Rt.55

[james ungehajer]

http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007703150346

Long overdue.Further studies are not needed imo,build it to the court house to connect with the gsp as originally planned.

 

[Boyd]

I have mixed feelings about that. Guess it would be a good thing if it relieved traffic on some of the smaller roads. But the main users would be people from out of state, so I'm not too keen on paying for it with my tax dollars. I'm also not interested in creating an incentive for even more people to head to the shore. And as they say, the environmental issues will be difficult to resolve. Sorry, but you won't find me jumping on any bandwagon for this project.

Before they start pushing farther south I think they need to fix that ridiculous junction where 55 North reduces to one lane at Rt 42.

 

[james ungehajer]

Environmental issues are definitely a main concern,imo i wonder what was the original cost,compared to today for the completion to the court house,nj residents should not have to pay with more taxes,possibly put a toll booth for the last 20 miles,exempting local residents.And the one lane where rt.55 connects o rt.42 is definetely a nightmare,that should be addressed without delay.

 

[dragoncjo]

Its a horrible idea that area down there is one of the most undisturbed spots in new jersey. Extending rt. 55 will just open it up to development and all the other bs. If you don't want to wait in traffic don't go down the shore in the summer. Traffic is a part of life everyone deals with it.

 

[james ungehajer]

If they decide to build it,there should be a stipulation for NO development,but we all know how money talks,if there is going to be development,mcmansions,strip malls,mckeedees,then i am totally against it.Of course the environmental impact is also a great concern.

 

[dragoncjo]

To me that area by around the delaware bay should be protected like the pine barrens are. I like to call that area the new jersey everglades. It is as desolate, undisturbed, and wild as south jersey gets. I would be afraid that easier access would bring the area more development.

 

[james ungehajer]

To me that area by around the delaware bay should be protected like the pine barrens are. I like to call that area the new jersey everglades. It is as desolate, undisturbed, and wild as south jersey gets. I would be afraid that easier access would bring the area more development.

Definitely protected,no doubt about it,i wonder often why more of it isn't?

 

[relayer]

hmmm....As originally planned eh? From what I've heard 55 was an obscenely expensive pork barrel project to cater to the whims of some very wealthy, influential folks in the Millville/Vineland area who wanted their neck of the woods more open to development. One told a friend of mine something like "I'm glad their building us this road. It will help me sell off some these pine trees." That is a possible reason why it stopped where it did. Its real mission had been accomplished. No sensible taxpayer in this state should even consider allowing it to go another inch further. We would just be spending a whole lot more money to further enrich some other local elites and yes, to rape the enviroment as well. Talk about pouring money down a rat hole...

relayer

 

[BEHR655]

I don't see reason why those two cities shouldn't be connected to the rest of the state via a good highway. Before Rt55 I used to have to go out the BHP and then down Rt555 to get to Vineland. Took forever.

Steve

 

[dragoncjo]

Its new jersey nothing takes long to get there.

 

[relayer]

I got some interesting email regarding my post on this topic. Perhaps I was a bit over the top. One email, sent by a friend who, as far as I know, is not a member here, and who has a rather more positive view of why public works get funded and worked on than I, contained some useful links to sites that give the official history of the road.
Enjoy
*http://www.phillyroads.com/roads/NJ-55/
http://web.mit.edu/smalpert/www/roads/nj/log/6.html#55

relayer