Ledgewood Circle
Encyclopedia
The Ledgewood Circle was the intersection of New Jersey State Route 10
and U.S. Route 46 in the Ledgewood
neighborhood of Roxbury Township
, New Jersey
. Both highways are major east–west arteries in Morris County
, New Jersey, and both are also lined with businesses and strip malls. Consequently Route 10 and U.S. Route 46 experience heavy daily use, especially during the rush hours and on the weekends. This intersection is also the western terminus of Route 10.
dismantled the Ledgewood Circle and reconfigured the two highways into a signalized T-intersection.
Before the circle was replaced, eastbound traffic on U.S. Route 46 had to travel almost three-quarters of the way around the circle (while contending with traffic merging on to U.S. Route 46 east and west from Route 10 west) in order to continue traveling on U.S. Route 46 east.
Travelers on U.S. Route 46 west wishing to travel on Route 10 east also had to go almost three-quarters of the way around the circle with the same merging traffic to reach Route 10 eastbound. There were traffic metering signals to provide gaps in traffic so that motorists could in theory move in and out of the circle safely, but these signals were overwhelmed by the volume of daily traffic entering and exiting the circle and were not effective.
Speeding around the circle was a hazard as well because the roadway was broad and the circle itself had a large diameter, allowing those who wished to travel at highway speeds (50–55 m.p.h.) to do so even though these speeds were significantly higher than the advisory speed of 25 mi/h. This was the cause of many serious automobile accidents at the circle and another reason that the circle was replaced.
Traffic on U.S. Route 46 westbound merges on to a new two lane roadway that occupies the former south-western roadway of the old circle. Traffic is governed by a signal which permits westbound U.S. Route 46 traffic to merge on to the original divided highway that carried U.S. Route 46 west from the circle. Westbound travellers wishing to make a left turn onto Route 10 eastbound bear left from U.S. Route 46 westbound before this merge and use dedicated left turn lanes to make this move.
Traffic on Route 10 westbound wishing to travel onto U.S. Route 46 eastbound merge right at the terminus of Route 10 and travel onto the original alignment of U.S. 46 eastbound. There is no signal for this traffic and it must yield to on coming traffic. Travelers on Route 10 westbound wishing to use U.S. Route 46 westbound maintain their travel lanes and merge onto the original U.S. Route 46 westbound divided highway via a new roadway built through the middle of the old Ledgewood Circle. These lanes are governed by a traffic signal which allows for U-turns and U.S. Route 46 eastbound traffic to make a left turn to continue on U.S. Route 46 eastbound.
While the intersection is more heavily used than ever, traffic moves through much more safely and fluidly with this new alignment.
Route 10 (New Jersey)
Route 10 is a state highway in the northern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It runs from an intersection with U.S. Route 46 in Roxbury Township, Morris County east to County Route 577/County Route 677 in West Orange, Essex County...
and U.S. Route 46 in the Ledgewood
Ledgewood, New Jersey
Ledgewood is an unincorporated area within Roxbury Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07852....
neighborhood of Roxbury Township
Roxbury Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,883 people, 8,364 households, and 6,532 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,117.4 people per square mile . There were 8,550 housing units at an average density of 400.0 per square mile...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Both highways are major east–west arteries in Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
, New Jersey, and both are also lined with businesses and strip malls. Consequently Route 10 and U.S. Route 46 experience heavy daily use, especially during the rush hours and on the weekends. This intersection is also the western terminus of Route 10.
Replacing the Ledgewood Circle
In the mid 1990s, the New Jersey Department of TransportationNew Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey Department of Transportation is the agency responsible for transportation issues and policy in New Jersey. It is headed by the Commissioner of Transportation...
dismantled the Ledgewood Circle and reconfigured the two highways into a signalized T-intersection.
Before the circle was replaced, eastbound traffic on U.S. Route 46 had to travel almost three-quarters of the way around the circle (while contending with traffic merging on to U.S. Route 46 east and west from Route 10 west) in order to continue traveling on U.S. Route 46 east.
Travelers on U.S. Route 46 west wishing to travel on Route 10 east also had to go almost three-quarters of the way around the circle with the same merging traffic to reach Route 10 eastbound. There were traffic metering signals to provide gaps in traffic so that motorists could in theory move in and out of the circle safely, but these signals were overwhelmed by the volume of daily traffic entering and exiting the circle and were not effective.
Speeding around the circle was a hazard as well because the roadway was broad and the circle itself had a large diameter, allowing those who wished to travel at highway speeds (50–55 m.p.h.) to do so even though these speeds were significantly higher than the advisory speed of 25 mi/h. This was the cause of many serious automobile accidents at the circle and another reason that the circle was replaced.
Since replacement
Since the circle has been replaced, traffic approaching the former circle from the west while moving eastbound on U.S. Route 46 uses a new roadway that cuts through the middle of the former circle. Traffic must then use two dedicated left turn lanes governed by a signal to turn onto the original alignment of U.S. Route 46 eastbound. Motorists wishing to travel on Route 10 eastbound maintain their travel lanes as those lanes become Route 10 eastbound. There is a signal for these lanes too, it stops eastbound traffic to allow for U-turns and westbound U.S. Route 46 traffic to make a left turn onto eastbound Route 10.Traffic on U.S. Route 46 westbound merges on to a new two lane roadway that occupies the former south-western roadway of the old circle. Traffic is governed by a signal which permits westbound U.S. Route 46 traffic to merge on to the original divided highway that carried U.S. Route 46 west from the circle. Westbound travellers wishing to make a left turn onto Route 10 eastbound bear left from U.S. Route 46 westbound before this merge and use dedicated left turn lanes to make this move.
Traffic on Route 10 westbound wishing to travel onto U.S. Route 46 eastbound merge right at the terminus of Route 10 and travel onto the original alignment of U.S. 46 eastbound. There is no signal for this traffic and it must yield to on coming traffic. Travelers on Route 10 westbound wishing to use U.S. Route 46 westbound maintain their travel lanes and merge onto the original U.S. Route 46 westbound divided highway via a new roadway built through the middle of the old Ledgewood Circle. These lanes are governed by a traffic signal which allows for U-turns and U.S. Route 46 eastbound traffic to make a left turn to continue on U.S. Route 46 eastbound.
While the intersection is more heavily used than ever, traffic moves through much more safely and fluidly with this new alignment.