Trip planning for the GW Bridge

Definitely cheaper. Unless you specifically have to be in da Bronx, take 287 up and around to the 95. Your ### will thank you.

 

Since he's coming out of Mass, every way has a toll but I95 across the Bronx. Going up is a different story. Tappan Zee on 287 is cheaper, and the Newburgh Beacon/87 tolls are even cheaper than that. I've come out of New England or the city on I95 10x more than I've gone in on it, as I usually go the Vince Lombardi when I don't have a load.

To any rookies, I'd recommend you get the northern route figure out, before playing with the Goethals or Outerbridge crossing. The BQE can destroy your day if you don't know what you're doing. NEVER get off the BQE due to low overpasses, stay in the middle lane like all the rest of the trucks. Another tip for the NYC, just like Philly, is to learn what the locals call the roads, not the numbers, as the traffic reports use the common names. BQE, LIE, cross bronx, major deegan, etc are all terms you should become familiar with. Try not to go west over the Verrazano bridge if you can help it as it will cost you $100+ cash.

 

Like IP said the middle of the night is best. If you can try to avoid 0500-0900 and 1500-2100. I think the worst part is the I-95 traffic coming in and out of CT. Most of them work in NYC. I always liked the Tappan Zee route.

 

The traffic is so unpredictable going in and out of there. I usually start at 4am when I am going to NY, CT, or RI. These are all day trips so I have to deal with getting across twice in the same day. Usually I hit the GW and cross Bronx by 6, 615 in the morning and it is a clean shot across. But like others have already mentioned, it only takes one accident or broken down vehicle to completely "F" it up for everyone. There have been times where I have shot straight back across the cross Bronx and the bridge with no traffic and there have been times where I have had to sit and crawl it, taking about an hour or more to get to the bridge. Forget about using a CB for help... Way too much BS being talked to get thru and get traffic updates from other drivers. If you can avoid the cross Bronx and the GW, that would be the best, but we know that it isn't always possible. Whatever you do, be careful and watch the other animals in traffic. You will get cut off and they will do the damdest of things to get around you to go nowhere.

 

I remember back when they allowed trucks on both levels of the GW, the rule of thumb was to always do the opposite of what the traffic warning signs said. If it said traffic was moving better on the top level, use the bottom and vice versa, lol.

 

It is always a crap shoot. When I was a driver trainer it usually turned out to be the opposite of what you would think.

14;30 and you see the bronx an inch at a time 'cause you thought it would be clear...

Then @ 1645 on a Friday night and you keep it in top gear all the way across after the trainee griped about being delayed and having to sit all night.

You never know what to expect.

I had a guy delivering out on the Island [Brookhaven] 3 nights a week and he had it set up to deliver around 0330 - 0400.

The customer left a $20.00 tip sticking out of the cap to show which tank to unload the acid into...

He was always back at the window b/4 0800.

 

$70 for the Verrazano, and $35 for the Triborough (RFK), Whitestone, and Throgs Neck. Only discounts available for those bridges is with an NY EZ-Pass. Cash or other EZ-Pass pays the cash rate.

The PANYNJ bridges (Outerbridge, Goethals, and GW), are $37.50 overnight (10pm-6am), $45 off-peak, and $50 peak. I think the cash price was $65 or so at all times (but, I have EZ Pass, so don't pay much attention to any raises there).

If you go to Long Island, you're paying a minimum $70 to get on and off if non-NY EZ-Pass. I used to run a load from NJ onto Long Island and crossed the Goethals ($37.50 or $50, depending if I beat the 6am cut-off), the Verrazano EB for free, and then would leave to go back to NJ via the Throgs Neck ($35), and then the GW for free. Grand total was usually $85 for me as I rarely got across before rush started. Plus the NJ Turnpike cost.

 

Some very good advice and over time I have posted much about the city so not gonna b redundant --BUT w/out goin back to find & quote If U Do not have SERIOUS NYC EXPERIENCE especially if u r a rookie---DO NOT use 87(aka:Major Deegan Expressway)as a shortcut(north or south)First of all the locals(cars&trucks)will eat u ALIVE on the carousel--what with the upper deck Only--u have about a trucklength on the Hamilton to blitzkrieg across traffic--and now @ nite w/the destruction u have even less room!! (You'd better off taking the old 3d ave bridge and blaztin on @ Riverside Drive LOL--just kidding that's only 4 psycho ol time chickenhaulers in gridlock)
Just my $.02

 

You were right, for some reason I had it in my head it was $100. Ipass has spoiled me lately. Looks like the tolls went up March 3 though. $80 for the Verrazano and $40 for the Throgs neck/Whitestone/RFK for cash customers.