Interstate 95

Interstate 95

Until 2018, Interstate 95 followed multiple routes through the state of New Jersey. The gap created by the unconstructed Somerset Freeway between Trenton and South Brunswick resulted in a discontinuous I-95, with sections along the Trenton belt line and New Jersey Turnpike, and trailblazers posted along I-295 and I-195 to make the connection between the two highways.

Interstate 95 New Jersey Guides

North

South

Planning for the Interstate 95 through central New Jersey involved several routes between Trenton and South Brunswick. One of the corridors closely paralleled and used portions of U.S. 1 between Trenton and New Brunswick. Later corridors focused on the stretch between U.S. 206 and U.S. 1, from the Trenton belt line northward to Interstate 287. Other proposals included a two-prong freeway connection with Interstate 287, with Interstate 695 forking north to connect with I-287 at Piscataway and I-95 curving east to merge with I-287 at Edison. All of these plans however were canceled, with the Somerset Freeway cancelled formally in 1982.

That left Interstate 95 to follow the New Jersey Turnpike from I-287 northward to Interstate 80 and the George Washington Bridge approach at Teaneck. In the 1990s, Interstate 95 signs appeared on the New Jersey Turnpike south of I-287 to the interchange (Exit 7A) with Interstate 195. By 1999, a proposal arose to relocate Interstate 95 onto the Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension between Bristol, Pennsylvania and the New Jersey Turnpike near Bordentown. Signs quickly appeared on that stretch as well. Sign installation in 2004 also added Interstate 95 trailblazers to guide motorists on I-295 south from U.S. 1 at Lawrenceville to I-195, and along I-195 east to the exchange with the New Jersey Turnpike (Exit 7A).

The relocation of Interstate 95 onto the Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension was contingent on completion of a direct connection between I-95 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Following years of delays, work finally commenced on the project in 2009. Two flyover ramps at the I-95/PA Turnpike Interchange opened on September 23, 2018. With their completion, the gap in Interstate 95 was filled.

Sign changes underway in January 2018 preceded the opening of the I-95/PA Turnpike Interchange. Renumbering included extending Interstate 295 west over what was Interstate 95 along the western half of the Trenton belt line between the Scudder Falls Bridge and U.S. 1 at Lawrenceville. I-95 north of Interstate 276 through Bucks County, Pennsylvania was renumbered as east/west Interstate 295.

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Page Updated Saturday February 24, 2018.