NJDOT Pointed That New Black Horse Pike Sign the Wrong Way?

The New Jersey Department of Transportation just put up a brand new, high-tech electronic highway sign on the Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township and I think they did it wrong.

And the more I think about it, the more I think I'm right.

I know what you're saying -- this is a simple highway sign that'll show important traffic information (or at least semi-amusing reminders to wear your seat belt), how can something like this aggravate you?

Allow me to explain.

NJDOT Has Been Busy on Black Horse Pike

Over the past few years, the NJDOT has been working to modernize the Black Horse Pike in Atlantic County. Traffic sensors now line the Pike, new traffic signals are going up, and several big traffic cameras have been installed.

The latest big project started this past summer: installing a large digital sign. Simple enough.

Within the past couple of weeks, that sign was erected on the Pike just west of Tilton Road, facing westbound traffic, thus alerting drivers headed towards English Creek Avenue or Mays Landing and beyond.

Now, that's not exactly a hotbed of traffic jams outside of the usual delays at all of the red lights, but I suppose it's nice to have that capability (at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars, by the way).

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Here's My Problem With It

But what often happens the other way?

If you are headed eastbound on the pike towards West Atlantic City or Atlantic City, the Black Horse Pike floods quite often whenever there is a coastal storm or an unusually high tide. I mean, how many times have people been rescued from those little motels in West Atlantic City over the years?

Wouldn't it be much better to have a sign for eastbound traffic that would alert everyone that the Pike was closed five minutes ahead due to flooding?

That would allow everyone to either hop on the Parkway right at Tilton Road and take the Expressway into Atlantic City, or at least bail off on Fire Road or Route 9 to get around it.

It could also alert those who are about to get on the Parkway about any delays, especially during the summer.

Simply put, there's a lot more potential for delays and problems for those heading eastbound at that point as opposed to westbound.

That big fancy sign would be much better utilized if it were facing the other way, as far as I'm concerned.

Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com