On Thursday, a project began to address the void on I-95 in North Philadelphia caused by two fire-damaged overpasses. As a result, certain vehicles that were affected by the closures have shifted over to New Jersey via the Delaware River.
Thank the apps for that.
After the June 11 incident involving a tanker truck crash and fire, popular traffic and direction applications like Waze and Google Maps have begun directing traffic through certain highways in the Garden State and bridges managed by the Delaware River Port Authority. This is occurring even though emergency officials had already devised official detour routes several months in advance.
Assistant Professor Branislav Dimitrijevic, an expert in transportation engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, discovered this information. He conducted a study to analyze the routing choices made by direction and mapping apps, specifically focusing on whether they followed the designated detour routes.
The result? Hello New Jersey.
In an interview with NJ Advance Media, Dimitrijevic stated that the applications do not take state borders into account. Instead, they will dynamically redirect the vehicles. Depending on the time of day and road conditions, drivers may be presented with various alternate routes.
He explained that state, local, and emergency management agencies plan official detours in advance. However, there is no obligation for drivers to follow these detours. The average daily traffic on the overpasses was around 160,000 vehicles.
He inputted the detour’s starting and ending points near the affected I-95 Exits 30 and 32 into both Waze and Google Maps.
He mentioned that Google Maps directed him to pass through New Jersey and did not instruct him to follow the designated route. According to the directions, he was advised to cross the Ben Franklin Bridge, take Route 130, return via the Betsy Ross bridge, and utilize local streets until reaching the ramp for I-95.
He mentioned that he went on a journey towards the south on Route 63 in Pennsylvania, which was somewhat near the designated alternate route for the I-95 collapse.
There are valid justifications for apps redirecting traffic. Additionally, videos circulating on social media depicted a continuous flow of vehicles on I-95 north near the site of the collapse, even on Wednesday. Dimitrijevic mentioned that individuals traveling to nearby destinations within the neighborhood will be guided to take local streets instead.
He mentioned that this system functions well unless there is an excessive amount of traffic that surpasses the streets’ ability to handle it. Another problem arises when GPS or mobile applications direct large trucks and tractor trailers through these same streets. Delivery drivers in North Philly expressed their frustration on social media, stating that their routes now take longer to complete.
Dimitrijevic mentioned that there is a significant amount of local traffic in this specific part of I-95, which is located near downtown and industrial areas. He is curious to know the extent of this local traffic and how many of these drivers have limited options to travel to New Jersey and return.
According to Stephen Schapiro, a spokesperson for the state department of transportation, the collapse of I-95 has not significantly increased traffic on New Jersey roads yet.
According to him, an analysis of the traffic volume on Monday, June 5, compared to Monday, June 12, after a section of I-95 in Philadelphia was closed, revealed a minor decline in traffic on I-676 in Camden. However, there was a small increase in traffic on I-295 in Mt. Laurel and Rt 38 in Maple Shade.
In Bellmawr, I-295 connects with I-76 and Route 42. From this point, I-76 serves as a convenient route leading directly to the Walt Whitman bridge. Unlike the Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, and Tacony-Palmyra bridges, the Walt Whitman bridge experienced minimal traffic detours caused by the collapse of I-95.
Bill Moen, a State Assemblyman from the 5th District who serves the Camden County area, is concerned about the traffic caused by the I-295-76 and Route 42 junction. He is also worried about the $900 million NJDOT project aimed at improving and making the interchange safer for drivers. Moen has requested that the Department of Transportation (DOT) keep an eye on the traffic situation.
Moen stated that he utilizes a mobile application to find the most efficient and least crowded path to his workplace in the mornings, starting from the entrance of I-295 in Bellmawr.
“I, myself, have experienced being redirected from my regular route for three consecutive days. I have been instructed to avoid using 295,” he stated. “Even my wife, who commutes via 295 for work, has also been rerouted.”
In addition, Moen remarked that he has observed an increase in the number of trucks and large vehicles, such as 18-wheelers, utilizing I-295 during daytime journeys.
He stated that he was certainly caught off guard by the unexpected presence of more big trucks.
Moen desires the Department of Transportation to effectively observe and keep track of the possible increase in deterioration and subsequent maintenance needed on both state highways and local streets.
He mentioned that there are expenses that go beyond just me being stuck in traffic. These expenses are actual costs. He stated that now there are thousands of additional vehicles using our Turnpike, I-295, and Route 30. What does this mean in regards to the damage caused to our roads and the expenses associated with accident responses from our first responders?
According to Moen, although the main focus is on repairing I-95, it is also important to provide federal funding for alternative routes and any necessary repairs they may require over the next three months. This serves as a backup plan for the region.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation received $3 million in emergency funds from the Federal Highway Administration on Thursday. This money will serve as a deposit to help cover the expenses of repairing the damaged portion of I-95 that collapsed. Additionally, there are further funds available through the federal administration’s Emergency Relief program.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that time is crucial in this urgent reconstruction project and the immediate financial support is a significant measure to assist PennDOT in rebuilding the section of I-95 that collapsed. He also emphasized that the federal government will utilize all available resources to help Pennsylvania swiftly and safely restore this important road.
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You can contact Larry Higgs at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com .
