Whitman Bridge as-is.

Everyone (except NJDOT) calls it Rt. 42 anyway.

[02 Park Ave]

Perhaps they could drop all those numerical designations and just call it the Atlantic City Expressway eastward from the Ben Franklin Bridge. Or maybe I shoud say southward as the mileage on the ACE starts at zero in Atlantic City.  And so, extending the mileage all the way northward to the bridge would also simplify the cumbersome exit numbering that now exists.

[mrsman]

Sixth, Seventh, and Eigth Streets in Philadelphia.should be closed off.  Doing this would solve the problem and provide continuous movement on I-676 at almost no cost.  Of course there are tight turns in both directions there that would limit speed but in the long run it would be quite beneficial to the motoring public.

The real way to close that gap is a flyover. Adding a level completely opens things up for WB and EB traffic. But that violates the sightlines of the monument in the middle.

you could "fix" it on paper by having i-676 end at i-95. Have US30 be an exit from the freeway, have 676 on the NJ side be NJ42 and have that connect to the bridge. There, no more breezewood situation.

I like this approach.  76 will end at BK Horse Pike.  Nj 42 takes over the full routing of the NS Fwy from us 30 to Atl city

The ben should not be used as a freeways connector.  It should only be used to connect to center City
Thru traffic to reach areas west of Philly should use the Walt.