New Jersey traffic circles
Mike Lloyd
fascinated by the traffic circles. I've read that there's only 31
circles left in the state of the 67 originally built, but that doesn't
sound right. Heck, there's four named ones within five miles of my
house (Allaire, Asbury, Collingswood, Manasquan), not to mention the
minor ones that don't seem to have a name, like the one at the end of
the Main Street Bridge from Asbury Park to Loch Arbour.
The Collingswood Circle noted above is the one in Monmouth County
(Routes 33/34), not the one in Camden County (Routes 30/130).
Is there a directory of named New Jersey traffic circles? I haven't
been able to find one.
Christopher Blaney
the I-80/US 46/NJ 23 mega-interchange in Wayne), Phillipsburg (US 22, NJ
122, and CR 519), and Ledgewood (US 46/NJ 10). Ledgewood was the one to
disappear the most recently, in 1998. Before that it was declared the worst
intersection in Morris County by number of traffic incidents.
Two circles that have changed almost beyond recognition are Somerville (US
202/US 206/NJ 28) and Livingston (NJ 10/CR 506/Eisenhower Parkway). In the
former case, a flyover and ramps were built for US 202 traffic; however, the
circle still exists under the flyover. In the case of the Livingston Circle,
US 10 and Eisenhower Parkway cut through the circle, but the outer ring of
the circle still exists for turn movements.
There are other examples of both circle elimination and circle modification
in New Jersey.
"Mike Lloyd" <michae...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:e553d9f3.04042...@posting.google.com...
RLDean
>From: "Christopher Blaney" cbl...@my-deja.com
>Three circles that I know have disappeared are Willow Brook (now the site of
>the I-80/US 46/NJ 23 mega-interchange in Wayne), Phillipsburg (US 22, NJ
>122, and CR 519), and Ledgewood (US 46/NJ 10). Ledgewood was the one to
>disappear the most recently, in 1998. Before that it was declared the worst
>intersection in Morris County by number of traffic incidents.
>
>Two circles that have changed almost beyond recognition are Somerville (US
>202/US 206/NJ 28) and Livingston (NJ 10/CR 506/Eisenhower Parkway). In the
>former case, a flyover and ramps were built for US 202 traffic; however, the
>circle still exists under the flyover. In the case of the Livingston Circle,
>US 10 and Eisenhower Parkway cut through the circle, but the outer ring of
>the circle still exists for turn movements.
>
>There are other examples of both circle elimination and circle modification
>in New Jersey.
NJ Route 23 in Passaic and Morirs counties once had 5 circles in 8 miles with
all now a memory. Three were in Wayne Township, Passaic County. The other
two were in Pequannock Township and Riverdale Borough.
First to go during the mid 1960's was the Willowbrook at the junction of US 46
which was replaced by the "spaghetti bowl" during the constructin of I-80 only
a few hundred feet north of US 46.
Second was the "killer bend" circle at the junction with Newark-Pompton
Turnpike in Wayne, which really wasn't a circle but a sort of tri-angle When
23 was built from that point to the Willowbrook Circle it followed the
alignment of the early 19th century turnpike. The two northbound lanes were
straight, but the two southbound made a near 90 degree turn to the right then
straight for only a couple hundred feet and antoher near 90 degree turn tot he
left. I remember the "circle" signs being there until it's early 1970's
demise. There were houses and the Wayside Diner "inside" the circle. It was
replaced with an overpass.
The third circle going north, and the third to go was at the junction of NJ 23
with Black Oak Ridge Road and Ratzer Road. It was replaced with signals and
jughandles north and south of where it had been. It disappeared when 23 was
transformed into 6 lanes divided by a Jersey barrier during the early 80's.
Commonly it was named "Ridge Circle" at least by the Wayne authorities.
Fourth was in at Jackson Avenue in Pompton Plains, Pequannock Township and was
replaced by a signal with jughandles. It was called either Jackson or Pompton
Plains circle locally. It was replaced when Route 23 was widened to six lanes
in the late 1980's.
Fifth was the Riverdale Circle at another junction with the Newark-Pompton
Turnpike that connects with Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike, and it was at the base
of the near mile long eight percent grade on 23 known as Riverdale hill. It
was replaced in the late 1980's at the same time as construction of I-287 was
in progress which resulted in the interchange between the two busy highways.
I grew up with these changes taking place and today still live within a half
mile of NJ 23, 3 miles north of the Riverdale Circle.
Rich Dean
Butler NJ
Steve
> Three circles that I know have disappeared are Willow Brook (now the site of
> the I-80/US 46/NJ 23 mega-interchange in Wayne), Phillipsburg (US 22, NJ
> 122, and CR 519), and Ledgewood (US 46/NJ 10). Ledgewood was the one to
> disappear the most recently, in 1998. Before that it was declared the worst
> intersection in Morris County by number of traffic incidents.
>
> Two circles that have changed almost beyond recognition are Somerville (US
> 202/US 206/NJ 28) and Livingston (NJ 10/CR 506/Eisenhower Parkway). In the
> former case, a flyover and ramps were built for US 202 traffic; however, the
> circle still exists under the flyover. In the case of the Livingston Circle,
> US 10 and Eisenhower Parkway cut through the circle, but the outer ring of
> the circle still exists for turn movements.
>
> There are other examples of both circle elimination and circle modification
> in New Jersey.
>
Not quite... _NJ_ 10 doesn't cut through the circle. Still goes around
the outside, though somewhat wider than before. NJ 12 has two circles
itself... there are also regular roads that have circles (I've mentioned
Allwood Road at Bloomfield Avenue in here). So yeah, probably over 100.
--
Steve
GO YANKEES!
Civil Engineering (Course 1) at MIT
George Kowal
One of the most recent circles to vanish is the one in Jersey City
where NJ 7 and Truck US 1&9 intersect, just below the Skyway. Think
that was called the Charlotte Circle. There's another circle just
hundreds of feet NE of there that will be rebuilt as part of a large
scale intersection rebuild with widening and flyover ramps, etc.
There's a NJDOT website on it with lot's of diagrams pics and maps
available online.
GK
josef
the circle for route 73 and some county roads in berlin is named, suitably,
the berlin circle. it sucks so hard.
Chascsq
could of sworn my mother said it was one...I do know either way by the early
80's it was a signalized intersection, and has now become a RIRO on both
sides off the highway.
Sean
73) more than any other South Jersey circle.
R.....ichard
I like the one at Pittsgrove.
About the only way to handle a 6 way intersection like that.
Makes it nice to make a turn in a truck.
Can't do it one way? Just go around and try the other way.
Steve
You referring to where US 1/9 leaves the Skyway? What a terrible road
1/9 is between there and US 46... four lanes max, traffic lights everywhere.
Bill Mitchell
> Two circles that have changed almost beyond recognition are Somerville (US
> 202/US 206/NJ 28) and Livingston (NJ 10/CR 506/Eisenhower Parkway). In the
> former case, a flyover and ramps were built for US 202 traffic; however, the
> circle still exists under the flyover. In the case of the Livingston Circle,
> US 10 and Eisenhower Parkway cut through the circle, but the outer ring of
> the circle still exists for turn movements.
>
> There are other examples of both circle elimination and circle modification
> in New Jersey.
>
Some circles off the top of my head:
Ridgefield (US 1-9 and Hendrick's Causeway) replaced by a light.
Little Ferry (US 46 and Bergen Turnpike) 46 goes through the circle
with a light at the two intersections between 46 and the circle. Lodi
circle on US 46 (between Outwater Lane and Main Street) replaced by a
light. Another on 46 at Crooks Ave. had a number of businesses in the
circle including a MickeyD, Circle brake and Circle car painters. The
Allwood Circle (Bloomfield Ave & Allwood Road) is still there, was
probably an old alignment of NJ 3 or S3. Camp Merritt in Creskill,
CR505 and Madison Ave., still there, never was state highway. Bayway
in Elizabeth, similar to Little Ferry, 1&9 goes through the circle
between 2 lights. Tonelle circle is still there on 1&9 at the west end
of NJ139 but Charlotte Circle has been replaced at NJ7/Charlotte
ave./Truck 1-9.
josef
: 73) more than any other South Jersey circle.
touché. didn't i read on here they're thinking of making it some kind of
raised thing, getting rid of it altogether?
George Kowal
> George Kowal wrote:
> You referring to where US 1/9 leaves the Skyway? What a terrible road
> 1/9 is between there and US 46... four lanes max, traffic lights everywhere.
Agreed, although some of that has been getting upgraded over the last
few years.
I had heard that NJ wanted to build a bypass of that but the local
merchants and politicians wanted to keep everyone trapped on the old
highway for economic reason. I consider that personal greed, but I've
seen it happen before in NJ, as when the DOT wanted to bypass NJ 23 up
North and the same thing happened.
Anyway, there have been widenings, flyover ramps, etc already and
still being built towards the Rt 3 area, and the big project going on
is detailed here.
Jeff
Both will be history soon. The Berlin Circle is scheduled for
replacement starting later this year in a wide ranging project costing
nearly $24 million. The circle will be removed, a number of median
crossings on Rt. 73 will be closed and replaced with a series of
jughandles, Cross Keys Rd. between the Berlin Circle and Rt. 30 will
be widened from 2 to 4 lanes, and Rt. 30 will be widened to include
turning lanes.
Jeff
OK, forgot to mention the Marlton Circle. Rt. 73 will go over Rt. 70.
Ramps will be designed either as a diamond interchange, or a modified
diamond interchange.
josef
: replacement starting later this year in a wide ranging project costing
: nearly $24 million. The circle will be removed, a number of median
: crossings on Rt. 73 will be closed and replaced with a series of
: jughandles, Cross Keys Rd. between the Berlin Circle and Rt. 30 will
: be widened from 2 to 4 lanes, and Rt. 30 will be widened to include
: turning lanes.
oo..that's going to look so different. just jughandles and turn lanes?
interesting.
Mateo
> I've been living in New Jersey for about four years now, and I'm
> fascinated by the traffic circles. I've read that there's only 31
> circles left in the state of the 67 originally built, but that doesn't
> sound right. Heck, there's four named ones within five miles of my
> house (Allaire, Asbury, Collingswood, Manasquan), not to mention the
> minor ones that don't seem to have a name, like the one at the end of
> the Main Street Bridge from Asbury Park to Loch Arbour.
Yeah, I wonder if that 31 includes ones like the Watchung Circle, where
CR 527 and a couple of other roads come together, or even the sort-of
circle where US-1 and CR 571 meet in West Windsor. It should include
the Pennington Circle, where SR 31 meets a few roads, and the Brunswick
Circle in Trenton, where US 206 meets US 1 Business.
Brian Polidoro
Nice. Now if only they could widen the rest of Cross Keys road.
They've been slow in their progress. They've been reconstructing
intersections with 4 lanes. Hopefully they'll soon start widening the
parts in between.
I seem to recall as a child that there was a traffic circle we used to
go through on the way to the shore. Beings we used to use the Black
Horse Pike over the ACE, I think it was on that highway. But later we
used the ACE so I don't know when it was removed. My best guess was
that this circle was where US 40 meets US 322. Does anyone know of a
circle there or somewhere else on the black horse pike? And if so
when it was removed?
I know there's the Pleasantville circle further east:
http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=10&x=2687&y=21810&z=18&w=2
Any word on that circle being removed?
Oh wait! I was just looking at where I thought the circle was and the
older topo map still shows the circle:
http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=2&s=11&x=1326&y=10917&z=18&w=2
I wonder if it had a name. I would think it may have been called
racetrack circle because it was just outside of the Atlantic City
Racetrack. But there was a racetrack circle on NJ 70. But no rule
saying 2 circles can't have the same name.
Also about the Marlton circle mentioned in another post in this
thread. Which highway will have the traffic signals beings it will
become a diamond? I would guess NJ 70 would get the lights.
Brian Polidoro
josef
: They've been slow in their progress. They've been reconstructing
: intersections with 4 lanes. Hopefully they'll soon start widening the
: parts in between.
:
: I seem to recall as a child that there was a traffic circle we used to
: go through on the way to the shore. Beings we used to use the Black
: Horse Pike over the ACE, I think it was on that highway. But later we
: used the ACE so I don't know when it was removed. My best guess was
: that this circle was where US 40 meets US 322. Does anyone know of a
: circle there or somewhere else on the black horse pike? And if so
: when it was removed?
:
: I know there's the Pleasantville circle further east:
: http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=10&x=2687&y=21810&z=18&w=2
:
: Any word on that circle being removed?
:
: Oh wait! I was just looking at where I thought the circle was and the
: older topo map still shows the circle:
: http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=2&s=11&x=1326&y=10917&z=18&w=2
: I wonder if it had a name. I would think it may have been called
: racetrack circle because it was just outside of the Atlantic City
: Racetrack. But there was a racetrack circle on NJ 70. But no rule
: saying 2 circles can't have the same name.
:
: Also about the Marlton circle mentioned in another post in this
: thread. Which highway will have the traffic signals beings it will
: become a diamond? I would guess NJ 70 would get the lights.
:
: Brian Polidoro
which shore did you go to..? i mean there's the route 52/9 circle in ocean
city..
josef
: city..
er well it's off route 9
Lepidopteran
was eliminated sometime after NJ-33 was routed around most of the city
in 1988. I think the intersection on US-9 that replaced it has triple
left-turn lanes somewhere.
Is anyone familiar with Cranbury Circle on US-130? Although it is
still identified as a traffic circle, in practice it seems to be
treated as little more than a wide spot in the median. Does this even
have the standard NJ circle warning sign anymore? (a yellow sign with
the word CIRCLE with a thick black circle around it)
An earlier thread on this subject suggested there was an unwritten
rule that all NJ traffic circles, past and present, had to have a
diner nearby. I do know there's a pretty big diner at Marlton Circle
called "Olga's".
Steve
> The traffic circle in Freehold near the racetrack (Raceway Circle?)
> was eliminated sometime after NJ-33 was routed around most of the city
> in 1988. I think the intersection on US-9 that replaced it has triple
> left-turn lanes somewhere.
>
> Is anyone familiar with Cranbury Circle on US-130? Although it is
> still identified as a traffic circle, in practice it seems to be
> treated as little more than a wide spot in the median. Does this even
> have the standard NJ circle warning sign anymore? (a yellow sign with
> the word CIRCLE with a thick black circle around it)
>
While the Livingston Circle is not only a circle, but has CIRCLE
signage, it's really more of a wide spot in NJ 10's median, with U-turns
for WB traffic to EB CR 508 or EB traffic to stores on the WB side, and
a complicated jughandle/left turn system.
Jeff
> kh...@jersey.net (Jeff) wrote in message news:<a4240849.04050...@posting.google.com>...
> > "josef" <n...@spam.plz> wrote in message news:<ELOdnXF9-8S...@comcast.com>...
> > > : I think "sucks so bad" applies more to the Marlton Circle (NJ 70 - NJ
> > > : 73) more than any other South Jersey circle.
> > >
> > > touché. didn't i read on here they're thinking of making it some kind of
> > > raised thing, getting rid of it altogether?
> >
> > Both will be history soon. The Berlin Circle is scheduled for
> > replacement starting later this year in a wide ranging project costing
> > nearly $24 million. The circle will be removed, a number of median
> > crossings on Rt. 73 will be closed and replaced with a series of
> > jughandles, Cross Keys Rd. between the Berlin Circle and Rt. 30 will
> > be widened from 2 to 4 lanes, and Rt. 30 will be widened to include
> > turning lanes.
>
> Nice. Now if only they could widen the rest of Cross Keys road.
> They've been slow in their progress. They've been reconstructing
> intersections with 4 lanes. Hopefully they'll soon start widening the
> parts in between.
On the portion of Cross Keys Rd. in Gloucester County between Rt. 42
and Camden County, they are finally starting to work on that stretch.
Telephone poles have been moved back to accomidate the wider, 5 lane
roadway. Probably throughout the summer we'll see actual work done to
widen the roadway. Believe it or not, this is all on schedule. As
far back as 2001 when they were working on the Cross Keys Bypass, this
section wasn't supposed to be improved until FY 2005. Why they needed
to wait that long to finally widen the roadway seems unnecessary, and
a case of timing. I'm sure it has to do with funding, like everything
else...
>
> I seem to recall as a child that there was a traffic circle we used to
> go through on the way to the shore. Beings we used to use the Black
> Horse Pike over the ACE, I think it was on that highway. But later we
> used the ACE so I don't know when it was removed. My best guess was
> that this circle was where US 40 meets US 322. Does anyone know of a
> circle there or somewhere else on the black horse pike? And if so
> when it was removed?
>
> I know there's the Pleasantville circle further east:
> http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=10&x=2687&y=21810&z=18&w=2
>
> Any word on that circle being removed?
>
Old terraserver image. It's gone.
> Oh wait! I was just looking at where I thought the circle was and the
> older topo map still shows the circle:
> http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=2&s=11&x=1326&y=10917&z=18&w=2
> I wonder if it had a name. I would think it may have been called
> racetrack circle because it was just outside of the Atlantic City
> Racetrack. But there was a racetrack circle on NJ 70. But no rule
> saying 2 circles can't have the same name.
>
I don't even remember this circle. I think this was was elimiated
well before 1995, the date of the image. The mall and shopping
centers that have popped up in the area have been around for quite a
while. I got my license in 93 and know even then the circle didn't
exist. Before, riding in cars with my parents, I don't even remember
it.
> Also about the Marlton circle mentioned in another post in this
> thread. Which highway will have the traffic signals beings it will
> become a diamond? I would guess NJ 70 would get the lights.
Correct.
Brian Polidoro
Ah I haven't been down that way in months. That's good to hear. I
was very happy that they changed the left turn only lanes on the
overpass over the ACE to be through lanes too. Having only 2 through
lanes when the adjacent sections had 4 was asking for trouble. I was
really disappointed how they designed that. It nust have been a
limitation in the space they had to work with, and or a limitation on
funds available.
> a case of timing. I'm sure it has to do with funding, like everything
> else...
>
> >
> > I seem to recall as a child that there was a traffic circle we used to
> > go through on the way to the shore. Beings we used to use the Black
> > Horse Pike over the ACE, I think it was on that highway. But later we
> > used the ACE so I don't know when it was removed. My best guess was
> > that this circle was where US 40 meets US 322. Does anyone know of a
> > circle there or somewhere else on the black horse pike? And if so
> > when it was removed?
> >
> > I know there's the Pleasantville circle further east:
> > http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=10&x=2687&y=21810&z=18&w=2
> >
> > Any word on that circle being removed?
> >
>
> Old terraserver image. It's gone.
Oh ok I hadn't heard that Pleasantville was removed. And I haven't
been that way in a long time.
>
> > Oh wait! I was just looking at where I thought the circle was and the
> > older topo map still shows the circle:
> > http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=2&s=11&x=1326&y=10917&z=18&w=2
> > I wonder if it had a name. I would think it may have been called
> > racetrack circle because it was just outside of the Atlantic City
> > Racetrack. But there was a racetrack circle on NJ 70. But no rule
> > saying 2 circles can't have the same name.
> >
>
> I don't even remember this circle. I think this was was elimiated
> well before 1995, the date of the image. The mall and shopping
> centers that have popped up in the area have been around for quite a
> while. I got my license in 93 and know even then the circle didn't
> exist. Before, riding in cars with my parents, I don't even remember
> it.
Yeah the time I remember if from had to be before 1990. I recall
bearing to the right and then having traffic merging from the right
which fits the eastbound layout shown. Whereas westbound goes
straight through for the BHP.
>
> > Also about the Marlton circle mentioned in another post in this
> > thread. Which highway will have the traffic signals beings it will
> > become a diamond? I would guess NJ 70 would get the lights.
>
> Correct.
Since you seem to be more in the know about south jersey road stuff,
I assume the new overpass for NJ 50 over US 322 is done. I saw it
being constructed a couple of years back. I was wondering then if the
overpass for NJ 54 over US 322 was being replaced beings it seemed to
be just as aold as the NJ 50 one.
I may have to see if I can take the BHP to the shore this summer.
Brian Polidoro
> : which shore did you go to..? i mean there's the route 52/9 circle in ocean
> : city..
>
> er well it's off route 9
Yeah I know that circle. It's the Somers Point circle. That one will
be gone when they build the new bridge there.
http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/studies/rt52/index.html
There's some new material including some new illustrations. The
Somers Point circle will be a traffic signal.
Brian Polidoro
Jeff
> > > thread. Which highway will have the traffic signals beings it will
> > > become a diamond? I would guess NJ 70 would get the lights.
> >
> > Correct.
>
> Since you seem to be more in the know about south jersey road stuff,
> I assume the new overpass for NJ 50 over US 322 is done. I saw it
> being constructed a couple of years back.
Yep, it's done. Took a long time for some reason, but it was finished
in 2002.
> I was wondering then if the
> overpass for NJ 54 over US 322 was being replaced beings it seemed to
> be just as aold as the NJ 50 one.
Actually, I read that one will probably be removed and replaced with a
standard intersection. The reasoning was the traffic volume was too
low to warrant the expense of another overpass, and the location of
the railroad bridge just to the west of the interchange provided a
substandard merging ability. I would like to see an overpass remain -
or it'll be just one more light to deal with on that road.
Jeff
> rule that all NJ traffic circles, past and present, had to have a
> diner nearby. I do know there's a pretty big diner at Marlton Circle
> called "Olga's".
I'm quite sure it's law. Thank goodness though, that the diner is one
tradition in NJ that's not going away. If anything, more are opening
up. Most don't have the rustic style of the older ones, but they're
generally good - if not expensive!