NatureGirl19317

Good evening!

Im heading up from the Philadelphia are in Pennsylvania to Woods Hole, Massachusetts this Thursday morning and I was hoping someone could provide some feedback for (mainly) two portions of our trip. Were thinking of taking the following route:

95N
New Jersey Turnpike (95N)
George Washington Bridge
95N through CT
195 at Providence, RI
495E
28S

Please feel free to comment on this route overall. I do, however, have two specific questions concerning two possible routes in the trip:

ONE
We took the Tappan Zee up to CT (avoiding the GW Bridge) and hit zero traffic-cool! It seems out of the way to do this when heading to Woods Hole, however, Ive heard GW Bridge can be super congested. Is it worth it to take Tappan Zee to avoid this congestion? As far as time of day wed be around the GW Bridge, if all goes well, its looking like 9 or 10am.

TWO
Is it worth it to cut through Newport instead of going up to Providence? The map describes this route through Newport as “multi-lane” or “principal” highway. Going up to Providence seems more out of the way, however, Im not sure of the possible delays/downsides of traveling through Newport.

Your feedback was so helpful in helping us choose a route to CT so Im excited to hear your feedback on this route to MA!

Thanks again and have a pleasant evening!

rkkwan

Question two - it's always much faster to stay on I-95 to Providence and then I-195. Going through Newport is very slow. Business, traffic lights, etc...

John_T_Cuttino

Your original route is the best. GWB saves 20-30 min unless there are traffic backups, etc. (but you can also have these on Tappen Zee).
On a direct route, avoid Newport, 95, 195 are fast and you should "beat the Providence rush hour".

NatureGirl19317

Awesome! Thank you both very much for the input-original route it is! Have a great day!

Larry1

Hmmm...myself and my parents have been driving between the Philadelphia area and Newport RI for 30 years- we stopped beating our heads against the GWB route 6-8 years ago in favor of the Tappan Zee. To be fair, havng not made the attempt in the last half decade or so, maybe things hgave gotten better. But Naturegirl is talking about driving the north part of the Jersey Turnpike during rush hour on a weekday, and getting to the GWB (and beyond, which in my experience was where the snarls really began) just after rush hour. We have not noticed an extra 20-30 minutes in overall commute time by going the Tappan Zee route.
As far as the Newport detour, unless you intend to actually stop and walk around the town for a half day, it will be much much faster to just stay on 95 to 195 east.

John_T_Cuttino

Having done this trip many times, all things being equal, GWB is faster than Tappen Zee. You exchange 20-30 min in upper NJ for the Cross Bronx Expressway. If you have EZPass, getting thru the toll plaza at GWB (or Tappen Zee) is much easier. Go on the lower level.
The upper NJTurnpike, after rush hour, is not so bad. I assume by the time you reach upper NJ, it will be after 9am or so.
If you want to avoid the Cross Bronx and congested I95 in New York, take Major Deegan (I87North), first exit off Cross Bronx. Take this to Cross County then Hutchinson Parkway which becomes the Merrit Parkway. You can cut over to 95 anywhere in CT.
Get a map and check it out. It works.

capecodshanty

Having lived in N.J., and "Caping" it every summer for many a year, suggest you go over the Tappan Zee Bridge, take Rt.287 though White Plains, and then take the Merrit Parkway, getting off in Ct. at the Stratford, Milford Exit, onto Rt. 95 (The Ct. Turnpike). Much faster, no construction, no trucks. Stay on 95 until just outside downtown Providence, and take Rt. 195 to Rt. 25 directly to the Bourne Bridge. There will be signs guiding you .
Enjoy!

Larry1

"Having done this trip many times, all things being equal, GWB is faster than Tappen Zee."

Of course. But again, in 30 years of experience, we have found that all things are NOT equal between the two routes. Specifically, our perception is that the risk of encountering a major traffic snarl due to congestion, accident, or construction are significantly greater if you take the GWB route. Obviously your experience and perceptions are different.

escargot

while I haven't drive from PA, if I drive from NYC I avoid Providence also by jumping on Merritt as CapeCod Shanty replied: there are no trucks allowed on Merritt and while there is some construction on Merritt, it is a nicer road and less construction than on 95 thru Providence which can cause more tie ups.

Larry1

Just another follow up- the NY area has some pretty good traffic information available on the internet. Here's what I dug up on the GWB:

"TO NEW YORK (EASTBOUND)
Construction and Maintenance Projects Requiring Closures: Roadway Maintenance
Date(s):Monday - Thursday, October 17 - 20, 9:30 am until 3 pm
Closures:
One of three New York-bound lower level bridge lanes and one of three expressway lanes (under the apartments) leading from the eastbound lower level will be completely closed to traffic."

Looking at the website for the Tappan Zee Bridge route for this week, no traffic impacts are expected.

j_999_9

I have made this trip about 25 times, and I'm with CapeCodShanty -- Tappan Zee, Merritt Pkwy., etc.

The GWB is nothing but a giant pain, as is most of I-95 north of the GWB. That's been my extensive experience.

NatureGirl19317

You guys ROCK! Thanks for the awesome tips! Ill totally check out the traffic online, also-thats pretty cool. Have a great night!