OT: Alternative driving routes to DC?
- Thread starter UConnChapette
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Ditto... that's yer best start... both exclude trucks, and you don't have the huge holes in the pavement that 95 has (in spots).
And better now than in the future... the new Tappan Zee bridge toll is estimated to triple to $14, and perhaps $40-50 for trucks (?) (but knowing how cost-over-runs work, those are probably low figures
).
CTyankee
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I am not sure this route is correct as described above. Using the Merritt... implies to me that one is heading to the Hutch and thus to the George Washington Bridge via the Cross County Expressway. If that is the case, the Garden State is not the route which is appropriate after leaving the GW, but the NJ Turnpike.
If on the other hand one takes the Merritt to the Hutch to the Tappan Zee one can take 287 to the Garden State to the NJ Turnpike... But then again that adds at least 30 minutes more to the trip.
And the risk with the Merritt/Hutch is traffic and accidents. It is afterall a two lane hghway.
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The Merritt is essentially parallel to 95 (from New Haven south)... you then take 287 west, over the Tap Zee, to the start of the GS Parkway (which parallels 95 South).
Yeah, it's probably a bit longer in miles, but I (for one) will never (NEVER!) drive 95 again thru NYC if I can avoid it.
It's Mr. Toad's Wild Ride come to life. The GS Parkway can be crazy too (at rush hour, and in certain areas) even with it's 6 lanes in spots, but it's generally fine.As far as accidents go, I'm not as familiar with the Merritt & points west... so you might well be right. But 95 (thru CT) has about 1 huge accident a week during the summer... sometimes stopping traffic for 6-10 hrs. It's usually tractor-trailer jackknifes. And this kinda stuff is becoming the new normal.
Unless you're on a motorcyle, you're screwed.
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Living in lower Fairfield County I can say unequivocally that I would never use 95 south (aka Cross Bronx Xwy in NYC) to go to New York or points beyond. Nor would I use 287 to the Tappan Zee and the Garden State to get to south Jersey and beyond. It just adds too much time from lower Fairfield County.
Having worked in New Jersey while living in Connecticut, I learned the best route to get to points south as well as into NYC was to take 95 to 287 west. 287 west to the Hutchinson River Parkway south. Switch to the Cross County Parkway west and drop down to the GW Bridge using the Saw Mill River Parkway south. In less than 45 minutes from my home I can be across the Hudson and on the NJ Turnpike.
From Hartford assuming non rush hour late morning travel, one could take a similar route as the Wilbur Cross (Route 15) turns into the Merritt which turns into the Hutch when crossing into New York.
Having worked in New Jersey while living in Connecticut, I learned the best route to get to points south as well as into NYC was to take 95 to 287 west. 287 west to the Hutchinson River Parkway south. Switch to the Cross County Parkway west and drop down to the GW Bridge using the Saw Mill River Parkway south. In less than 45 minutes from my home I can be across the Hudson and on the NJ Turnpike.
From Hartford assuming non rush hour late morning travel, one could take a similar route as the Wilbur Cross (Route 15) turns into the Merritt which turns into the Hutch when crossing into New York.
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What you say makes perfect sense.
I'm from the eastern part of the state, and it's not often I travel to S-NJ or PA (anymore). As an occasional trip, I'm not worried about miles or time (working, rush hour etc) or saving 5 minutes or a toll. And I've always found the very northern end part of the Parkway about as empty as any major highway out there.... it's just more user-friendly compared to so many rat-races out there today. It's well marked, no trucks, and easy to get on & off.
I'm from the eastern part of the state, and it's not often I travel to S-NJ or PA (anymore). As an occasional trip, I'm not worried about miles or time (working, rush hour etc) or saving 5 minutes or a toll. And I've always found the very northern end part of the Parkway about as empty as any major highway out there.... it's just more user-friendly compared to so many rat-races out there today. It's well marked, no trucks, and easy to get on & off.
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