Do New Highway Lanes Equal Less Traffic?
Feb. 14, 2005 -- -- As with many busy roadways across the country, there are times when traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike becomes a nightmare. Traffic, traffic -- and then more traffic -- tends to put a damper on any plans awaiting drivers once they reach their destinations.
The problem stems from a merge of car-only lanes with car-truck lanes, which backs up a 20-mile stretch that 120,000 drivers in both directions use each day. Engineers consulting with the state's turnpike authority have determined that one area has experienced "failure traffic levels" during morning and evening rush hours, and the conditions are expected to worsen to failure levels across the entire 20-mile span by 2011.
"Anyone who has traveled the turnpike through the middle of New Jersey knows this treacherous merge," said acting Gov. Richard J. Codey in announcing plans to extend the separation of lanes throughout the congested area. "It is one of the worst traffic spots in the state."
Codey said the $1.3 billion expansion project -- announced in December and still in the engineering and design stages -- is crucial for the region's commuters. "If we don't act, over the next several years, traffic growth in New Jersey, combined with a planned project in Pennsylvania to add a full-access interchange between the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the New Jersey Turnpike, will cause virtual gridlock," he said in a statement.
Ultimately, however, the area may face the same difficulties, according to several transportation experts. When highways reach traffic capacity, the answer can seem obvious -- more lanes equals more space for cars to travel, solving the problem.
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