NYC area roads, traffic, and construction

[judy]

Hi all!
Since I've decided to drive instead of fly this weekend, I realized that with my chosen time of departure, I'm going to hit NYC/southern CT Friday afternoon traffic - something that I have experienced one too many times :-( and would prefer to avoid all together.

First question is...is there a website that lists construction in the area and traffic reports?
Second question is...are they still doing construction around the Tapanzee (sp?) Bridge? I haven't taken the bridge route in a couple of years.

I'd prefer to be in PVD around dinner time (i.e. before 8pm) so I can have dinner with the "fam" but I don't want to sit through 2 hours of traffic. And the thought of going up 87->84---> 90 back down to PVD isn't that appealing either.

[kingpin248]

This weekend there was construction in both directions on 287/87 just past the Tappan Zee. It drops to two lanes going eastbound (one westbound).

If you're coming from the DC/MD area, taking the NJ turnpike to the George Washington Bridge seems like a more direct route. That gets you right on I-95.

[Tom Pasniewski 98]

Also for anyone staying with friends in Boston this coming weekend during the tournament, 12 years of construction comes to a dramatic change this week as four lanes of northbound interstate traffic through Boston shifts from above ground to below ground.  Below are some useful links:

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/082/metro/No_doubt_about_it_This_week_will_be_major_traffic_headacheP.shtml

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/073/metro/Big_Dig_plans_March_30_openingsP.shtml

[dsr11]

There is construction on I 95 in CT from exit 9 or 10 up to exit 15-16.  There is ALWAYS a traffic jam in the afternoons on I-95 North from about exit 3 or 4 to exit 15-16 (at least).  This is about a 10-15 mile backup, usually from 3:30 to 6:00ish every day, and Friday is worse.  15 (Merrit Parkway) is usually better in the afternoons, though I haven't taken it in a while.  

Taking 95 all the way to the GWB may be better that taken the NJ Turnpike or parkway to the Tappan Zee.  Unless you hit the Turnpike of parkway early (before 3:30), you'll be sitting for hours before you get to the bridge.

You can check out www.metrocommute.com for construction and stuff, though I haven't found it to be terribly accurate in the past.  Should give people a little idea of what they'll hit in the tri-state area.

[Jeff Hopkins \'82]

I live in eastern PA, and drive up to Boston several times a year, often at rush hour.  If you can avoid rush hour in Westchester County and SE CT do so, but if you can't:

The Cross-Westchester Expressway (i.e. I-287 west of the Tappan Zee) where it joins the Thruway has been under construction for years.  My experience is the traffic there is usually not that bad at rush hour, despite the construction.

However, I-95 in the CT panhandle is usually an absolute mess at rush hour.  I usually take the CWE to the Hutch (exit 9) which becomes the Merritt Pkwy.  The Merritt isn't as bad as I-95, though it can get crowded, too, because it's only two lanes.  

From the Merritt, to get back to I-95, just after you cross the CT river (the metal grate bridge), there is an exit which is essentially a two-mile spur from the Merritt to I-95.  Take that to I-95.  The traffic usually isn't bad at all on 95 after that point.  

CU in Providence!

JH

[Jeff Hopkins \'82]

Correction:  the CWE is east of the Tappan Zee, not west.

[judy]

Well, I'll keep all this in mind. I just wanted to know if I should start calming myself down now to avoid driving over anyone that pisses me off on the road on Friday.

Generally, on my trips up to Providence, I'll drive (if not a holiday) and leave here at 5:30am to avoid DC, Baltimore, Philly/Wilmington, NYC traffic with the goal being to enter RI by 3pm. Unfortunately, I'd like to get in about half a day's work Friday morning so I can't exactly leave here at 5:30am.

Normally, I do take GWB thru the city because the last time I went on the TappanZee bridge (about 2 years ago), I had to sit in traffic for miles and miles and miles...

This is the one thing I hate about going to Providence...there is no way around NYC...

[DeltaOne81]

Well, if we're really talking miles and miles and hours of traffic, might 81 -> 84 to Worcester actually be quicker? It's not exactly direct, but it's not like you're going through Albany.

And Judy driving over someone? You seemed so peaceful at Jillian's :-D.

[Al DeFlorio]

That metal grate bridge crosses the Housatonic River, not the Connecticut.  You get to that later on I-95--right after Old Saybrook.

[judy]

Well, I may be picking up someone along the way...though I could actually go around and go Garden State Pkwy -> 87 -> 84...

And Fred, just imagine, someone raised on the driving laws of MA (that's right, MA has driving laws!) and forced to commute thru the DC area where anything that comes falling out of the sky (like rain) forces people to stop, scratch their heads, and not know what to do, and while I understand the ******* driving behavior in NY, MA, New England area, there just is no logic down here.

I sat thru Southern CT traffic the day before Thanksgiving once...never again...

[tml5]

One other thing that might slow you down - getting in and out of NYC was a nightmare last weekend.  Every train I got on was delayed for a good half hour right outside of Penn station, and I had a friend get stopped outside of the Lincoln Tunnel for nearly an hour.  I suspect it's partly coincidence and partly due to increased security for the war (sweeping the trains and things).  I don't know if they'll be too concerned about the Tappan Zee, or even if they bother to do anything that would affect traffic without some credible lead, but you might want to leave even more extra time if at all possible.

[nyc94]

The Merritt was a disaster on the way to the Brown game.  I made it just after the national anthem.  Rush hour traffic with two narrow lanes.  Throw in a radar trap or a traffic accident and you'll be there for hours.

And that steel grate bridge over the Housatonic was a thrill ride in the snow after the Yale game.

[Al DeFlorio]

Bill R '94 wrote:
And that steel grate bridge over the Housatonic was a thrill ride in the snow after the Yale game.

All-wheel drive actually exacerbates the "thrill."  For a real adventure, try it on a motorcycle.

[Naomi Kerest]

THERE IS A MUCH EASIER WAY TO GO. TAKE RTE 79 TO WHITNEY POINT. THEN TAKE A LEFT ONTO RTE 206. FOLLOW 206 THROUGH GREENE TO BAINBRIDGE AND GET ON INTERSTATE 88 GOING EAST. FOLLOW THIS TO THE ALBANY/SCHENECTADY AREA WHERE YOU WILL GET ON RTE 90 GOING EAST. MAKE SURE TO STAY ON I- 90EAST WHEN IT OVERLAPS WITH I- 87. FROM RTE 90 GET ON 146 S WHICH WILL TAKE YOU INTO PROVIDENCE. WE SPEND HALF THE YEAR IN RI AND GO THIS WAY TO AVOID I-95 ETC..
  GO BIG RED!!!!!

[Jeff Hopkins \'82]

Yeah, I know.  I screwed up.  Mea Culpa.

JH