Interstate 95 is one of the most important highways in the United States. It is the longest interstate highway running from north to south in the United States. You can take it from Miami, Florida to the Maine/Canadian border. It is the single most critical highway along the east coast. And it's a lie. You see, it is completely impossible to drive the length of I-95 between those two locations without leaving I-95. To be fair, though, it's not actually the driver and car that leaves I-95, but it's I-95 that does the leaving.
I-95 enters Pennsylvania between Wilmington, Delaware and Philadelphia. It roughly parallels the Delaware River between Philly and the Scudder's Fall bridge, north of Trenton, NJ, where I-95 crosses over into New Jersey. About two miles into New Jersey, it stops it's north-easterly direction, and heads due east. After another five miles in New Jersey, Interstate 95 disappears. It vanishes. One moment you're on I-95 north, and the next moment you're driving on I-295 south. If you continue on this highway you will mostly parallel the Delaware River on the New Jersey side, heading south to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, dropping you back into Delaware on, you guessed it, I-95. If, on the other hand, you're coming from the north, into New Jersey, and you want to continue on I-95 south all the way to Miami, you stand a much better chance of success, though I-95 will disappear for you as well. Technically this happens roughly where the New Jersey Turnpike and the Pennsylvania Turnpike meet at exit 6 of the NJ Turnpike. One second you're on I-95 (which is concurrent with the NJ Turnpike) and the next second I-95 is gone, and you're just left with the NJ Turnpike. The NJ Turnpike will, in fact, take you all the way to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, where you can go over the Delaware River and hop back onto I-95 south.
There is roughly a 10 mile gap between those two loose ends of I-95. For 10 miles, I-95 disappears. This is nowhere near the NJ Pine Barrens, where you'd expect things to disappear. At the locations where I-95 suddenly disappears there are signs of various sizes declaring “To I-95” and prompting you to follow specific directions. Heading northbound on I-95, you will start to see those signs right around U.S. Route 1. You were on I-95 northbound, and you suddenly start seeing signs “To 95N”. You must drive south on I-295 for roughly 10 miles till you come to I-195, which you will travel east on for about three miles, before hitting the NJ Turnpike, which is also I-95 at that point.
Thankfully, this travesty of confusion will be rectified in the next decade. Construction is set to begin this spring on a new interchange to run between the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-95 in Bristol Township, PA. It it set to be completed in 2014. Till then, try not to get lost in New Jersey.
Adam
