NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway go MUTCD!

[1995hoo]

I am, of course, speaking of upstate.  Downstate, signage seems to be replaced never... it feels like a completely different state down there from what I've seen (never been south of I-287 in state). ....

I-287 is upstate! 

(At least according to my relatives who live in Breezy Point)

[vdeane]

I am, of course, speaking of upstate.  Downstate, signage seems to be replaced never... it feels like a completely different state down there from what I've seen (never been south of I-287 in state). ....

I-287 is upstate! 

(At least according to my relatives who live in Breezy Point)

That doesn't stop me from looking at sign pictures/road videos of stuff in NYC and Long Island...

[Alps]

So . . . once and for all . . . which spur does the Turnpike consider to be I-95?  Or will both spurs show I-95 shields on their pull-through signing?

The Western Spur has always been considered the through spur. That said, I'm not certain what will happen with the current signing contract. The signs at the split will remain as they are now, but if you're thinking about Interchange 15X, all I know is, "we'll see."

Steve, you say most of the new MUTCD signs will be from Exit-10 north. Well, what kind of signing will be on the newest dual roadways from the Penn. Tpk. north to the current dual roads when that project's completed? Conventional NJT or MUTCD? Let me guess: old style NJT 'cause they were all ordered from the contractor before the decision was made to go MUTCD? LOL

And I agree with Roadfan about those yellow "Thru Traffic" signs at Exit-145. Definitely not compliant. Can't understand why they used yellow there.

First point: Yes, anything in the widening was ordered - and manufactured, which is important - before the new documents were adopted. Second point: There will be something else on the Parkway at 145 after the new signing contract. I cannot say more, unfortunately, although I really want to.

[kphoger]

Random question related to the OP....  Is there a roadgeek pronunciation of "MUTCD" other than em-u-tee-cee-dee?

[Alps]

Random question related to the OP....  Is there a roadgeek pronunciation of "MUTCD" other than em-u-tee-cee-dee?

Some say "mute-sid," but I hate that.

[NE2]

I say "mutt see dee".

[kphoger]

When I try to think of a pronunciation, my brain comes up with something like mutcxhxxqh, then temporarily stops working.

[SignBridge]

You can just call it "The Manual". Most of us and anyone in the traffic engineering business will usually know what you mean.

[akotchi]

So . . . once and for all . . . which spur does the Turnpike consider to be I-95?  Or will both spurs show I-95 shields on their pull-through signing?

The Western Spur has always been considered the through spur. That said, I'm not certain what will happen with the current signing contract. The signs at the split will remain as they are now, but if you're thinking about Interchange 15X, all I know is, "we'll see."

16W as well.

[jeffandnicole]

I say "mutt see dee".

MUCD...dammit...

[MrDisco99]

According to the NJDOT straight line diagram, 95 follows the eastern spur, as does NJTP mileage.

http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000095__-.pdf

http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000095W_-.pdf

Growing up, the people I rode with always took the western spur to where we were going and back, so whenever I drive it now I always take the east.

[Roadsguy]

I say "MUTT-kid."

[amroad17]

The Eastern spur was the original one, correct?  The Western spur wasn't built until the 1960's.

Actually, if there was an instance to use suffixes, this would be the place (I-95E, I-95W).

[NE2]

The eastern spur was original, and now functionally serves as local lanes with better access to Hudson County (while the western spur better serves the Meadowlands).

[1995hoo]

In the pre—E-ZPass days I almost always opted for the Eastern Spur, notwithstanding all the signs urging thru traffic to use the Western Spur, because it had a bigger toll plaza and I found I usually got through faster on the Eastern Spur (no doubt helped by the fact that most of the long-distance drivers followed the signs and went the other way). Now that the Western Spur has the highway-speed E-ZPass lanes, I opt for that side instead unless something's going on at the Meadowlands.

[SignBridge]

I find both spurs interesting. On the west you have the Meadowlands Complex and on the East you have the wide toll plaza and the Secaucus Rail station which I like as a railroad buff. 

[Alps]

According to the NJDOT straight line diagram, 95 follows the eastern spur, as does NJTP mileage.

http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000095__-.pdf

http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000095W_-.pdf

Growing up, the people I rode with always took the western spur to where we were going and back, so whenever I drive it now I always take the east.

Yes, the technical definition of I-95 follows the Easterly Alignment (technical name), and that is indeed because that was the original alignment. Going forward, I wouldn't think I-95W and I-95E would be accepted by FHWA, but who knows? If for some reason the NJTA had to designate both Alignments as Interstates, I think it's 90% likely that I-95 would take the Westerly and something else would take the Easterly.

[SignBridge]

Well, whichever leg they designated as the real I-95, the FWHA would probably find it too simple and intuitive for drivers to use I-95E and I-95W. So they'd mandate the NJTA use something brilliant like calling one leg I-95 and the other a spur like I-295   and really confuse everybody.

I can just picture the signs now at the northern split: Exits 17W, 16W, I-295 SOUTH to I-95 SOUTH, Newark, Trenton. Sometimes the older simpler ways are better.

[Alps]

Well, whichever leg they designated as the real I-95, the FWHA would probably find it too simple and intuitive for drivers to use I-95E and I-95W. So they'd mandate the NJTA use something brilliant like calling one leg I-95 and the other a spur like I-295   and really confuse everybody.

I can just picture the signs now at the northern split: Exits 17W, 16W, I-295 SOUTH to I-95 SOUTH, Newark, Trenton. Sometimes the older simpler ways are better.

If the FHWA is going to force the NJTA to number its spurs, it'd probably force mile-based numbering at the same time...

[djsinco]

(Seinfeld-like incredulous voice)... What's up with Exit 18X? 

Does anyone know of any other exit with an X suffix? Even I-670 in KC doesn't make it that deep in the alphabet.

[NE2]

(Seinfeld-like incredulous voice)... What's up with Exit 18X? 

Probably refers to the Secaucus Junction rail station, which is where two major lines cross.

Does anyone know of any other exit with an X suffix? Even I-670 in KC doesn't make it that deep in the alphabet.

I-35 in KC does:


The original Florida's Turnpike south of where the Homestead Extension branches off uses an X suffix:

[djsinco]

I relearned something already today. Since the point when 670 was completed many years ago, I have only used 70 "through town" once, when I was distracted and missed the left exit.
Does anyone here know if the two sharp left-hand curves are still there on 70?

Relearn how to quote, next

[1995hoo]

(Seinfeld-like incredulous voice)... What's up with Exit 18X? 

Does anyone know of any other exit with an X suffix? Even I-670 in KC doesn't make it that deep in the alphabet.

If there hadn't been the two spurs there, it might have been Exit 15A, but "Exit 15AE" sounds horrible. I read somewhere (might have been this forum) that they chose the "X" to denote "transfer," as in "xfer."

[jeffandnicole]

(Seinfeld-like incredulous voice)... What's up with Exit 18X? 

Actually, I think you mean 15X. 

Well, whichever leg they designated as the real I-95, the FWHA would probably find it too simple and intuitive for drivers to use I-95E and I-95W. So they'd mandate the NJTA use something brilliant like calling one leg I-95 and the other a spur like I-295   and really confuse everybody.

Or...orrrr...designate I-80 on the Eastern spur.  Going Northbound, when the roadway splits, I-95 is the western spur, and I-80 is the eastern spur.  When the highways join up next to each other above Interchange 18E/W, 80 & 95 maintain their individual roadways, then 80 takes its westerly direction, while 95 heads to the east!

The resulting roadway lane designation between 18E/W and I-80/95 would look as follows:

80E | 95S | 80W | 95N

[vdeane]

Well, whichever leg they designated as the real I-95, the FWHA would probably find it too simple and intuitive for drivers to use I-95E and I-95W.

They approved I-69E/69C/69W in Texas...