Map by Esso, supplied by Dan Tasman via David Steinberg.
Late in 1964, the initial proposed route of the Somerset Freeway (I-95) was unveiled as shown above.  This route was recrafted from the remnants of the North Jersey Expressway (I-95) proposal which was rejected earlier that same year.

This route varied from the rejected North Jersey Expressway (I-95) proposal near the north end.  The North Jersey Expressway (I-95) had been planned to travel almost due east just south of the Middlesex Freeway (I-287) and then intersect it well within Middlesex County near current Exit 5.  This apparent redundancy was removed in the initial Somerset Freeway (I-95) plans shown above by instead having it intersect the Middlesex Freeway (I-287) near the Middlesex County / Somerset County border in the vicinity of current Exit 10.  This route was made official in 1966 when the Middlesex Freeway (I-287) was redesignated as I-95 between the New Jersey Turnpike and current Exit 9.

At the south end of the route, the "Trenton Beltway" concept of the Scudders Falls Expressway (I-95) and the Camden Freeway (I-295) had not yet been fully conceptualized.  Instead, the Camden Freeway (I-295) was proposed to curve back northwards before meeting the ends of the Scudders Falls Expressway (I-95) and the Somerset Freeway (I-95) just southeast of Pennington.

In the center, the Princeton-Hightstown Bypass (NJ 92) had been reconceptualized to form a direct link between the Somerset Freeway (I-95) and the New Jersey Turnpike (then NJ 700).  The cancellation of the Somerset Freeway (I-95) would eventually help eliminate the Princeton-Hightstown Bypass (NJ 92) as well.

The 'fatal flaw' of this route is clearly visible here:  it came very close to Princeton Boro and crossed well into Princeton Township.  The Princeton's were the source of the outward-spiralling wave of protest against the Somerset Freeway (I-95) which would eventually result in its cancellation.



Maps
Map 1:  I-95 Corridor Shifts, 1954 - 1982

Map 2:  Adopted Route, 1964
Map 3:  Re-extended Route, 1968
Map 4:  Connectors Added, 1976
Map 5:  All Considered Alignments, 1979
Map 6:  Preferred Alternative Schematics and Exit List, 1979
Map 7:  Exit Number Changes, 1984 - 1996
Map 8:  I-95 Gap Corridor Today
Map 9:  The Future I-95/I-276 Interchange
Photos
The I-95 Gap Eastern Bypass

The I-95 Eastern Route
The I-95 Western Route
The I-95 Gap Western Bypass




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Copyright © 2002 by Raymond C Martin Jr. All rights reserved