Philadelphia

[briantroutman]

I tend to think that Steve is right–that both the "straight"  and "left"  arrows are pointing to the Vine Street ramp. Also bear in mind that until 1974, the through movement for I-80S (and later I-76) was to Center City via the Vine Street Expressway. The auxiliary designation I-680 (later I-676) continued down the Schuylkill to the Walt Whitman Bridge.

The Philadelphia inset on the back of the PDH's 1960 state map shows this I-80S configuration, and it still shows US 30 winding its way through the city on Girard, Spring Garden, and other streets on its way to the Ben Franklin Bridge. Jeff Kitsko's US 30 history says that the designation was moved to the Schuylkill and Vine Street Expressways in 1962.

And that date seems to be consistent with the photo. It's hard to make out details, but most of the cars pictured appear to be late '50s or 1960 models, with what might be a '62 or '63 Ford Thunderbird just past the gore point headed to Vine Street. So this photo could easily have been taken within months after the US 30 designation was moved to the expressway, and its signage was tacked on poorly and after the fact. Later signage posted at the same point a few years later showed both I-76 and I-676 with almost straight up arrows...I-76's tilted just slightly to the left and I-676's just slightly to the right.

[qguy]

This was posted on the AARoads Facebook page, showing the Schuylkill Expwy at the Vine St Expwy in Philadelphia.  If you zoom in, US 30 East appears to be signed continuing on the Schuylkill past here.  I have never seen anything that matches that, I thought US 30 always either used Girard/Spring Garden or the Vine St Expwy itself.

What was this routing of US 30 then?

Or, am I misunderstanding where this is?  Perhaps 30 is going right and curving under to use the bridge on the left, and the "Schuylkill" signed as Vine St to the left only continues a little bit and then turns to become Vine St?

My best guess is that the thru arrow and the left arrows both refer to Vine St. (since the thru arrow is on the left) and this is just poor sign design.

The configuration of the interchange was different then.

[Roadsguy]

This was posted on the AARoads Facebook page, showing the Schuylkill Expwy at the Vine St Expwy in Philadelphia.  If you zoom in, US 30 East appears to be signed continuing on the Schuylkill past here.  I have never seen anything that matches that, I thought US 30 always either used Girard/Spring Garden or the Vine St Expwy itself.

What was this routing of US 30 then?

Or, am I misunderstanding where this is?  Perhaps 30 is going right and curving under to use the bridge on the left, and the "Schuylkill" signed as Vine St to the left only continues a little bit and then turns to become Vine St?

My best guess is that the thru arrow and the left arrows both refer to Vine St. (since the thru arrow is on the left) and this is just poor sign design.

The configuration of the interchange was different then.

Though Vine Street was still left and the Schuylkill still right.

[Beltway]

No median barrier on that photo ... I believe that was added in the late 1960s.

[jeffandnicole]

Reconstruction of I-95 is moving along just fine, and your grandkids should be able to enjoy the drive when they start driving!

http://www.philly.com/transportation/highway-interstate-penndot-richards-travel-driving-construction-when-finished-20181221.html

This doesn't make sense though:

Nationally, the 1,917-mile highway stretching from Miami to Houlton, Maine. moves up to 300,000 vehicles a day, according to the I-95 Corridor Coalition. But, built in the 1960s and '70s, the road is showing its years. Virginia, Florida, and Connecticut have all committed to major I-95 projects recently, the Federal Highway Administration reported.  The Pennsylvania segment under construction now is about eight miles long and used by 180,000 vehicles daily.

So only 120,000 vehicles outside of Pennsy use I-95?  Miami...NYC...Boston...DC? 

[Beltway]

Reconstruction of I-95 is moving along just fine, and your grandkids should be able to enjoy the drive when they start driving!
http://www.philly.com/transportation/highway-interstate-penndot-richards-travel-driving-construction-when-finished-20181221.html

At least they are rebuilding it.  With all that elevated viaduct mileage some people were wondering if they were going to lose it.

Some of the same concerns as with the Surekill Expressway back in the 1970s.

[seicer]

Well, some of the viaduct portions were removed and replaced with structured fill. I didn't realize that so much of I-95 in PA was elevated to begin with.

[jeffandnicole]

Well, some of the viaduct portions were removed and replaced with structured fill. I didn't realize that so much of I-95 in PA was elevated to begin with.

Some of the overpasses have asphalt road beds, so it does make it a bit deceiving sometimes how much is truly elevated. 

The article mentioned the new overpasses would be good for 75-100 years.  Maybe a bit of an exaggeration there too!!

[Beltway]

Well, some of the viaduct portions were removed and replaced with structured fill. I didn't realize that so much of I-95 in PA was elevated to begin with.

Some of the overpasses have asphalt road beds, so it does make it a bit deceiving sometimes how much is truly elevated. 

You certainly realize how much is elevated when driving it.

[seicer]

The original viaducts only lasted some 50 years? Unless the bridges are heated (which would probably be prohibitively expensive to inlay in the concrete), then salt will continue to be used. But it looks like the bridges feature a lot less steel that could be corroded.

[jeffandnicole]

Well, some of the viaduct portions were removed and replaced with structured fill. I didn't realize that so much of I-95 in PA was elevated to begin with.

Some of the overpasses have asphalt road beds, so it does make it a bit deceiving sometimes how much is truly elevated. 

You certainly realize how much is elevated when driving it.

There's a well-over 2 mile stretch between the Walt Whitman and Girard Point Bridges I bet would fool most people.

[Beltway]

Well, some of the viaduct portions were removed and replaced with structured fill. I didn't realize that so much of I-95 in PA was elevated to begin with.

Some of the overpasses have asphalt road beds, so it does make it a bit deceiving sometimes how much is truly elevated. 

You certainly realize how much is elevated when driving it.

There's a well-over 2 mile stretch between the Walt Whitman and Girard Point Bridges I bet would fool most people.

Just did a quick estimate on Google Maps aerial ... between Chester and Academy Road, about 44,000 feet or 8.5 miles, and maybe 2/3 mile can be charged to crossing a river.

[ekt8750]

Finally got a chance to get decent pics of the new signed on I-76 EB:







As you can see the 1/4 mi advance signs for Exits 347A-B haven't been replaced as of yet. I do hope that they warn of the height restriction for 347A a lot sooner than the exit gore cause as of right now that's the first indication of a height restriction and having that exit as part of my commute home, I've seen many a semi get stuck under there.

[jeffandnicole]

The last 2 pics...the sign on the right isn't correct.  You're already on East I-76 so it shouldn't be labeled "TO".  And as far as "To I-95 North" goes: While Exit 350 is signed "To I-95", there's nothing on the exit ramp to tell you how to actually get to 95.  It's much easier to get to 95 North via I-676 East.

[ekt8750]

The last 2 pics...the sign on the right isn't correct.  You're already on East I-76 so it shouldn't be labeled "TO".  And as far as "To I-95 North" goes: While Exit 350 is signed "To I-95", there's nothing on the exit ramp to tell you how to actually get to 95.  It's much easier to get to 95 North via I-676 East.

Perhaps they're trying to emphasize the fact that in order to remain on I-76, you have to exit the mainline and they want you start bearing right as early as possible.

I have no problem with the 95 shield being there. Probably be better off sans cardinal direction. Exit 349 can get you to both 95 North and South via Broad St, and as you mentioned Exit 350 can eventually get you to 95 North.

[odditude]

The last 2 pics...the sign on the right isn't correct.  You're already on East I-76 so it shouldn't be labeled "TO".  And as far as "To I-95 North" goes: While Exit 350 is signed "To I-95", there's nothing on the exit ramp to tell you how to actually get to 95.  It's much easier to get to 95 North via I-676 East.

additionally, both 347A and B should have "LEFT" placards.

[jeffandnicole]

The last 2 pics...the sign on the right isn't correct.  You're already on East I-76 so it shouldn't be labeled "TO".  And as far as "To I-95 North" goes: While Exit 350 is signed "To I-95", there's nothing on the exit ramp to tell you how to actually get to 95.  It's much easier to get to 95 North via I-676 East.

additionally, both 347A and B should have "LEFT" placards.

347B is an odd center lane exit: Approaching this area, there's 3 lanes.  The left lane is for Exit 347A, the center lane is for Exit 347B, and the right lane remains I-76 East.  At the area of the last pic, each lane splits off into 2 lanes, thus why they give each sign 2 arrows (a little confusing from a distance). 

So the last pic I would say is correct; the 2nd to last pic isn't correct as the tab is to the right, and the 3rd pic, due to the width of the sign, it defaults to being correct.

[Roadsguy]

The "To I-76" may have something to do with the fact that IIRC, the rest of the Schuylkill Expressway up to the bridge is owned and maintained by the DRPA. (It has no SR 0076 designation.)

They should definitely have the yellow LEFT markers in those two exit tabs, though. I'm surprised they missed that. PennDOT is usually pretty good with that on new signs.

[74/171FAN]

The last 2 pics...the sign on the right isn't correct.  You're already on East I-76 so it shouldn't be labeled "TO".  And as far as "To I-95 North" goes: While Exit 350 is signed "To I-95", there's nothing on the exit ramp to tell you how to actually get to 95.  It's much easier to get to 95 North via I-676 East.

additionally, both 347A and B should have "LEFT" placards.

347B is an odd center lane exit: Approaching this area, there's 3 lanes.  The left lane is for Exit 347A, the center lane is for Exit 347B, and the right lane remains I-76 East.  At the area of the last pic, each lane splits off into 2 lanes, thus why they give each sign 2 arrows (a little confusing from a distance). 

So the last pic I would say is correct; the 2nd to last pic isn't correct as the tab is to the right, and the 3rd pic, due to the width of the sign, it defaults to being correct.

I was angry when I first drove this part due to the "TO I-76".

[ipeters61]

I really don't like the rounded exit tabs combined with the rounded signs.  If you're going to do rounded signs, you might as well make it "blend" with the rest of the sign (like New York does).

[ixnay]

I really don't like the rounded exit tabs combined with the rounded signs.  If you're going to do rounded signs, you might as well make it "blend" with the rest of the sign (like New York does).

I agree.

ixnay

[ipeters61]

The last 2 pics...the sign on the right isn't correct.  You're already on East I-76 so it shouldn't be labeled "TO".  And as far as "To I-95 North" goes: While Exit 350 is signed "To I-95", there's nothing on the exit ramp to tell you how to actually get to 95.  It's much easier to get to 95 North via I-676 East.

additionally, both 347A and B should have "LEFT" placards.

347B is an odd center lane exit: Approaching this area, there's 3 lanes.  The left lane is for Exit 347A, the center lane is for Exit 347B, and the right lane remains I-76 East.  At the area of the last pic, each lane splits off into 2 lanes, thus why they give each sign 2 arrows (a little confusing from a distance). 

So the last pic I would say is correct; the 2nd to last pic isn't correct as the tab is to the right, and the 3rd pic, due to the width of the sign, it defaults to being correct.

How about an APL?

[jeffandnicole]

The last 2 pics...the sign on the right isn't correct.  You're already on East I-76 so it shouldn't be labeled "TO".  And as far as "To I-95 North" goes: While Exit 350 is signed "To I-95", there's nothing on the exit ramp to tell you how to actually get to 95.  It's much easier to get to 95 North via I-676 East.

additionally, both 347A and B should have "LEFT" placards.

347B is an odd center lane exit: Approaching this area, there's 3 lanes.  The left lane is for Exit 347A, the center lane is for Exit 347B, and the right lane remains I-76 East.  At the area of the last pic, each lane splits off into 2 lanes, thus why they give each sign 2 arrows (a little confusing from a distance). 

So the last pic I would say is correct; the 2nd to last pic isn't correct as the tab is to the right, and the 3rd pic, due to the width of the sign, it defaults to being correct.

How about an APL?

There's no option lane, so it doesn't meet the requirements for an APL.

[ixnay]

Finally got a chance to get decent pics of the new signed on I-76 EB:

There's room on that gantry (maybe) for a sign saying

      South and
      Southwest
     Philadelphia

USE EXITS 346B OR 347B

ixnay

[odditude]

There's room on that gantry (maybe) for a sign saying

      South and
      Southwest
     Philadelphia

USE EXITS 346B OR 347B

ixnay

i'd say that's incorrect - for South Philly, I'd be getting off at Broad or Packer (with Passyunk getting a maybe).