NJ/PA: I-95, I-295, & I-195 exit number and route renumbering

[rickmastfan67]

Don't go ruining the fun for all of us that are attending the "golden spike" meet for I-95/276 next month. 
For the uninitiated...
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-95pa-turnpike-golden-spike-meet-september-2018-tickets-48967320574

Sept 13th? Arrrrghh! Family things mean I have to be in Virginia that day.

Say you're sick.

[Markkos1992]

Just saw this on AARoads:  https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=11707.msg2352462#msg2352462

A quick update (no photos yet):

The I-95/PA 413 interchange is now Exit 39 from I-95 northbound (was Exit 40).  Along what is now I-295 westbound, the exit number still says 40, but there are other overhead signs that are covered that look like they refer to the same exit.  I wonder if they will carry the I-95 exit (39) or be I-295 Exit 1, since the proposed ramp exits prior to the I-95 merge.

[oscar]

Just saw this on AARoads:  https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=11707.msg2352462#msg2352462

A quick update (no photos yet):

The I-95/PA 413 interchange is now Exit 39 from I-95 northbound (was Exit 40).  Along what is now I-295 westbound, the exit number still says 40, but there are other overhead signs that are covered that look like they refer to the same exit.  I wonder if they will carry the I-95 exit (39) or be I-295 Exit 1, since the proposed ramp exits prior to the I-95 merge.

That interchange is now also I-95 exit 39 SB. I took a photo (still in my camera, but other people's photos from the Golden Spike meet might go on aaroads sooner than mine).

There is an exit 1 at the south end of I-295, marked as "To PA 413". But that is for a ramp for traffic from I-295 to PA 413, to get around the SB I-95 flyover, so it need not fight through SB I-95 traffic to get to I-95 exit 39. I don't recall seeing a corresponding bypass ramp for NB I-95 traffic, possibly because the first I-295 exit is nowhere near as close to the PA Turnpike as the exit for PA 413. HB doesn't have an exit 1 (or otherwise numbered) in the existing I-95 file north of the PA Turnpike, that will become the PA I-295 file. I think we should not add one.

A project official explained that the PA 413 interchange was renumbered because the 40 number is needed for the I-95/I-276/I-295 interchange, in which 276 will be treated as a left exit from SB I-95. I don't recall seeing signage at that new interchange for 276's exit number. I went back there this morning, I saw two covered-up signs confirming that 276 will be a left exit, but no clue what the number will be. EDIT: I didn't re-travel I-95 north of PA 413, to recheck the signage between there and the PA Turnpike. I don't know for sure that I-295 will be treated as a left exit from NB I-95, or that it will be numbered as exit 40 too, though that would be my guess as well.

The new exit number on the part of I-276 being transferred to I-95 was mentioned, and I think it was 358 -> 42. That exit number change will cause less heartburn than the 39/40 changes, since 40 is a point in use on I-95 and is being moved.

BTW, the meet included escorted drives on the new SB and NB flyovers connecting I-95 with the to-be-former I-276 segment (basically complete, just some finishing work needed before opening). So maybe I can count that as clinched-in-advance, without going back there for the official opening to maintain my I-95 clinch.

[osu-lsu]

BTW, the meet included escorted drives on the still unfinished new SB and NB flyovers connecting I-95 with the to-be-former I-276 segment. So maybe I can count that as clinched-in-advance, without going back there for the official opening to maintain my I-95 clinch.

To each their own, but I'm counting our drive/walk through with that interchange as a "clinch."

[vdeane]

That interchange is now also I-95 exit 39 SB. I took a photo (still in my camera, but other people's photos from the Golden Spike meet might go on aaroads sooner than mine).

There is an exit 1 at the south end of I-295, marked as "To PA 413". But that is for a ramp for traffic from I-295 to get around the SB I-95 flyover, so it need not fight through SB I-95 traffic to get to I-95 exit 39. I don't recall seeing a corresponding bypass ramp for NB I-95 traffic, possibly because the first I-295 exit is nowhere near as close to the PA Turnpike as the exit for PA 413. HB doesn't have an exit 1 (or otherwise numbered) in the existing I-95 file north of the PA Turnpike, that will become the PA I-295 file. I think we should not add one.

A project official explained that the PA 413 interchange was renumbered because the 40 number is needed for the I-95/I-276/I-295 interchange, in which 276 will be treated as a left exit from SB I-95. I don't recall seeing signage at that new interchange for 276's exit number. I went back there this morning, I saw two covered-up signs confirming that 276 will be a left exit, but no clue what the number will be.

The new exit number on the part of I-276 being transferred to I-95 was mentioned, and I think it was 358 -> 42. That exit number change will cause less heartburn than the 39/40 changes, since 40 is a point in use on I-95 and is being moved.

BTW, the meet included escorted drives on the new SB and NB flyovers connecting I-95 with the to-be-former I-276 segment (basically complete, just some finishing work needed before opening). So maybe I can count that as clinched-in-advance, without going back there for the official opening to maintain my I-95 clinch.

Did anyone ask what the likelihood of the rest of the interchange being built was?  I've been curious how it will be marked here; whether to have the point where existing I-95 and I-276 cross, or whether separate points will be used at each diverge from I-95 a la exit 75 of I-66.  At least right now, it seems that it will function as two interchanges, one with I-295 and one with I-276, especially with the long length of the ramps.

[Markkos1992]

Thinking of this offhand, I am planning to put the point where existing I-95 and I-276 cross as the center of the interchange.  That way the west/north end of I-295, the east end of I-276, and the I-95 transition are at the same point, which is how it would definitely be done had the whole interchange been built now.   

The situation you refer to with I-66 has ramps to/from VA 110 and US 50, which do not interchange with each other in any form from what I see.  To me, I-95/I-295/I-276 is an interchange with two roadways while the I-66/VA 110/US 50 interchange area has three.

EDIT:  Actually make that four, as I-66 and US 50 have ramps to/from the GW Pkwy as well.

[oscar]

I think Mark's plan for a single point at the I-95/I-295/I-276 junction is the way to go, even though the SB End I-295 sign is south of the PA Turnpike at the point where the flyover ramps tie into the existing roadway.

As for completing the missing movements at that interchange, my impression from the meeting with project managers was that falls into the category of "if and when PennDOT wins a really, really big lottery prize". As is common for such projects, compromises were made to fit the project scope into available funding. Construction is continuing on some improvements that are part of the overall project (such as on two I-276 interchanges, one of which will become an I-95 interchange), but they don't include missing movements ramps.

[yakra]

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/pa-turnpike-commission-reaches-milestone-new-i-95-interchange

[Markkos1992]

FYI, my tentative plan is to have this done by Monday.

[yakra]

If I'd been on the ball about making plans & asking for time off work & things, I may have gone to the Golden Spike Roadmeet.
Of course, I'll have it all pre-clinched, but I can't help but feel like I'm cheating just a tiny bit...

[Markkos1992]

I'm planning to do drive this tomorrow along with other roads around Philly (US 1, US 13, PA 291).  I remember getting my parents lost around Trenton once due to the I-95 gap on the way to New York once.  It will be nice to move on from that memory.

[Jim]

Preemptively updating my list..

Guessing I-95/276 and PA/NJ labels for the endpoints of the new PA I-295.

Will the PA Turnpike segment that's now I-95 also remain I-276, or has that designation now been truncated to the new interchange?

[oscar]

Preemptively updating my list..

Guessing I-95/276 and PA/NJ labels for the endpoints of the new PA I-295.

Will the PA Turnpike segment that's now I-95 also remain I-276, or has that designation now been truncated to the new interchange?

Since there are no ramps to directly travel between I-276 and I-295, something like I-95 (or I-95(40) or 40(95), using the relocated exit 40 number) would seem to be better as the south/west endpoint of PA I-295, and of the new east endpoint of I-276.

AIUI, I-276 was to be truncated to the new interchange. Photos posted on the aaroads forum indicate I-276 signage has been removed east of the new interchange, though more user reports may come in later today.

I'll wait a day or two to update my own list file, reflecting my pre-opening travels last week (courtesy of PennDOT) on both of the new I-95/PA Turnpike connector ramps. 

[Markkos1992]

I will be truncating I-276 to the I-95 interchange.   

Jim, your predicted points should be correct.  I am about to start on this shortly.

[Jim]

Also don't forget that the two mainline I-95 entries in usai_con.csv will be combined into one big entry (finally).