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Northbound at the University Toll Plaza on Florida State Road 417, recently rebuilt with high-speed lanes.

Route description-

 An Enviroque Traffic Com Case Study- New Jersey Turnpike

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Map of the New Jersey Turnpike with exit locations

Aerial view of Exit 8 of the New Jersey Turnpike near Hightstown
The main road of the New Jersey Turnpike runs from Carneys Point Township in the south to Ridgefield Park in the north. It is designated as unsigned Route 700 from Exit 1 (Delaware Memorial Bridge) in Carneys Point Township, through to Exit 6 and as Interstate 95 from Exits 6 (Mansfield Township) through 18 (Secaucus/Carlstadt). The number of lanes ranges from 4 lanes south of Exit 4 (Mount Laurel Township), the interchange with Route 73, 6 lanes between Exit 4 and Exit 8A (Monroe Township), 10 lanes between Exit 8A and Exit 9 (East Brunswick), 12 lanes between Exit 9 and Exit 11 (Woodbridge Township), the interchange for the Garden State Parkway, and 14 lanes between Exit 11 and Exit 14 (Newark).

Changeable signage in the northbound cars only lanes for the split into the eastern and western alignments.
The main headquarters for the Turnpike was in East Brunswick Township; however after the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the New Jersey Highway Authority (former agency that maintains the Garden State Parkway) merged, the NJTA moved to the NJHA headquarters in Woodbridge Township. There, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority monitors vehicular volume on the entire length on the Turnpike. They operate three AM Radio channels, which broadcast advisories (weather, traffic, events) on the turnpike. Also, the main headquarters operates the VMS (Variable Message Signs) on the turnpike, which alerts motorists of poor weather, accidents, or congestion. Speed Limit signs are also VMS. When the main sign flashes "REDUCE SPEED," the speed limit VMS changes from its usual speed limit to a lowered one. The Authority also has a few closed-circuit TV cameras that show pictures of current traffic conditions. The cameras are located in Newark (2 cameras), Secaucus (1), Elizabeth (2), Jersey City (2), East Brunswick Township (1), Mount Laurel Township (1), and Monroe Township (2).
Before the advent of the Interstate Highways, the whole Turnpike was designated by the New Jersey Department of Transportation as Route 700, with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Extension being Route 700P and the Newark Bay Extension being Route 700N at one time. The western spur is officially known as Route 95W but signed as Interstate 95 (see below). None of these state highway designations have ever been signed.

A common VMS sign displaying a warning
Beginning just south of Exit 8A, the Turnpike splits into a "dual-dual" configuration, with the outer lanes open to all vehicles and the inner lanes limited to cars only, unless signed otherwise because of unusual conditions. From here to Exit 14 (Newark), the interchange with Interstate 78, the road ranges from 10 to 14 lanes wide. Starting in Monroe Township (going north), the turnpike has a total of 10 lanes, 5 in each direction (2-3-3-2). From East Brunswick, the turnpike has a total of 12 lanes, 6 in each direction (3-3-3-3). From Woodbridge Township, the turnpike has a total of 14 lanes, 7 in each direction (4-3-3-4). Between Woodbridge Township and Newark, HOV lanes exist on the outer roadway (outer truck lanes), which is the reason for the extra lane. The HOV lanes are in effect on weekdays, from 6:00-9:00 northbound, and 16:00-19:00 (4pm-7pm) southbound (at times, the Authority might "suspend" the HOV restrictions entirely during peaks hours in case of extra vehicular volume).
Between Exits 14 and 18, the Turnpike splits into two spurs, an eastern spur and a western spur. Both spurs are posted as I-95, although technically the eastern spur is I-95 as that was built first. The western spur is posted as I-95 for through traffic on I-95, while traffic entering at the ends of the split is routed via the eastern spur. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), which calls every class of highway Route, calls the western spur Route 95W.

A Delta Airlines Boeing 757 flies very low over the turnpike, just north of Newark Liberty International Airport.
The Turnpike also has two extensions: The first, the Newark Bay Extension, was opened in 1956 and is a part of Interstate 78. It connects Newark with Lower Manhattan via the Holland Tunnel in Jersey City and intersects the mainline near Newark Liberty International Airport. This extension contains three exits (Exits 14A, 14B, and 14C) and due to its design (four lanes with a shoulderless Jersey barrier divider), it has a 50 mph (80 km/h) speed limit.
The second extension connects the mainline of the New Jersey Turnpike with the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Exit 6. A 6-mile (10 km) long six-lane highway, it not only connects the Pennsylvania Turnpike with the mainline, but also has an exit to U.S. Route 130 near Florence. It was formerly designated as Route 700P, but is currently designated I-95 in preparation for when the Pennsylvania Turnpike/Interstate 95 Interchange Project is completed in 2014.
A 4-mile (6 km) stretch of I-95 north of U.S. Route 46 came under Turnpike Authority jurisdiction in 1992, as the NJDOT "sold" the road in order to balance the state budget. This section of the road is also "dual-dual", split into local and express lanes. This portion of the turnpike connects to the George Washington Bridge.
On July 9, 2003, Governor of New Jersey James McGreevey's plan to merge the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the New Jersey Highway Authority (which had operated the Garden State Parkway) into one agency was completed.
A section of the Turnpike and the surrounding land in Elizabeth and Newark, New Jersey has been called "the most dangerous two miles (3 km) in America" by New Jersey Homeland Security officials due to the high volume of traffic in conjunction with the density of potential terrorist targets in the surrounding area.[6]

 Bridges

New York City from the New Jersey Turnpike
A number of bridges are included as part of the New Jersey Turnpike:

• The Basilone Bridge spans the Raritan River, connecting Edison on the north with New Brunswick on the south.
• The Newark Bay Bridge (officially the Vincent R. Casciano Memorial Bridge) is a steel cantilever bridge spanning Newark Bay and connecting Newark and Bayonne. It was completed April 4, 1956, as part of the Turnpike's Newark Bay Extension.
• The Chaplain Washington Bridge and the Harry Laderman Bridge are steel girder spans that carry the Turnpike's eastern and western spurs, respectively, over the Passaic River at Newark.
• The Lewandowski Hackensack River Bridge carrying the Eastern Spur over the Hackensack River was named in honor of the three Lewandowski brothers, who were killed in action during War World II within 18 months of each other.

 Rest areas

The New Jersey Turnpike is noted for naming its rest areas after people who lived or worked in New Jersey. From south to north, the rest areas are:

• Clara Barton Service Area, named for Clara Barton, (southbound, milepost 5.4, in Oldmans Township)
• John Fenwick Service Area, named for John Fenwick, (northbound, 5.4, in Oldmans Township)
• Walt Whitman Service Area, named for Walt Whitman, (southbound, 30.2, in Cherry Hill Township)
• J. Fenimore Cooper Service Area, named for James Fenimore Cooper, (northbound, 39.4, in Mount Laurel Township; officially "J. Fenimore Cooper")
• Richard Stockton Service Area, named for Richard Stockton, (southbound, 58.7, in Hamilton Township)
• Woodrow Wilson Service Area, named for Woodrow Wilson, (northbound, 58.7, in Hamilton)
• Molly Pitcher Service Area, named for Molly Pitcher, (southbound, 71.7, in Cranbury Township)
• Joyce Kilmer Service Area, named for Joyce Kilmer, (northbound, 78.7, in East Brunswick Township)
• Thomas Edison Service Area, named for Thomas Edison, (southbound, 92.9, in Woodbridge Township)
• Grover Cleveland Service Area, named for Grover Cleveland, (northbound, 92.9, in Woodbridge)
• Alexander Hamilton Service Area, named for Alexander Hamilton, (southbound, eastern spur, 111.6, in the Town of Secaucus)
• Vince Lombardi Service Area, named for Vince Lombardi, (northbound/southbound, 116.0 (eastern spur), 115.5 (western spur), in the Borough of Ridgefield)

Even long-time local motorists frequently do not know who some of these people were, or in the case of Kilmer, even what gender they were (Kilmer's full name was Alfred Joyce Kilmer.) Several of the northbound rest stops are named after people better known by their middle names, rather than first names, these including Thomas Woodrow Wilson, the aforementioned Alfred Joyce Kilmer, and Stephen Grover Cleveland. "Molly Pitcher" is a name given to a woman (reportedly a water-bearer who helped cannoneers during a New Jersey battle during the American Revolutionary War) who may or may not have existed. Contemporary New Jersey writers such as Calvin Trillin and Philip Roth have ruefully commented that they hope they do not get a rest stop named after them once they die.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Looking for America book describes the Edison, Lombardi, and Kilmer rest stops as possible hot spots for heterosexual, homosexual, and prostitution activities respectively.
Turnpike rest areas comprise mostly Burger King, Roy Rogers, Popeye's Chicken, Sbarro and Starbucks restaurant locations. Most rest stops also include a Sunoco, with gas price signs posted about half a mile before reaching the rest stop.
Prior to Exit 13A opening in 1982, there used to be a service area on the northbound side where Exit 13A is located. The service area usage did overlap the existence of Exit 13-A (northbound drivers who took Exit 13-A missed the service area, and vice versa) but is no longer in existence. Today, one can notice it when exiting at 13A from the northbound car lanes since there's a 'temporary' concrete barrier that's blocking an open asphalt lot.[7] The plaza was named for Admiral William Halsey.[8]
Also, two service plazas were located on the Newark Bay Extension (one eastbound and one westbound) located west of Exit 14B. These were closed in the early 1970s. The eastbound plaza was named for John Stevens and the westbound plaza was named for Peter Stuyvesant.[9]

 Enviroque Traffic Com Toll collection

A New Jersey Turnpike Tollgate for Exit 8A in Monroe Township

A toll ticket received at Exit 15W in 2008.
The New Jersey Turnpike is a closed-system toll road, using a system of long-distance tickets, obtained once by a motorist upon entering and surrendered upon exiting at toll gates. The toll gates exist at all exits and entrances (except for the Meadowlands Sports Complex and the highway extension toward the Hudson River). The toll fee depends on the distance traveled between entrance and exit, and longer distances result in higher tolls. As of 2009, the automobile toll from Exit 1 to Exit 18 is $9.05. If the ticket is lost, one must pay the highest toll fee upon exiting. Discounts were available to all users of the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system until 2002. Since then, the costly implementation of the E-ZPass system forced the Turnpike Authority to eliminate the discounts during peak hours, and instead impose a $1 per month E-ZPass fee to their account holders. E-ZPass customers still receive a discount during off-peak hours, when the automobile toll from Exit 1 to Exit 18 is $9.05. Cash customers do not receive this discount.[10] Express E-ZPass implementation is underway, allowing E-ZPass customers at some of the toll plazas to travel through toll areas at highway speeds, via the addition of E-ZPass sensors on an overhead gantry. One of these high-speed toll gates is located at the northern terminus of the road, as southbound Interstate 95 traffic enters the turnpike. The newest one is located at the southern terminus in Carneys Point. There is also a high-speed E-ZPass entry point on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Extension. At each location, traditional E-ZPass and cash lanes are also available.
When traveling from the North, users who exit at the Meadowlands Sports Complex pay no toll, but the Turnpike Authority counts cars electronically and is paid a fee for each vehicle by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.
The non-tolled Interstate 295, which parallels the Turnpike for much of its southern length, is often used as an alternate route for shunpiking by locals and through travelers alike; prior to the expansion of the Exit 1 toll plaza, this route was promoted through signage and radio announcements from the New Jersey State Police as a bypass of summer congestion at the plaza.

 Gov. Corzine's 2008 plan to increase tolls

On January 8, 2008, Governor Jon Corzine proposed a 50 percent increase in tolls on New Jersey's three toll roads in 2010, with increases of a similar percentage every four years after that, in order to help pay state debt. Each times tolls increased, there would be an additional increase for inflation since the last toll increase (for the first, since 2006). The roads would be maintained by a nonprofit "public benefit corporation" which would pay back bonds to the state. Under this plan, and without considering the inflation increases, tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike would have risen from $6.45 to $42.92 in 2022.[11] It was considered possible that commuters will receive discounts from the higher toll rates.[12] The plan, however, was not enacted due to mounting opposition from New Jersey residents. On September 5, 2008, a proposal to increase Turnpike tolls substantially was reported.[13] On December 1, 2008, a new toll hike went into effect.[14]

 History

Hackensack Run bridge under construction in 1951

Approaching the Exit 11 tollbooths at night in 1992, in the days before E-ZPass.
According to a letter to the editor written by the daughter of Paul L. Troast, the first chairman of the NJ Turnpike Authority, Kathleen Troast Pitney:

A brochure "Interesting Facts about the New Jersey Turnpike", dating from soon after the road's opening, states that when the Turnpike's bonds are paid off, "The law provides that the Turnpike be turned over to the State for inclusion in the public highway system." Due to new construction, and the expectation that the Turnpike pay for policing and maintenance, this has never come to pass.
The task of building the turnpike was not an easy one. One major problem was the construction in the city of Elizabeth, where either 450 homes or 32 businesses would be destroyed, depending on the chosen route. The builders decided to go through the residential area, considering it the grittiest and the closest route to both Newark Airport and the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal seaport.

NJ Turnpike passes the swampy Meadowlands, near NYC
When construction finally got to Newark, there was a new challenge; Deciding to build either over or under the Pulaski Skyway. If construction went above the skyway, the costs would be much higher. If they went under, the costs would be lower, but the roadway would be very close to the Passaic River, making it harder for ships to pass through. The engineers chose to go under.
While continuing up to the New Jersey Meadowlands, the crossings were harder because of the fertile marsh land of silt and mud. Near the shallow mud, engineers filled the mud with crushed stone, and built the roadway above the water table. In the deeper mud, engineers sank caissons down to a firm stratum, filled the caissons with sand, then both the caissons, and the surrounding areas were covered with blankets of sand. Gradually, the water was brought up, and drained into adjacent meadows. Then, the construction of the two major bridges over the Passaic River and Hackensack River were completed. The bridges were built to give motorists a clear view of the New York City skyline, but with high retaining walls to make it seem as if you are not even crossing a river. The 6,955 ft (2,120 m) Passaic River (Chaplain Washington) Bridge cost $13.7 million to construct and the 5,623 ft (1,714 m) Hackensack River Bridge cost $9.5 million.
After the turnpike was built in 1952, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the New York State Thruway Authority proposed a 13-mile (21 km) extension of the New Jersey Turnpike that would go from its end (at U.S. Route 46 in Ridgefield Park at the time) up to West Nyack, New York at Interstate 87, the New York State Thruway. The portion through New Jersey was to be constructed and maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, while the portion in New York was to be built and maintained by the New York Thruway Authority. The purpose of this extension was to give motorists a "more direct bypass of the New York City area" to New England, by using the Tappan Zee Bridge. The extension was to parallel NY Route 303 and a "CSX (Conrail) River Line", and have limited interchanges. It was to have an interchange with the Palisades Interstate Parkway and at Interstate 87/New York State Thruway in West Nyack. This project did not survive, though. By 1970, it became too expensive to buy right-of-way access, and community opposition was fierce. Therefore, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the New York State Thruway Authority cancelled the project. [8]
A controversial project through the East Brunswick area involved a proposed widening from six to twelve lanes. Analysis of noise (Shadely, 1973) and air quality impacts were made in a lawsuit decided in New Jersey Superior Court. This case in the early 1970s was one of the early U.S. examples of environmental scientists playing a role in the design of a major highway. The computer models allowed the court to understand the effects of roadway geometry (width in this case), vehicle speeds, proposed noise barriers, residential setback and pavement types. The outcome was a compromise that involved substantial mitigation of noise pollution and air pollution impacts.

 Recent developments

Map of New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway

• In January 2004, the Authority opened up the refurbished 18W toll gate in Carlstadt. The refurbishment includes two E-ZPass Express Lanes in both directions.
• In July 2004, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority opened the new Exit 1 toll gate in Carney's Point Township. The new 23-lane toll gate is near milepost 2.4, featuring a glass-enclosed overhead walkway for toll collectors, including "a concrete lighthouse to serve as a 'gateway' to the state as well as to the turnpike".[8] The toll gate features 5 lanes heading north, 14 lanes heading south, and two "E-ZPass Express" Lanes in both directions.
• In 2005, the Authority opened Exit 15X to allow access to the newly-built Secaucus Junction train station.
• In February 2006, the Authority updated Exit 8A in Monroe Township. The former exit ramp that allowed traffic onto Route 32 westbound, has been closed off. Instead, a new ramp leads to a traffic light at the intersection of the ramp and County Route 535 in South Brunswick Township. Route 535 was expanded between the new ramp intersection and Route 32.
• The Authority planned to build Route 92, a West-East Spur from US 1 & Ridge Road in the Township of South Brunswick, to the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 8A in Monroe Township. This proposition was cancelled on December 1, 2006.
• The Authority lowered the Eastern Spur (between 107.3 to 107.5 in Newark). The lowered spur now consists of a minimum 15-foot (4.6 m) vertical clearance and a 12-foot (3.7 m) horizontal clearance on the shoulders underneath the Pulaski Skyway (U.S. Routes 1/9).[8]

 Future developments

• The Turnpike Authority is planning to widen the turnpike from the Exit 1 toll gate in Carney's Point Township to Exit 4 in Mount Laurel Township. Wider overpasses are currently being constructed to accommodate one extra lane in each direction (which would change the Southern Turnpike configuration from 2-2 to 3-3). However, this project is on hold due to the Exit 6-8A widening.
• The Turnpike Authority plans to widen the turnpike between Exit 9 in East Brunswick Township to Exit 8A in Monroe Township. This widening would change the dual-dual setup (from 2-3-3-2) to "3-3-3-3."
• The Turnpike Authority is reconfiguring Exit 12 in the Boro of Carteret to reduce truck traffic. A new grade separated interchange-ramp will be constructed from Roosevelt Ave east and connect to the toll gate. In addition, the toll gate is being widened from 7 lanes to 17. This project is expected to be finished by October or November 2009.[16]
• The Authority is constructing a 1.1-mile (1.8 km) connector, called the "Tremely Point Road Connector," between Industrial Way in the Boro of Carteret to Tremely Point Road in the City of Linden. The purpose of this connector is to "help meet the fast-growing commercial needs of the New York/New Jersey metropolitan region and ensure the continued efficiency and competitiveness of the numerous cargo loading/unloading facilities that operate within the Port of New York and New Jersey (Port)" [17]. The estimated completion date of the connector has yet to be determined. [18]
• The Authority is rebuilding Exit 16W in the Boro of East Rutherford. Various new ramps will be constructed and various old ones will be demolished. The purpose of this is to "address safety and congestion in the vicinity of the New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 16W." The estimated completion date is currently unknown.[19]
• The Turnpike Authority is repaving portions of the expressway, including ramps, as well as repairing bridges and overpasses.

      Widening between Interchanges 6 and 8A

In November 2004, New Jersey Governor Richard Codey advocated a plan to widen the Turnpike, extending the dual-dual configuration 20.1 miles (32.3 km) south from Exit 8A (Monroe Township) to Exit 6 (Mansfield Township), by 2013, when the Pennsylvania Turnpike is supposed to complete an interchange that will connect its road to the existing I-95 in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania. Finances would be supplied by rerouting money from the planned NJ 92 Turnpike extension. Overpasses are already being reconstructed to be compatible with a wider Turnpike.[20] The NJTA is also planning to expand the turnpike between Exit 9 in East Brunswick to Exit 8A in Monroe Township. This would change the current dual-dual configuration (2-3-3-2) to "3-3-3-3." This would require little construction as the overpasses were built with future expansion and would only require the outer lanes to be repaved and restriped to accommodate the extra lane.
The dual-dual configuration (between 6 and 8A) was thought to have been "2-3-3-2." However, according to Turnpike documentation, the turnpike would feature six lanes in each direction (3-3-3-3).[21] The following interchanges will be upgraded with this widening project: Exit 6 (Mansfield), Exit 7 (Bordentown), Exit 7A (Robbinsville Twp), Exit 8 (East Windsor Twp), and Exit 8A (Monroe Township).
On July 2, 2009, a ceremonial groundbreaking took place near Exit 8 to initiate the widening of the turnpike.[22]

 Widening proposal

On January 1, 2007, the Turnpike was facing opposition in East Windsor Township with an upgrade of Exit 8. The current Interchange 8 will be demolished and replaced with a new interchange. Prior to this plan being released, some thought that the new Exit 8 would connect directly with the Hightstown Bypass (Route 133). There seems to be ample space (between mile markers 67.89 and 68.12) to build a new interchange, a toll gate and ramps for 133. The NJTA's plan was to re-route the new Exit 8 to the intersection with Route 33, Milford Road, and the Hightstown Bypass (on the east side of the expressway in lieu of the west). This new 8 would grant direct access to the bypass (without going through any traffic lights), as well as to 33, using grade separated interchanges. The new toll gate would also feature a total of 12 booths at the gate. However, the interchange and the toll gate would run near some residential houses located right off of 33, and would disturb Twin Rivers. The Authority released 3 configuration options at the intersection of Milford, 33, and the bypass.

• Option 1: This option would feature turnpike ramps that would lead to a diamond interchange at Route 33, while the turnpike ramp turns into the 133 bypass and crosses over 33. At the intersection with Route 33 and the interchange ramps (from the turnpike and 133), a traffic signal would be built underneath Exit 8/Route 133. However, the drawback is that this option would "stop drivers from making several turns near the exit. These include left-hand turns from Route 33 onto [a relocated] Milford Road and from Milford Road onto Route 33." To make turns that are restricted, "the plan would push some trucks headed for Milford Road onto Lake Drive, which would be connected to Milford by a new connector road." The relocated Milford Road would start at the intersection of Monmouth Street and continue southeast to the existing Milford Road near Daniel Street.
• Option 2: A grade-separated diamond interchange would be constructed, which would lead the ramps towards Route 33. At the intersection with Route 33 and the interchange ramps (from the turnpike and 133), a traffic signal would be built underneath Exit 8 ramps/Route 133. In lieu of a connector road, a jug handle would be built on 33 west. This would intersect at 33 (with a traffic light) and become the relocated Milford Road (after crossing 33). The road would cross over the Turnpike ramps and resume its course near Daniel Street.
• Option 3: A cloverleaf interchange would be built in lieu of a diamond interchange. After exiting the Turnpike from the 8 toll gate, a ramp on the right would lead to Milford Road or Route 33. The mainline of the turnpike ramp would cross over 33 and turn into the 133 bypass. A relocated Milford Road would be built across from Monmouth Street & 33 (without connecting Monmouth and Milford) towards the intersection with the current Milford Road and Daniel Street. The new Milford would cross over the turnpike ramps. A leaf would be built from the turnpike ramp approaching the 8 toll gate, which would connect to Milford. An entrance ramp would be constructed from Milford Road to the 8 toll gate. Traveling north on Milford, a ramp would be constructed, which would diverge into 2 ways; one way would merge into the turnpike ramp heading towards 133, and the other would intersect at a new traffic light at Route 33 (just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) east of the current 33-133-Milford intersection).[23]

    Emergency assistance

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority offers twelve foot wide shoulders wherever possible, and disabled vehicle service may be obtained by dialing #95 on a cellular phone. The reason why #95 was chosen is probably because the turnpike uses Interstate 95. On the Garden State Parkway, the assistance number is #GSP, which is #477 in number form.

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