Traffic Report?

[Jimbo]

A little help, please? I'm heading up to the Cape tomorrow AM for my grandmother's 100th birthday. Anyone know any parts of 95/195 I should be sure to plan to avoid between here and there?

[Rappin Mikey]

Sorry dude, don't travel thata way.

[Slipknot]

Ya, all of southern CT stay away from 95

better leave early

PM ChrisL or weewee, I believe ChrisL has a parkway named after him

[Mike P]

The NE Thruway is pretty much screwed up by construction between the Cross Bronx merge and Co-op City.

The Cross Bronx itself is always a parking lot, pretty much.

My suggestion would be to take the GSP or 287 north to the NY Thruway, cross the Tappan Zee, and take 287 south to Rye to pick up 95. Or take the Hutch/Merritt to Startford and pick up 95 there, and avoid the section of 95 from Greenwich to Stratford.

[fishweewee]

There's quite a bit of construction activity going on between Greenwich and New Haven on I-95. I strongly suggest you avoid it altogether.

The least congested route is to take Interstate 84 (which cuts straight through NY and CT) to the Mass Pike (I-90) to I-495, which takes you to the Cape. It's a slightly longer route than taking the coastal route - but it's only 15-20 minutes longer.

I'm not exactly sure how to get to I-84 from NJ, but I'm sure GSP will get you sorta near there.

Bring your EZ Pass if you have one, they accept it on the Mass Pike.

-WW

[chris L]

a.m ? as in traveling thru Ct before 6am ? if you plan to travel after 6am follow Weewee's advice . I95 in Ct is bumper to bumper early in the morning in a lot of stretches heading east , west bound is even worse . I travel in the very early a.m and never hit traffic . there is constructin in New haven after the quinnipiac river bridge at the junction of 91 and 95 . Not too much east of new haven .

just a thought but since you are in NJ Id leave in the cover of darkness and find a good breakfast place after you get into Mass .
otherwise wee wee has the the best flow !

[Mike P]

OK, I just saw where Robbinsville is. Here's the way I would go to have the least amount of traffic headaches..

NJT north to Edison--pick up 287 there. Take 287 to the NYS Thruway (I-87) north. Take the Thruway north to Newburgh and pick up I-84 east, and stay with FWWs directions from there

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the advice, I hadn't considered the 84/90/495 route to the Cape since it always looked alot longer, but if it will avoid the bumper to bumper, on behalf of the harem I travel with, I thank you. Usually, I take the Major Deegan to the Hutch/Merritt and jump down to 95 at New Haven.

[MakoMike]

Anothr alternative at that time of day is to cross the tappan zee and take 287 to the Hutchinson River Parkway eastbound. Once you cross into CT it becomes the Meritt parkway. Right after you cross the bridge in Stratford take the exit to the connecting highway and take that to 95 north. You bypass all the construction on 95 from the GWB to New Haven and there isn't but one little stretch of construction east of New Haven until you get to 195.

[beachwalker]

Do the 84 route. I live off the Cape and use it to drive to Penn for some lumber purchasing. It is a way better way to fly.

95/195 in Providence stinks too. Especially during rush hour

[fishweewee]

Problem with the Hutch/Merritt is that it can get very congested too, especially around the rush hours.

Most people don't remember to maintain speed while going up those steep hills. Also, a huge bottleneck is tha t!@#$#@!@#$ Sikorsky Bridge in Stratford.

If it is raining or snowing, AVOID the Merritt Parkway. There's always an accident a mile under slick conditions.

-WW

[chris L]

the merritt is an alternative but also is very busy in the am . 84/90/495 is a good route not long just 15 minutes longer than 95/195

[Billybob]

Try to avoid the Waterbury area during rush hour if yer taking 84, major constuction there.
Bill

[Jimbo]

I'm definitely going the 84/90/495 way. There are places to stop, I'd assume? My co-travelers haven't adapted to peeing in roadside shurbbary or empty soda bottles and get a little miffed when I say, "Oh there's a bathroom just a little further along" for the fiftyith time.
Thanks again, this is good advice.

[fishweewee]

Plenty of stops. Not as many as I-95 but trust me you won't get stranded.