I have mixed feelings about the Outerbridge Crossing bridge. On one hand, it provides a crucial connection between New York City and New Jersey, but on the other hand, it's plagued by never-ending traffic that can be incredibly frustrating. As a frequent user of this bridge, I've observed several factors that contribute to the congestion.
Firstly, it's important to acknowledge that the heavy traffic is not solely due to drivers' lack of skills. While there may be some drivers who contribute to the problem, it's unfair to generalize and attribute the entire issue to their abilities. The traffic congestion can be attributed to multiple factors, some of which are beyond the control of individual drivers.
One factor that might contribute to the traffic is the maintenance of the bridge by the Port Authority of NY & NJ. It's possible that the bridge's condition has deteriorated over time, leading to speed restrictions and reduced capacity. If this is the case, it's imperative for the authorities to take necessary steps to maintain the bridge properly and ensure it can handle the traffic flow efficiently.
Another potential issue lies in the design of the merging points both at the beginning and end of the bridge. Poorly designed merge points can cause bottlenecks and congestion, making the driving experience unpleasant for everyone. It would be beneficial for the authorities to evaluate the design and consider making improvements to optimize traffic flow.
Additionally, the congestion on the New Jersey side, particularly on NJ-440, further exacerbates the problem. The backup before reaching the final exit and the bridge itself can be frustrating, especially for those who need to access the earlier exits. Addressing the congestion on NJ-440 would greatly enhance the overall traffic flow in the area.
If you're a resident who frequently commutes during off-peak hours, such as the graveyard shift, you might find the bridge more manageable. However, for those commuting during peak hours, the experience can be quite challenging. The authorities, namely the Port Authority of NY & NJ, should prioritize improving the traffic flow on this bridge to benefit all users, regardless of the time of day.
In conclusion, the Outerbridge Crossing bridge suffers from persistent traffic congestion that impacts the commuting experience. While it's unfair to solely blame drivers, improvements in bridge maintenance, merge point design, and addressing the congestion on NJ-440 could significantly alleviate the problem. I hope the responsible authorities take these concerns seriously and undertake necessary measures to enhance the traffic flow on...
Read moreThe Outerbridge, which is actually officially called/named/titled/labeled the Outerbridge Crossing, is one of four total Bridges into and out of Staten Island (Richmond County) and one of three bridges that goes into and out of the state of New Jersey specifically. The Outerbridge Crossing specifically connected the Staten Island neighborhood of Tottenville, with the Middlesex County New Jersey township/city of Perth Amboy (New Jersey considers any township with a population of over 10,000 a city). Funny thing, bring born in 1990, I remember traveling over the bridge daily for a commute with my family, and the toll in 1999, 2000, 2001 was $6. Now I believe it is $16 (May have even gone up sense I have last gone through the toll way back in 2014). Later in life, living in the Staten island neighborhood of Annadale, I would travel every night leaving at around 10pm to travel over this bridge, into Keasbey, New Jersey. This trip would literally take me on good night with no traffic, ten to twelve minutes, on a night with mild to heavy traffic it would take 15-25 mins. And the having gone to high school and some college in Middlesex County, after leaving work in the morning and traveling back to Staten, I would go to Jersey to hang out with friends either in afternoon or evening before work. So some days that's two trips back and forth. This bridge is LITERALLY the most Southern Bridge not only in New York City, but in and of New York State, making it also one of my favorite bridges of all time, mostly because of personal familaity, memories, and nostalgia. Yeah, I'm a bias ranker, but I'm ranking the Outerbridge Crossing an...
Read moreOh God, I'm rating a bridge/bridge crossing for Staten Island and New Jersey. Google keeps pestering me by sending notifications to rate it just 'cause I used it a couple of weeks ago. Ok... I give in! So, it's a bridge. Glad we got that out of the way (lol). It's an ugly looking bridge, but do you care as long as it gets you across the water and into Staten Island or New Jersey? Will you have fond memories to share with your family about the time you went across the Outerbridge? I hope you have more excitement in your life that this isn't a memory of a lifetime. Nothing majorly wrong with the bridge, but there is an issue I bring up further into the review. Pavement on it is in good shape so it's smooth sailing going across. I see some people have balked at the toll cost, however, no way around it. $17 without EZpass, $15 with it. Same as the Goethals Bridge or any other crossing into NY and NJ. The only plus to the Outerbridge is that there is usually a lot less traffic on it. In that case it might be a better option if the Goethals is jam packed. Just keep in mind this is an older bridge and the lanes are narrow. They are much narrower than the Goethals. Feel it is important to let everyone know that if you own a wide vehicle ( i.e. RV's) you might want to consider the Goethals. Nobody likes a surprise when driving so a...
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