Another Way into Sea Isle

Sea Isle seeks signs for shortcut into town
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Published: Thursday, December 29, 2005
Updated: Thursday, December 29, 2005

SEA ISLE CITY-The city has asked the New Jersey Turnpike Authority for a sign instructing motorists of a Garden State Parkway shortcut that many locals already know about.

The issue of finding a way into Sea Isle City from the parkway has long been a sore subject.

There is no northbound exit to enter Sea Isle City or neighboring Dennis Township. However, there is a southbound exit.

Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio said a sign should tell vacationers about a shortcut involving a U-turn through a parkway rest stop.

He revived an old issue during a meeting between the Turnpike Authority and county officials recently regarding one-way tolls on the parkway.

"As long as I had them at the table, I'd figured I'd bring up an old request," Desiderio said.

In 1996, parkway officials erected a sign meant to make reaching Sea Isle City easier.

The sign, which is still there, instructs northbound motorists heading to Sea Isle City to get off at exit 13.

The route means driving through Avalon and 25 mph speed limits, crossing the Townsends Inlet Bridge and then driving through much of residential Sea Isle City.

Desiderio said the current sign is confusing, leaving vacationers who take that exit with no further directions.

There's also a much faster route.

Motorists can make a U-turn at the Ocean View rest area and exit from the southbound lane of the parkway at exit 17, which leads directly into Sea Isle City.

On Wednesday in light traffic, a drive from Cape May Court House to downtown Sea Isle City took about 20 minutes using the prescribed route through Avalon.

Using the U-turn shortcut, however, the drive took about 12 minutes.

For years, the city wanted a sign indicating that the nearby parkway rest stop can serve as a U-turn.

Previously, state officials have said that technique is too dangerous, as motorists must cross two lanes of traffic to reach the exit.

Cars must enter fast-moving parkway traffic from the left lane and cross the two lanes within about half mile.

But Desiderio said exiting the rest stop is no different than leaving any other parkway rest stop.

The issue has been dormant for several years.

Desiderio said it was worth presenting the idea again.

This time, there are also different officials in charge of the parkway, he said.

"We've been doing this for generations here. ... All I want to do is alert motorists to the loop," Desiderio said. "I don't believe it would bring any more traffic because everybody's doing it now."

But Desiderio said it would make it easier on vacationers.

Turnpike Authority spokesman Joseph Orlando said Wednesday officials were reviewing the request.

"We know the request has been made, and we're going to have the engineers look into it, the feasibility in terms of traffic and safety," Orlando said.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press: BIanieri@pressofac.com