I-95 Gap Signage: The I-95 Western Route

As explained on the opening page of this website, the I-95 Western Route follows the Scudders Falls Expressway, Camden Freeway, and Central Jersey Expressway in a 3/4 clockwise loop around Trenton as it makes its way to the New Jersey Turnpike. This page documents the signage along that route. To see the routes themselves in detail, please go to the Scudders Falls Expressway (I-95 Western Route) page and to the corresponding Camden Freeway (I-95 Western Route via I-295), Central Jersey Expressway (I-95 Western Route via I-195) and New Jersey Turnpike (I-95 via I-95 Western Route) pages.

I-95 Western Route Northbound

I-95 Western Route Southbound

This signage is on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) southbound at Exit 10(I-287, NJ 440, Perth Amboy, Metuchen, Edison Township, Outerbridge Crossing) in Edison Township, New Jersey. Starting in the mid-1960's, I-95 'ended' here. While I-95 was officially designated along at least part of the Middlesex Freeway (I-287) until 1985, no signage indicating this was posted due to the unbuilt Somerset Freeway section. After 1985, the New Jersey Turnpike was officially redesignated as I-95 south to the New Jersey Turnpike Pennsylvania Extension, which also was designated as I-95 straight to the state line. However, neither the New Jersey Department of Transportation nor the New Jersey Turnpike Authority posted any indication of this until 1997, when new shields like the one on the lower left gantry support were posted between Exit 10 and Exit 6. Thus, until 1997 this was the end of I-95 as far as was publically known. Photo taken January 10, 2002.

This signage is at the end of the Delaware Turnpike (I-95) northbound in New Castle, Delaware. Here, the I-95 Gap Eastern Bypass splits to the right following Ocean Highway (I-295), while I-95 continues north to the left as the Wilmington Expressway. Note that Ocean Highway (I-295) is also signed as "New Jersey Turnpike / New Jersey / New York" in a strong attempt to draw long-distance travellers away from the incomplete I-95. Photo taken January 15, 2002.

This signage is on the Delaware Expressway (I-95) northbound at Exit 40(PA 413, I-276, Pennsylvania Turnpike, Bristol, Burlington Bristol Bridge) in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania. Here, the I-95 Eastern Route exits to New Rodgers Road (PA 413) towards the right via a stub of the Delaware Expressway, while the separated I-95 Western Route follows the Scudders Falls Expressway (I-95) north to the left. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) southbound at Exit 10(I-287, NJ 440, Perth Amboy, Metuchen, Edison Township, Outerbridge Crossing) in Edison Township, New Jersey. This is a close-up of the I-95 shield on the lower left gantry support in the above photo. Of the new I-95 shields, this is the only one with any directional banner. Note the unusual font for the numbers, used only for the I-95 shields that were posted in 1997. Photo taken January 10, 2002.

This signage is on the Scudders Falls Expressway (I-95) northbound at Exit 1(NJ 29, Trenton, Lambertville) in Ewing Township, New Jersey. This is the first signage inside of New Jersey after crossing the Delaware River from Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, the northbound control city for I-95 was once New York as it is here, but was changed to Trenton due to the incomplete Somerset Freeway section of I-95 in New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Transportation, however, returns to using New York once across the state line, as it has no alternative until the I-95/I-276 Interchange Project is completed in Pennsylvania. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) southbound at Exit 9(NJ 18, US 1, New Brunswick, East Brunswick, Shore Resorts, Rutgers University) in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The I-95 Gap Western Bypass leaves I-95 here and follows the Old Bridge-New Brunswick Turnpike (NJ 18) to the New Brunswick-Metuchen Bypass (US 1). Photo taken January 10, 2002.

This signage is on the Scudders Falls Expressway (I-95) northbound just north of Exit 1(NJ 29, Trenton, Lambertville) in Ewing Township, New Jersey. This is the first mention of the New Jersey Turnpike along I-95. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) southbound south of Exit 9(NJ 18, US 1, New Brunswick, East Brunswick, Shore Resorts, Rutgers University) in East Brunswick Township, New Jersey. This is the last I-95 shield posted on I-95 southbound. Strangely, while the new I-95 shields posted in 1997 were posted all the way from Exit 6 to Exit 10 on the northbound side, the southbound side was only posted from Exit 10 to just south of Exit 9. Note that this sign sports the 1997 font used for I-95 shields on the turnpike. Photo taken January 15, 2002.

This signage is on the Scudders Falls Expressway (I-95) northbound at Exit 4(NJ 31, Ewing, Pennington) in Ewing Township, New Jersey. This sign mentions that the I-95 Western Route follows the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound 5 1/2 miles ahead. Also note the 'jury-rigged' sign for Exit 4. At the time of the photo, Exit 4 was being reconfigured, and new signage had not yet been installed. Until new signage was available, the New Jersey Department of Transportation had simply 'greened out' the "A" which once was next to the "4" and placed a "NORTH" above the "SOUTH" to indicate the former Exit 4A's new status as a fully directional Exit 4 ramp. Also note the wooded area visible on the right side of the mid-span overpass support in the distance. This was the location of the proposed Somerset Freeway (I-95) / Scudders Falls Expressway (I-95) / Camden Freeway (I-295) interchange, and woods have grown up where the interchange was once planned to be. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) southbound north of Exit 7A(I-195, Trenton, Hamilton, Shore Points) in Washington Township, New Jersey. Each sign for Exit 7A is different in the southbound direction, but none of them indicates that a connection to I-95 southbound is available. Photo taken January 15, 2002.

This signage is on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) southbound at Exit 7A(I-195, Trenton, Hamilton, Shore Points) in Washington Township, New Jersey. Here, the I-95 Western Route leaves the official I-95 and joins the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) via Exit 7A towards the right. The official I-95 continues down the New Jersey Turnpike as part of the I-95 Eastern Route. This particular signage has been in place since the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) opened in the 1970's. Note that no mention is made on the signage that a connection to I-95 southbound is available at this exit. Photo taken January 15, 2002.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-95) northbound at Exit 8A(East CR 546, To South CR 583, Princeton Pike) in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. It is the first shield assembly mentioning the approach of I-295's beginning. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-95) northbound south of Exit 8B(North CR 583, Princeton Pike) in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. This is the last "I-95" North shield assembly on the Camden Freeway (I-95) northbound before the official terminus of I-95 at the Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike (US 1). The sign below, a #102 truck with a green circle around it, indicates the route as part of the National Highway Network, thereby being an official truck through route. Due to concerns about truck traffic on local highways, through truck traffic was banned from all roads not part of the national network in 1999, and these signs were placed to indicate which roads are part of the network. Photo taken January 2, 2002.

This signage is at the split in the ramp from New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) Exit 7A to the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) in Washington Township, New Jersey. The I-95 Western Route follows the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) westbound towards the left here. Again note that no mention is made of the connection to I-95 southbound that is available here. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) westbound just east of Exit 2(US 206, South Broad Street, Arena Drive) in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. It is the first reference since leaving the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) to this route's connection to I-95 southbound via the Camden Freeway (I-295). Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-95) northbound just south of Exit 8B(North CR 583, Princeton Pike) in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound north of Exit 67(US 1, New Brunswick, Trenton) in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. It is the first direct indication that I-95 has ended, as it advises travellers to continue along the mainline of the Camden Freeway (I-295) instead of using the Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike (US 1) to connect to the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95). Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) westbound at Exit 60(I-295, To US 1, To I-95, Camden, Princeton) in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. The I-95 Western Route exits the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) here towards the right as it joins the Camden Freeway (I-295). Note that this is the terminus of I-195; the Central Jersey Expressway continues ahead as NJ 29. Also note that, because this is I-195's milepost zero, the exit numbers from the Camden Freeway (I-295) are used for exit numbers here instead. Photo taken January 12, 2002.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound just north of Exit 67(US 1, New Brunswick, Trenton) in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-295) northbound north of Exit 65(Sloan Avenue) in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound at Exit 67(US 1, New Brunswick, Trenton) in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. It is the first large signage indicating I-95 has ended, replaced by I-295. The I-95 Gap Western Bypass leaves the Camden Freeway (I-295) here and follows the Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike (US 1) to the right, while the I-95 Western Route continues down the Camden Freeway (I-295). Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-295) northbound at Exit 67(US 1, New Brunswick, Trenton) in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. It notes the official end of the I-95 Gap and thus the second beginning of I-95 (the first being at the United States / Canada border in Maine). In reality, I-295 officially ends and I-95 officially begins several hundred yards further ahead. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound just south of Exit 63(West NJ 33, Trenton) in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. This is typical signage along the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound between the Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike (US 1) and the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195), as well as along the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) eastbound between the Camden Freeway (I-295) and the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95). Photo taken January 14, 2002.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-95) southbound south of Exit 67(US 1, New Brunswick, Trenton) in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. This is the first shield assembly after passing I-95's official terminus. It is also the first I-95 shield assembly after the I-95 Gap Western Bypass rejoins the I-95 Western Route via the Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike (US 1). The sign with a #102 truck with a green circle around it is part of New Jersey's truck route system; all roads part of the National Highway Network have these shields, in response to calls for a ban on through trucks on non-national network roads (which contain signs with red cross-outs as opposed to the green circles). The 102 refers to the width of trucks restricted by the ban: 102 inches. Photo taken January 14, 2002.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound at Exit 62(Olden Avenue North) in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. The sign here for Exit 60A is unusual in its lack of corresponding signage for Exit 60B; all other signage along the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound represents both Exit 60A and Exit 60B. Photo taken January 14, 2002.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-95) southbound at Exit 5(Federal City Road) in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. The left sign is interesting for the control city: "Penna". Unlike the previous sign which used "Philadelphia", the New Jersey Department of Transportation uses "Penna" or "Pennsylvania" on all other southbound signs south of the Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike (US 1). Photo taken January 14, 2002.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound just north of Exit 60(I-195, North I-95, NJ 29, NJ 129, Trenton, Shore Points) in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. This sign is unusual in its coordination. As shown in the photos above, most other signage for the New Jersey Turnpike along the Camden Freeway (I-295) and further along on the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) is separate from signage for "I-95 North". However, on this one assembly, both I-95 and the New Jersey Turnpike are signed, properly indicating their existance as one road. It is a rare instance of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the New Jersey Department of Transportation doing any coordination of signage. Photo taken January 14, 2002.

This signage is on the Delaware Expressway (I-95) southbound just south of Exit 32(Academy Road) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is the first I-95 shield assembly after the I-95 Eastern Route rejoins I-95 from New Rodgers Road (PA 413). Photo taken January 15, 2002.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound at Exit 60(I-195, North I-95, NJ 29, NJ 129, Trenton, Shore Points) in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Here, the I-95 Western Route leaves the Camden Freeway (I-295) and joins the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) towards the right. Note that the large sign lacks a "To" in reference to "I-95 North", falsely identifying the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) as being officially multiplexed with I-95. Also note that, unlike all other directional signs indicating "I-95 North" between Pennsylvania and the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95), "New York" is not signed here. Photo taken January 14, 2002.

This signage is on the Delaware Turnpike (I-95) southbound just north of Exit 3(DE 273, Newark, Dover) in New Castle, Delaware. This is the first I-95 shield assembly after the I-95 Gap Eastern Bypass rejoins I-95 from Ocean Highway (I-295). Photo taken January 15, 2002.

This signage is on the Camden Freeway (I-295) southbound Exit 60 collector / distributor ramp in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. The I-95 Western Route follows the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) via Exit 60A towards the left. Note that unlike previous signage, a "To" is properly included here in reference to I-95; however, a "North" directional banner is missing. The control city "New York" is also missing. Photo taken January 14, 2002.

This signage is on the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) eastbound at Exit 1(US 206, Bordentown, White Horse) in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. It is the first signage referring to its role as part of the I-95 Western Route. Note that unlike the above signs, both the full "To North" banner and the control city "New York" have reappeared on signage. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) eastbound west of Exit 3(Yardville, Hamilton Square) in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. This assembly is unusual in the placing of both the official routing signage and the "To North I-95" together; all other signage is separate. These signs were recently replaced during a repaving project. The older shields were still in fairly good shape but had "New Jersey" written on the shields. One of the replaced I-95 signs ended up replacing an old battered sign on the Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike (US 1) in South Brunswick. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) eastbound west of Exit 6(To North I-95, New Jersey Turnpike, New York, Delaware Memorial Bridge) in Washington Township. This sign improperly refers to the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) as "To North I-95", when it in fact is I-95. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) eastbound just west of Exit 6(To North I-95, New Jersey Turnpike, New York, Delaware Memorial Bridge) in Washington Township. This sign improperly lacks any mention of I-95. It also improperly lacks a "Toll" banner, though other signs of this design have them, so this one's lack of a "Toll" banner is probably an accident. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) eastbound just west of Exit 6(To North I-95, New Jersey Turnpike, New York, Delaware Memorial Bridge) in Washington Township. Like the other signs along the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195), this one recently replaced an older sign which still included a "New Jersey" on the shield. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) eastbound at Exit 6(To North I-95, New Jersey Turnpike, New York, Delaware Memorial Bridge) in Washington Township. Note the unusual "North" and "South" banners over the New Jersey Turnpike trailblazer. Also note that the final Exit 6 sign lacks both a reference to I-95 and even a New Jersey Turnpike trailblazer. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is at the split in the Exit 6 ramp from the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195) to the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) in Washington Township, New Jersey. Note that I-95 is not signed here, though once the I-95/I-276 Interchange is completed in Pennsylvania, it will be added. The I-95 Western Route rejoins the I-95 Eastern Route here into a unified (officially and functionally) I-95. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) northbound north of Exit 7A(Turnpike South, Pennsylvania Extension, Camden) in Washington Township, New Jersey. It is the first I-95 shield posted on the combined (Eastern and Western Routes) I-95 northbound in New Jersey. Note the unusual numerical font. This font was only used for signs posted by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to publicize I-95's existance on the turnpike in 1997, which was actually 12 years after it was officially designated. Photo taken December 30, 2001.

This signage is on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) northbound north of Exit 9(NJ 18, US 1, New Brunswick, East Brunswick, Rutgers University) in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It is the first I-95 shield posted on I-95 after the I-95 Gap Western Bypass joins I-95 at Exit 9. Note it is also of the unusual 1997 font style. Photo taken January 15, 2002.

This signage is on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) northbound just north of Exit 10(I-287, NJ 440, Perth Amboy, Metuchen, Edison Township, Outerbridge Crossing) in Edison Township, New Jersey. Starting in the mid-1960's, the I-95 gap began at Exit 10. This was because I-95 was never posted (although it was designated) along the Middlesex Freeway (I-287), and I-95 had not yet been extended south along the turnpike. Although official records indicate that I-95 was redesignated along the New Jersey Turnpike and New Jersey Turnpike Pennsylvania Extension in 1985, no indication of this redesignation appeared until 1997, further perpetuating the "I-95 ends at Exit 10" story. Because of this, until 1997 this I-95 shield represented 'the end of the gap'. Note that this shield is of a different numerical font than the previous shields, owing to its greater age. Photo taken January 10, 2002.

Maps
Map 1: I-95 Corridor Shifts, 1954 - 1982
Map 2: Adopted Route, 1964
Map 3: Re-extended Route, 1968
Map 4: Connectors Added, 1976
Map 5: All Considered Alignments, 1979
Map 6: Preferred Alternative Schematics and Exit List, 1979
Map 7: Exit Number Changes, 1984 - 1996
Map 8: I-95 Gap Corridor Today
Map 9: The Future I-95/I-276 Interchange

Photos
The I-95 Gap Eastern Bypass
The I-95 Eastern Route
The I-95 Western Route
The I-95 Gap Western Bypass

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