Question About I-95 and I-295 Traffic..Avoid? (Wilmington, Newark: travel, jobs)

[bluecountry]

Last week on Saturday I was driving north past NY.
On the way...I encountered some of the most frustrating traffic I have seen.

Traffic on I-95 was a parking lot right after the NB toll.
I exited at the first interchange, and the backroads were just the same.

It took me 1.75 hours to get through less than 20 miles.

I wanted to know

1) Is this just a one day thing...or can I expect similar delays on I-95 and I-295 north?
-If so....is it everyday or just for weekends?
-Until when?
-Why is there this delay?
-Do you recommend avoiding this and going I-83 to I-78 instead for NY directions?

2) What about returning back going south on I-295 and I-95.
Would traffic on a Saturday be bad again...would it be best to go through PA on I-78 to I-83...or is this just for those headed north on the road?

Thanks.

[rockky]

blue, I will take a stab at this. I'm sure there are folks who travel these routes more frequently than I and could offer more help.

Yes, the 95 corridor around Wilmington is always a mess. There are many major routes coming together in that area, and the infrastructure is not keeping up. Alterations should have been made years ago, but DelDot is not the most forward looking agency.

Summer weekends are total grid lock. I've been told that if you are flying over Delaware in the summer months...on a Sunday evening....there is a steady stream of cars going north from the beach areas of Sussex Co....all lanes full.

The 83/78 alternative? I suppose that would depend on where you are beginning your trip and at what time. 83 can be crowded during work travel. I've been stuck going across the Harrisburg bridge around 6 p.m. and at the merge going to 78/81/322 Other times it's not so bad.

There's also the 83/81/80 choice. Read the NEPA forum, and you will see how much locals have to say about travel on Rt.80 into NJ/NY. I understand the same is true with 78 during work hours. Many, many people live in PA and commute into NY to work. Buses run from rural area in NEPA to get workers to their higher paying jobs.

We just plain have too many cars and insufficient roadways in the high volume traffic areas of the North East. Interstate travel began under Eisenhower. Boom!! Tons of roads. Now?

'Course I was just in the San Fran/Berkeley area a couple of weeks ago. Woooooieeee!

[Joe84323]

I hate to say it, but I-95 through Philly up through Central Jerz to the turnpike is underrated. I have driven it as well as the Turnpike to NYC and have to say it's just a quicker drive sometimes despite the common consensus.

I say screw the turnpike and take 95 all the way up to North Jerz

Suggest route:

Get off 95 in Newark, get on Rte 2 Kirkwood Highway, then hop on 141 South, hop on 95 then immediately hop on 495 towards Philly... You'll get some traffic through Delco, but not gridlock like 295 and NJT. Take it all the way up until it joins up with the Turnpike again around..... Newbrunswickish? Edison? somewhere around there.

[christina0001]

I've always taken I-95 to NJ when traveling north, hop on I-295 N to I-195 E and then back on I-95/Turnpike North to NY. I can't say I traveled it frequently, maybe a couple of times a month, but as long as it wasn't rush hour, I thought the traffic was okay. But I know a lot of people who swear by what Joe is recommending.

[elizamary]

We take route 1 over the Delaware memorial bridge to the NJ turnpike.
then we get of a Garden state parkway exit and take that to the Tappanzee bridge.

Originally Posted by bluecountry

Last week on Saturday I was driving north past NY.
On the way...I encountered some of the most frustrating traffic I have seen.

Traffic on I-95 was a parking lot right after the NB toll.
I exited at the first interchange, and the backroads were just the same.

It took me 1.75 hours to get through less than 20 miles.

I wanted to know

1) Is this just a one day thing...or can I expect similar delays on I-95 and I-295 north?
-If so....is it everyday or just for weekends?
-Until when?
-Why is there this delay?
-Do you recommend avoiding this and going I-83 to I-78 instead for NY directions?

2) What about returning back going south on I-295 and I-95.
Would traffic on a Saturday be bad again...would it be best to go through PA on I-78 to I-83...or is this just for those headed north on the road?

Thanks.

[Don57]

That area of I-95 (both directions) is in the process of adding a fith lane. It is truely a nightmare and should be avoided at any cost. Here is a link that may help. Delaware Department of Transportation - Projects.

[bluecountry]

Is this construction mess all the time or just during certain hours and for how many years?