I've never been a huge fan or heavy user of I495. It always seemed to me
that you only used it if you were driving a large truck or if you live in
Pennsylvania. There's something a bit ominous about that stretch of highway
that, especially at night, sort of bothered me.
Today, I have a new appreciation for I495 because, now, I have to share I95
with the truckers and the people from PA. When I495 closed two weeks ago, I
really didn't think it would be a problem 'cause, ya' know, nobody uses I495
anyway, right? Wrong!I'm having to get a bit creative about my start and return times from the
beach. Leaving Thursday evenings is always a good idea, especially if I go
later (last week, I left at 8:45 PM and arrived at my beach house in OC exactly
2 hours later). Coming home yesterday after leaving OC at 11 AM was a different
story. Although traffic was heavy heading north, we were all moving at a good
speed and there were no delays - until we hit I95. From that point on, a leg of
my trip that normally takes 10 minutes took 45.
Now I'm trying to decide what to do next week. Do I skip I95 altogether
and head up Route 13 to Route 141 to get to North Wilmington? Should I leave
the beach at 6 AM to beat the traffic? Take a boat through the Delaware Bay and
head up the Delaware River? I don't think that there are any easy answers for
this dilemma.
Fortunately, everyone stuck on I95 yesterday (a hot, sunny afternoon)
seemed to be acting pretty cool and understanding that we are all in this
together. I only hope that feeling of brotherhood can last through Labor Day,
when they claim that part of the I495 bridge will reopen.
My traffic survival kit consists of snacks (granola, yogurt, Tic Tacs and
gummy bears) and bottled water. I keep a couple of "This American Life"
podcasts on my iphone and ipod to help pass the time and calm the nerves. This
will be my solution for the rest of the summer and, as long as I don't drink too
much of the bottled water, my new 3-4 hour beach commute should go
smoothly.
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