February 19
...serving up your daily dish.
From reader Jim Lipner:
I am a Queens-born, Jersey-raised, long-time Manhattanite now moving back to Jersey (Montclair, Baristaville) with my new family. Many of my New Yorker friends complain about road signage in Jersey. I can't imagine what their beef is - see how easy it is to find the Parkway North from Grove Street heading north coming up to the corner of Van Houten in Clifton! I never found out which way was correct. (Perhaps Clifton is not technically in Baristaville, but I figure this signage would confuse/irk north-heading Baristavillians.)
Jim, we do this on purpose. To get rid of outsiders. Don't worry. You'll have the entire road system memorized within months, and will never have to consult a sign again.
Is the Jersey Shore sign still up at the corner of Watchung and Grove?
Posted by: hangten | Feb 19, 2006 4:10:56 PM
Marvelous -- you can find a sign to the GSP on almost any road in NJ. Doesn't matter if it is 1/2 mile away or 50 miles away. Don't let the opposing arrows bother you: all roads, in all directions, lead to the GSP because you gotta pay the F***in' tolls! You gotta problem wid' dat?
Posted by: Conan the Grammarian | Feb 19, 2006 4:40:19 PM
My absolute favorite (and if I recall correctly, it was documented in a Star Ledger column a few years ago) is the way from 280E to the Holland Tunnel sans Turnpike.
Posted by: Dog Mom | Feb 19, 2006 4:56:45 PM
yes I once drove around for a half hour trying to find that entrance, I knew it was impossible but I wanted to make sure so that I could prove it when I called and complaned. I never did complain oh well.
Posted by: katie | Feb 19, 2006 5:20:58 PM
(my answer: Or, perhaps, get some parenting skills.)
Posted by: Right of Center™ (8T) | Feb 19, 2006 6:25:27 PM
So true re: Parkway signs. If you're going to post them all over the state, then at least put how many miles to the Parkway.
Posted by: Miss Martta (8T) | Feb 19, 2006 6:50:30 PM
Oh, I know. I once was in the New Brunswick area, and decided to take a slightly different route home because I saw a sign directing me to the Parkway.
Twenty miles later, through crowded, trafficky streets loaded with stoplights, I finally found it.
Posted by: latebloomer | Feb 19, 2006 7:05:03 PM
Have Jim check out the sign for the VA Hospital in EO northbound on JFK between Bloomfield Ave. & Franklin St in Bloomfield.
Posted by: BeechSt | Feb 19, 2006 8:28:38 PM
So I wasn't crazy on that stressful drive to Connecticut last year when I took the family on a seemingly endless loop in Clifton trying to get to the GSP. I remember a tense point when my wife said "why did you turn left" and I said "because the sign said so" and she said "it said turn right" and I started to say no it didn't but at that point the toddlers started wailing in the back seat. Thank you Jim, I feel much better now.
Posted by: Weasel | Feb 19, 2006 10:00:13 PM
The creme de la creme of Jersey highway signage is at the Turnpike Interchange Exit 14/Newark Airport. Brings many motorists to an awe-struck dead stop. You gotta problem with dat?
Posted by: Anita | Feb 20, 2006 12:35:34 AM
Vermont Directions: "Well, you just go up this road a piece 'til you get to wheah the old church used to be, and then turn left."
Posted by: Conan the Grammarian | Feb 20, 2006 6:35:18 AM
Maine directions:
"Ya can't get there from heah..."
Posted by: The Iceman(*8T*) | Feb 20, 2006 8:01:52 AM
South Jersey directions:
"What do you wanna go THERE for?"
Posted by: Miss Martta (8T) | Feb 20, 2006 8:03:21 AM
Ah,and I thought it was just me for the past 10 years. Thanks.
Posted by: linda Ippolito | Feb 20, 2006 12:23:45 PM
"...I took the family on a seemingly endless loop in Clifton trying to get to the GSP."
Oh my gosh --- I was sucked in to that same vortex 2 weeks ago, in the rainy dark.
Posted by: Skipwith | Feb 20, 2006 12:30:44 PM
Ever get off Rt. 3 West for the exit for Ridge Rd? The end of the ramp is Ridge Rd. The sign there shows Ridge Rd with an arrow pointing straight at that stop sign.
Posted by: BeechSt. | Feb 20, 2006 12:56:27 PM
Gosh. I've lived in a few states and must admit that New Jersey has the worst signage!
Posted by: Franklin | Feb 20, 2006 1:50:52 PM
So, is there actually a way to get on the Parkway North from that intersection that is closer than either Watchung Avenue or just taking 19 to 80? The Northbound onramp off of 46 has been closed for a while.
I still get a kick out of the Jersey City sign on Cathedral Avenue in Nutley. That has got to be the slowest of all possible ways to get to JC.
Posted by: hammond | Feb 20, 2006 5:41:28 PM
Come up Grove Street from Montclair, pass the intersection for route 3, turn left on East Gate, go right then left, and then bear right onto route 46 east. Then you can follow signs to the GSP north.
Posted by: erap | Feb 21, 2006 7:38:43 AM
I always suspected that the Jersey road network was part of a cold war defense plan to confuse and disorient an invading soviet force long enough for us to organize a counterattack.
Posted by: John | Feb 21, 2006 4:47:26 PM
I live in Clifton and the GSP N signs are the worst trap ever! (Haven't had a problem with the Jersey Shore sign or the Holland Tunnel sign) There is no way to the GSP North anywhere! I wanted to post a map of this insanity to you webreaders but both google maps, mapquest, yahoo... ALL HAVE IT WRONG. I have to back track down Alwood DR. to entrance by Route 3 because the sign to GSP N by the Clifton Park and Ride is also wrong. Or take 46 West off of Grove and pull a U-Turn. UGG.
Posted by: Chris | May 25, 2006 11:33:37 AM
