This article oversimplifies the problem and asserts a conclusion without nuance. Here's that nuance: the success or failure of a highway widening project depends on multiple factors, including: peak traffic density; number of existing lanes; highway geometry at that road segment; number of interchanges and spacing between those interchanges; proximity of viable alternatives for traffic; mass transit station density and a network that connects residents from work to home to retail; the existence of industrial corridors and truck routes; viability of freight rail in that area; spot corrections vs system-wide approach; etc. Some widening projects only exacerbate the problem. This is often the case when a highway is widened in anticipation of future development. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. "If you build it they will come". Other widening projects are quite essential and very successful. Two major interchanges 3 miles apart can cause accidents though merge points. Adding an auxiliary roadway can control those merge points and allow for safer transitions. That's a widening project. Adding lanes on the NJTurnpike extension to permit trucks entering or leaving the ports to have merge-free access to the NJTurnpike mainline absolutely makes sense.  Sometimes traffic volume dictates it's time for an additional lane but really what is needed is a barrier separation of existing traffic between local users and thru drivers (local/express) to minimize 5 lane crossovers.

This article oversimplifies the problem and asserts a conclusion without nuance. Here's that nuance: the success or failure of a highway widening project depends on multiple factors, including: peak traffic density; number of existing lanes; highway geometry at that road segment; number of interchanges and spacing between those interchanges; proximity of viable alternatives for traffic; mass transit station density and a network that connects residents from work to home to retail; the existence of industrial corridors and truck routes; viability of freight rail in that area; spot corrections vs system-wide approach; etc. Some widening projects only exacerbate the problem. This is often the case when a highway is widened in anticipation of future development. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. "If you build it they will come". Other widening projects are quite essential and very successful. Two major interchanges 3 miles apart can cause accidents though merge points. Adding an auxiliary roadway can control those merge points and allow for safer transitions. That's a widening project. Adding lanes on the NJTurnpike extension to permit trucks entering or leaving the ports to have merge-free access to the NJTurnpike mainline absolutely makes sense.  Sometimes traffic volume dictates it's time for an additional lane but really what is needed is a barrier separation of existing traffic between local users and thru drivers (local/express) to minimize 5 lane crossovers.

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