Tonnele Circle
Encyclopedia
The Tonnele Circle is an intersection
in Jersey City
, New Jersey
, United States
. It is named after Tonnele Avenue, the north-south road that runs through it. Entrances and exits are, listed clockwise
from north:
Before the Pulaski Skyway
was built, the cut through the New Jersey Palisades
(now Route 139
) ended at Tonnele Circle, where Tonnele Avenue went north and south, and the main road to Newark
went west. To the east, just north of the road through the cut, was a connector road to Hudson County Boulevard (now re-named Kennedy Boulevard). When the Skyway was built, the old connection to Tonnele Circle became a left-side exit and entrance ramp to the Circle, with the Skyway passing over the Circle. Right-side exit and entrance ramps were provided between the Skyway and the Circle, with the southbound onramp exiting the circle north of the old road (now TRUCK US 1/9).
On September 14, 1938, a direct ramp, known as the Tonnele Circle Viaduct, opened from the cut, passing over Tonnele Circle, to TRUCK US 1/9. This greatly improved traffic, since southbound (westbound) trucks no longer had to pass through the circle. Northbound (eastbound) trucks still do, but they only cross the Tonnelle Avenue south approach, which is relatively minor.
In mid-1952, Tonnele Circle was rebuilt. Northbound traffic from TRUCK US 1/9 could now go straight through the circle. Also at that time, or possibly earlier, the offramp from Route 139
was moved to the right side, and entered the Circle where the connector to Hudson County Boulevard had. The connector was modified to only go towards the Circle.
The Tonnele Circle was adjusted again in 2005. A ramp was added to permit vehicles heading southbound on Tonnele Ave to access the Pulaski Skyway without entering the circle. Additionally, ramps around and through the circle were modified to improve traffic flow, and traffic lights were added and recalibrated to reduce the chances of cross traffic being in an intersection simultaneously.
, since the circle was built for the tunnel. Hagstrom
maps even label the circle as Tunnel's Traffic Circle. However, the circle was named after the street, and the street was probably named after a John Tonnele
, who died in 1852, or one of his descendants. Information on the Tonnele family is sparse, but at least some of them lived in Jersey City, where the street now runs. The street was named by 1883. There is some confusion about the spelling - whether the name has one 'L' or two - even within Jersey City, and street signs reflect both options. However, the U.S. Postal Service favors "Tonnele," which reflects the spelling of the man after whom the street is named.
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
in Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is named after Tonnele Avenue, the north-south road that runs through it. Entrances and exits are, listed clockwise
Clockwise
Circular motion can occur in two possible directions. A clockwise motion is one that proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top...
from north:
- Tonnele Avenue north (U.S. Route 1/9U.S. Route 1/9U.S. Route 9 is a U.S. highway in the northeast United States, running from Laurel, Delaware north to the Canadian border near Champlain, New York...
) - entrance from Route 139Route 139 (New Jersey)Route 139 is a state highway in Jersey City, New Jersey, extending the Pulaski Skyway east to the Holland Tunnel. The western portion of the route is a two level highway that is charted by the New Jersey Department of Transportation as two separate roadways: The lower roadway between U.S...
and Kennedy Boulevard - exit to Route 139Route 139 (New Jersey)Route 139 is a state highway in Jersey City, New Jersey, extending the Pulaski Skyway east to the Holland Tunnel. The western portion of the route is a two level highway that is charted by the New Jersey Department of Transportation as two separate roadways: The lower roadway between U.S...
- Tonnele Avenue south
- entrance from Pulaski SkywayPulaski SkywayThe General Pulaski Skyway is a four-lane freeway composed of connected bridges in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey, carrying the designation of U.S. Route 1/9 for most of its length. The landmark structure has a total length of with the longest bridge spanning...
(U.S. Route 1/9U.S. Route 1/9U.S. Route 9 is a U.S. highway in the northeast United States, running from Laurel, Delaware north to the Canadian border near Champlain, New York...
) - Truck US 1/9
- exit to Pulaski SkywayPulaski SkywayThe General Pulaski Skyway is a four-lane freeway composed of connected bridges in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey, carrying the designation of U.S. Route 1/9 for most of its length. The landmark structure has a total length of with the longest bridge spanning...
(U.S. Route 1/9U.S. Route 1/9U.S. Route 9 is a U.S. highway in the northeast United States, running from Laurel, Delaware north to the Canadian border near Champlain, New York...
)
History
Pulaski Skyway
The General Pulaski Skyway is a four-lane freeway composed of connected bridges in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey, carrying the designation of U.S. Route 1/9 for most of its length. The landmark structure has a total length of with the longest bridge spanning...
was built, the cut through the New Jersey Palisades
New Jersey Palisades
The Palisades, also called the New Jersey Palisades or the Hudson Palisades are a line of steep cliffs along the west side of the lower Hudson River in northeastern New Jersey and southern New York in the United States. The cliffs stretch north from Jersey City approximately 20 mi to near...
(now Route 139
Route 139 (New Jersey)
Route 139 is a state highway in Jersey City, New Jersey, extending the Pulaski Skyway east to the Holland Tunnel. The western portion of the route is a two level highway that is charted by the New Jersey Department of Transportation as two separate roadways: The lower roadway between U.S...
) ended at Tonnele Circle, where Tonnele Avenue went north and south, and the main road to Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
went west. To the east, just north of the road through the cut, was a connector road to Hudson County Boulevard (now re-named Kennedy Boulevard). When the Skyway was built, the old connection to Tonnele Circle became a left-side exit and entrance ramp to the Circle, with the Skyway passing over the Circle. Right-side exit and entrance ramps were provided between the Skyway and the Circle, with the southbound onramp exiting the circle north of the old road (now TRUCK US 1/9).
On September 14, 1938, a direct ramp, known as the Tonnele Circle Viaduct, opened from the cut, passing over Tonnele Circle, to TRUCK US 1/9. This greatly improved traffic, since southbound (westbound) trucks no longer had to pass through the circle. Northbound (eastbound) trucks still do, but they only cross the Tonnelle Avenue south approach, which is relatively minor.
Route 139 (New Jersey)
Route 139 is a state highway in Jersey City, New Jersey, extending the Pulaski Skyway east to the Holland Tunnel. The western portion of the route is a two level highway that is charted by the New Jersey Department of Transportation as two separate roadways: The lower roadway between U.S...
was moved to the right side, and entered the Circle where the connector to Hudson County Boulevard had. The connector was modified to only go towards the Circle.
The Tonnele Circle was adjusted again in 2005. A ramp was added to permit vehicles heading southbound on Tonnele Ave to access the Pulaski Skyway without entering the circle. Additionally, ramps around and through the circle were modified to improve traffic flow, and traffic lights were added and recalibrated to reduce the chances of cross traffic being in an intersection simultaneously.
Naming
It is sometimes believed that the circle (and street) gets its name from the Holland TunnelHolland Tunnel
The Holland Tunnel is a highway tunnel under the Hudson River connecting the island of Manhattan in New York City with Jersey City, New Jersey at Interstate 78 on the mainland. Unusual for an American public works project, it is not named for a government official, politician, or local hero or...
, since the circle was built for the tunnel. Hagstrom
Hagström
Hagström is a musical instrument manufacturer in Älvdalen, Dalecarlia, Sweden. Their original products were accordions that they initially imported from Germany and then Italy before opening their own facility in 1932. During the sixties, the company started making electric guitars and later...
maps even label the circle as Tunnel's Traffic Circle. However, the circle was named after the street, and the street was probably named after a John Tonnele
John Tonnele
John Tonnele was an American farmer and politician who was the first Roman Catholic member of the New Jersey Legislature. Tonnele was born in New York City to John Tonnele , senior partner at New York wool merchant Tonnele & Hall, and his wife Rebecca , daughter of General David How Waterbury, Jr....
, who died in 1852, or one of his descendants. Information on the Tonnele family is sparse, but at least some of them lived in Jersey City, where the street now runs. The street was named by 1883. There is some confusion about the spelling - whether the name has one 'L' or two - even within Jersey City, and street signs reflect both options. However, the U.S. Postal Service favors "Tonnele," which reflects the spelling of the man after whom the street is named.
See also
- List of traffic circles in New Jersey
- Saint Peter's Cemetery, Jersey CitySaint Peter's Cemetery, Jersey CitySt. Peters' Catholic Cemetery is located just south of Tonnelle Circle near Croxton Yard in Jersey City, New Jersey and is administered by Holy Name Cemetery....
- Odonyms in Hudson County, New Jersey