Lincoln Tunnel Helix

File:Lincoln Tunnel Helix 1991 cropped.tif

Route 495 crosses through the northern part of Hudson County and connects the New Jersey Turnpike/Interstate 95, U.S. Route 1-9, and Route 3 with the Lincoln Tunnel.{{Cite web |last=New Jersey Department of Transportation |date=June 2014 |title=Route 495 Straight Line Diagram |url=https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000495__-.pdf |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=state.nj.us}} The Helix was built in order to connect the highway, later designated Route 495, at the top of the Palisades to the portals of the Lincoln Tunnel at the bottom.

Weehawken is located on southern end of the Palisades, where they reach a height of about {{convert|180|ft|m}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/realestate/weehawken-nj-a-cliffside-town-with-an-easy-commute.html|title=Weehawken, N.J.: A Cliffside Town With an Easy Commute|first=Jill P.|last=Capuzzo|date=January 11, 2017|website=The New York Times}} The Helix has traditionally been known for offering a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline. Weehawken has zoning laws prohibiting the construction of mid- or high-rise buildings that would obstruct sightlines from higher points in town, such as from the Helix.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/30/nyregion/weehawken-journal-group-fights-to-keep-magical-skyline-view.html&pagewanted=2 |work=The New York Times |title=Weehawken Journal: Group Fights to Keep 'Magical' Skyline View |date=December 30, 1990 |last=Romano |first=Jay}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/20/nyregion/weehawken-s-panoramic-skyline-view-wins-protection.html |work=The New York Times |first=Robert D. |last=McFadden |title=Weehawken's Panoramic Skyline View Wins Protection |date=March 20, 1999}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/13/nyregion/the-cities-the-blurred-view-from-weehawken.html&pagewanted=2 |work=The New York Times |first=Steve |last=Strunsky |title=THE CITIES; The Blurred View From Weehawken |date=August 13, 2000}} Nonetheless, construction of two new residential buildings in 2013 partially blocked the panoramic view.{{cite web |last=Frassinelli |first=Mike |title=Construction Alters View of Manhattan Skyline for 'Helix' Commuters |work=The Star-Ledger |location=Newark, NJ |date=June 24, 2013 |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/06/view_of_manhattan_skyline_altered_for_some_commuters.html#incart_river_default |access-date=July 14, 2013}}{{Cite news |last=Carr |first=David |date=2014-05-31 |title=View, Interrupted: The Spoiling of Manhattan’s Skyline |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/01/sunday-review/view-interrupted-the-spoiling-of-manhattans-skyline.html |access-date=2023-08-19}}

The Helix is seven lanes wide, with three lanes eastbound (inner loop) and four westbound (outer loop); the innermost lane of the westbound side is the exclusive reversible bus lane, which gives buses a dedicated eastbound lane to the tunnel on most weekday mornings. Pedestrians and bikes are not permitted on the Helix. Trucks over 80 tons are banned from using the Helix or tunnel. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the owner/operator of the structure, defines the Helix to begin at Route 495 mile mark 1.8, at the eastbound exit for Pleasant Ave. It goes East and makes a turn around the Weehawken High School Stadium (which is built over the tunnel){{Cite web |last=LivingOof |date=2020-04-05 |title=Supposed I haven't seen this one yet, but here's Weehawken Stadium in Weehawken, NJ. 299ft to left, about 405 to the Left-Center wall, only 286 to the right pole, and it's built on top of the Lincoln Tunnel |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/fvnh9h/supposed_i_havent_seen_this_one_yet_but_heres/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=r/baseball}} to the south. It runs about {{convert|3300|ft|m}} south, then makes a quick 180 degrees turn clockwise to the north to touch ground, where the tunnel itself takes a 90 degree turn towards Manhattan to complete the oval. The roadway passes over Boulevard East twice, once at the top of the helix and again towards the bottom. Though no exact number is given, the Helix has a total length of about {{convert|4000|ft|m}} and a width of {{convert|21.5|ft|m}}.{{Cite web |title=40°45'53.3"N 74°01'24.9"W |url=https://www.google.com/maps?q=40.7648150,-74.0235739&hl=en-US&gl=us&entry=gps&lucs=swa,s2se&g_ep=EgY1LjcwLjIYAEICVVM%3D&shorturl=1 |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=40°45'53.3"N 74°01'24.9"W |language=en}}

The Route 495 corridor has been reported by the American Highway Users Alliance to be one of the most congested highways on the United States eastern seaboard.{{Cite news |last=McGeehan |first=Patrick |date=2018-06-05 |title=For New Jersey Commuters, a Sequel to the 'Summer of Hell' |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/05/nyregion/nj-turnpike-repairs-lincoln-tunnel.html |access-date=2023-08-19}} The Helix in particular, being just as busy as the tunnel itself, faces high levels of traffic congestion frequently and may carry up to 120,000 vehicles in one day, with particular traffic during the morning and evening rush hours. The weight limit on the Helix, which varies for vehicles and trucks with different axle counts, is strictly monitored and enforced by the PANYNJ. Generally, the set max weight for any single vehicle is 80,000 lbs, but it is lower for vehicles with fewer axles or different classes.{{Cite web |title=Traffic Rules and Regulations |url=https://www.panynj.gov/content/dam/bridges-tunnels/pdfs/green-book.pdf |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=Port Authority of New York and New Jersey}}

File:Weehawken.HudsonRiver.Palisades.png

When finding a way to build a highway to the Lincoln Tunnel, the Palisades cliffs presented an obstacle. Originally, it was proposed that the highway would cut through the Palisades via an underground tunnel that would go straight to the toll plaza or the tunnel itself; instead the PANYNJ realized this was not feasible and would disrupt much of the cities, so they opted to build the Helix instead, which goes and above the cliffs to make an oval-shaped loop above below roads, including Boulevard East. To make enough room for the toll plaza area and merging lanes into the center or southern tube, the highway has to go about {{convert|2000|ft|m}} south of the tunnel portal and then make a quick U-turn back to the north to the toll plaza.{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Esha |date=2012-07-23 |title=Lincoln Tunnel Helix Gets a Makeover |url=https://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/2012/07/lincoln-tunnel-helix-gets-a-makeover/|access-date=2023-01-12 |website=MetroFocus |language=en-US}}{{cite news |date=September 11, 1965 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/09/11/archives/j-c-enis-dead-traffic-engineer-port-authority-official-82-set-up.html |title=J. C. Evans Dead; Traffic Engineer |work=The New York Times |page=27 |access-date=2023-01-13}}

When it was originally built in 1937, the Helix had six lanes; it was widened to seven in 1957. From 2012 to 2014 the Helix underwent nightly eastbound closures for extensive repairs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2012/07/new_york-bound_lincoln_tunnel.html|title=New York-bound Lincoln Tunnel helix in Weehawken will be closed overnight for a year|author=|work=The Jersey Journal|date=August 1, 2012|access-date=2023-01-12}}

The Helix, along with the Lincoln Tunnel and all of Route 495, used to be a part of the Interstate Highway System, signed as I-495{{Cite web |title=Field Trip - Lincoln Tunnel |url=http://www.fieldtripper.com/c/WXQu_OgK-kE=/#:~:text=Although%20the%20Federal%20Highway%20Administration,longer%20on%20the%20Interstate%20system. |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=www.fieldtripper.com}} (despite not being completely up to Interstate Highway standards). It was intended to connect to the Long Island Expressway, which was also designated I-495. However, a highway between the Lincoln Tunnel to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel (the start of today’s I-495) was cancelled, and left the two portions disconnected. In the 1980s, the NJDOT demoted the highway, Helix, and tunnel to a state highway.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

In 1991, the tunnel and approach were documented by the Historic American Engineering Record. {{cite web |title= Lincoln Tunnel, Under Hudson River from New Jersey to West Thirty-ninth Street, New York City, New York County, NY |publisher = Library of Congress Historic American Engineering Record |year= 1991 | url = https://loc.gov/pictures/item/ny1809/ |accessdate = 2023-07-30 }} The Helix, as part of the Lincoln Tunnel Approach, is considered eligible for New Jersey Register of Historic Places for engineering in transportation for architecture and design.{{Cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/hudson.pdf |title=New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places |website=New Jersey Historic Preservation Office |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705114811/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/hudson.pdf |archive-date=2010-07-05}}

{{As of|2015}}, the Helix was considered by the PANYNJ to have a working life-span of ten years. Alternatives to its replacement included tunnels under the Palisades directly to the Lincoln Tunnel portals.{{cite web |author=Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |title=Lincoln Tunnel Helix Replacement Program Phase II Planning |publisher=Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |date=September 24, 2015 |url=http://www.panynj.gov/corporate-information/pdf/9-24-15-cpeam-lt-helix-public.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928124205/http://www.panynj.gov/corporate-information/pdf/9-24-15-cpeam-lt-helix-public.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-28 |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2015}} In 2012, the roadway of the Helix was repaved, then was fixed up in 2015 in what the Port Authority described as the “Helix Fix.” It is expected to undergo complete rehabilitation starting in 2023 and is expected to be fully refurbished by 2027.{{Cite web |website=Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |title=Lincoln Tunnel Helix Replacement Program |url=https://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/en/lincoln-tunnel/helix-replacement-program.html |access-date=2023-01-01}}{{Cite web |title=FY 2018-2027 NJ Statewide Transportation Improvement Program - Port Authority Bridges and Tunnels |url=https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/capital/stip1827/sec8/pdf/ap_panynj.pdf |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=state.nj.us}}

The Helix is featured in the opening credits to each episode of the HBO TV series The Sopranos. The intro shows protagonist Tony Soprano exiting the tunnel, driving onto the Helix looking out towards Manhattan with James Gandolfini’s credit on screen, before transitioning to the turnpike.{{cite AV media |title=The Sopranos Opening Credits Theme Song |publisher=HBO |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJpNmYeooQEb |access-date=August 20, 2023 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |last=Ugoku |title=The Sopranos location guide - Lincoln Tunnel Helix |url=https://www.sopranos-locations.com/locations/lincoln-tunnel-helix/ |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=www.sopranos-locations.com |language=en}}

• List of bridges, tunnels, and cuts in Hudson County, New Jersey
• List of tunnels documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in New Jersey
• Bergen Hill

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Category:Lincoln Tunnel

Category:Weehawken, New Jersey

Category:Bridges in Hudson County, New Jersey

Category:Spiral bridges