The feds are fronting most of the $650m for connecting the Pennsylvania Turnpike with I-95 at Bristol PA at the far eastern end of the Turnpike. The long overdue project involves (1) relocation of the eastern barrier plaza of the Turnpike westward (2) an interchange routing I-95 directly onto the far eastern portion...MORE
The feds are fronting most of the $650m for connecting the Pennsylvania Turnpike with I-95 at Bristol PA at the far eastern end of the Turnpike. The long overdue project involves (1) relocation of the eastern barrier plaza of the Turnpike westward (2) an interchange routing I-95 directly onto the far eastern portion of the Penn Pike (3) widening of the Turnpike (4) twinning the Delaware River Bridge between the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the New Jersey Turnpike extension. When complete this will allow much smoother trips between New York and Philadelphia. For the first time part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike will have the famous I-95 designation - the 3,000km (1,857mi) route along America's eastern seaboard that goes from Houlton Maine through the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Richmond, the Carolinas, into Georgia and down the length of Florida through Miami to the edge of the Everglades.
I-95 signage is discontinuous in central New Jersey reflecting the road wars of the 1970s and 1980s when construction of a planned 47km (29mi) $375m 9-interchange segment called the Somerset Freeway between Laurenceville in the Trenton area and I-287 at Piscataway was stopped. This part of I-95 would have been parallel with the New Jersey Turnpike, about 12km to 20km (7 to 12mi) to its west. The NJ Tpk has been designated I-95 from its northern end at the George Washington Bridge to Exit 10 at I-287 since the beginning of interstate designations, the idea being that I-95 would then move off the Turnpike and jog west 8km (5mi) on I-287 to Piscataway, then south via the Somerset Freeway to the Trenton area. In 1997 the I-95 designation was extended down the New Jersey Turnpike south from I-287's Exit 10 to the Turnpike's Pearl Harbor Extension at Exit 6 in recognition of the abandonment of the Somerset freeway segment.
But from Exit 6 the 4-lane segments of the NJ Tpk spur, the Delaware River Bridge and the western end of the PA Pike are inadequate to deal with the traffic that would be unleashed by building ramps and making the crossing of the PA-Pike/I-95 near Bristol into an interchange.
The planned interchange of three levels caters to all movements with just one loop – for PA Tpk West to I-95 north - the others being direct connectors. The I-95 to I-95/Turnpike ramps are especially gently curved for a sense of continuity along the new I-95. Cost of the interchange about $320m with 21 properties (half commercial) requiring removal.
Toll Plaza rebuild is about $110m with the end-of-ticket-system mainline plaza being built anew some miles west of the interchange and a single I-95 ramp toll plaza being built east of the interchange.
The new Delaware River bridge just south of the existing span plus rehab of the old span is about $210m. And unlike those super-crass Californians at the Carquinez straits who - this is not made up - are putting a suspension bridge right alongside a large cantilever truss, the PA Tpk will match the existing truss in the second bridge. Each bridge will be capable of carrying 4-lanes 2-directions but will be striped for one direction 3-lanes. (see www.paturnpike.com/i-95) TRnews 2003-05-12
