Total Length - 5.4 Miles (Four Lane Limited Access)
*This is all fictional and elaborated as what I think may have happened if the powers that be had decided to build these highways* A Long Island Parkway in NJ The Bayside Parkway started like any other highway, on the drawing boards of the state DOT. Since it would travel along the shore with the Barnegat Bay it was very important that the highway not take away from that natural beauty, but instead enhance it. The idea was to bring a parkway to the jersey shore much like those found on Long Island, with wooden ornamental lightposts and stone arch bridges. The limited access highway was first proposed to run from Seaside Park and connect with the planned freeway in Monmouth County near Brielle. It became increasingly clear that such a plan would never work with the barrier island being so thin, especially in the town of Mantoloking. Neither would it be possible through the downtown of Point Pleasant Beach. Instead, the plan was to create a bypass of Lavallette and the Seaside area. Included in the designs for this highway were five interchanges and a bike path running parallel to take advantage of the open preserved space the parkway would make. The bike path would run through the preserved beach pines and dune grass that would surround the Bayside Parkway. Ideas were floated as to whether a parkway was actually neccessary, seeing as the majority of traffic was during the summer months. Some officials wanted to just dualize Route 35 by splitting it into one way streets with two lanes, utilizing Grand Central Ave. and the parallel W. Central Ave. The Parkway takes shape Finally a decision was made, and construction began in Spring of 1966
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Bayside Parkway - Exit 5
Here the freeway would curve to the east and rejoin the original Route 35 alignment and continue as a dualized four lane highway to the Manasquan Bridge, where the freeway would start up again. Making Route 35 a surface arterial only between exits 5 and 15. However, since this section would be four total lanes and divided with minimal lights, traffic would not encounter much congestion through this section. Shear summer volume can never be mitigated... |
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Exit 5
Here is what the overhead signage looks like as you approached the freeway's end. Acknowledging that you are leaving the Bayside Parkway is not neccessary, but I think it looks neat... |
Bayside Parkway - Exit 4
Exit 4 provides direct access to Lavallette and its business district. At this interchange the Bayside Bikeway would have its only at grade crossing while paralleling the Route 35 freeway. Drivers would be properly notified of crossing bicyclists by a special traffic light installed in the vicinity of the Southbound ramps. |
Bayside Parkway - Exit 3
Here both the Bayside Bikeway and Route 35 have interchanges that lead to Ortley Beach and Seaside Heights. Once leaving the freeway on Exit 3, you would be taken down the connector to Central Ave. |
Bayside Parkway - Exit 2
Here Route 35 meets with Route 37 in a modified trumpet interchange. Northbound gets three exits, two into Seaside Heights, and the other which leads to the Garden State Parkway and bridge over the Barnegat Bay via Route 37. Southbound however, only gets one exit, onto Route 37 Westbound, so all traffic going south wishing to reach Seaside Heights would use Exit 3. The Bayside Bikeway has a few access points to Seaside making it functional as a alternate form of transportation on the barrier island. |
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Bayside Parkway - End
I skipped showing Exit 1 because it only has Northbound access, and I wanted to show this overhead sign of Route 35's end. A diagrammical BGS assist the exit signs in telling people where they should be when approaching the end of the freeway. Again, a sign thanking the use of the Parkway, just a nice touch... |
Bayside Parkway - Exit 0
Route 35 terminates at Central Ave before Island Beach State Park. This provides the best access for the park as well as South Seaside Park residents. The Bayside Bikeway continues along Central Ave until it reaches the park. It then travels through Island Beach State Park all the way to it's southern tip, providing a 21.5 mile long bike path starting from Bay Head. (I know that NJ doesn't practice "zero" exits, but this is my NJ... ok ^_^ ) |
