New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 6 E-ZPass Improvements

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) Interchange 6 is a toll plaza on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension (PHMTE), connecting to the Pennsylvania Turnpike via the Delaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridge three miles to the west.

Traffic engineering predicted increased traffic volumes on PHMTE after new ramps were constructed at the nearby Interstate 95 (I-95)/Interstate 476 (I-476) interchange and the designation of Interchange 6’s segment of the PHMTE was updated to I-95, the main East Coast highway of the U.S.

In addition, customized traffic models showed exponential growth of the E-ZPass toll collection system as it became the preferred payment method for turnpike users. Interchange 6 contained only one express E-ZPass lane in each direction, which led to congestion and safety concerns when vehicles from three eastbound and four westbound regular lanes of traffic merged left to access the express toll lanes.

GFT provided final design for express tolling upgrades to the Interchange 6 plaza. Modifying the existing barrier toll plaza added an express E-ZPass lane in each direction to accommodate increased I-95 traffic and improved traffic flow.

The toll booth design required a partial demolition of the existing structure, a new monotube and sign structures, and improved drainage. Our team also provided horizontal and vertical design, transportation engineering and maintenance, and toll plaza and electronic toll collection design.

The team created customized traffic simulation models to inform a complex staging plan that maintained vehicle movement through the facility during construction. Our project staging kept most lanes open during peak hours and additional closures were needed only during off-peak travel times.

Adding additional express E-ZPass lanes to Interchange 6:

• Significantly improves mobility.
• Reduces traffic congestion by allowing vehicles to move safely through the facility.
• Helps maintain highway speeds and minimizes lane changes.
• Improves air quality by reducing the number of queued vehicles idling at traditional toll booths.
• Alleviates traffic bottlenecks that could disrupt evacuations during an emergency.