I-95 from Pa to Orlando

[mike2u]

Just wanted to know if anyone has recently driving along I-95 to Orlando and if there's any major construction going on. Will be driving on August 14th leaving around 6:00 pm and would like to get an idea on how I-95 is going to be. I have driven to Florida on many occasions so i know what to expect, but just want info on construction along the way. Thanks...

 

[tci1212]

We will be leaving from NJ to Disney on August 13th. We are driving also. We are going to leave around 9:00 am and drive to the beginning of Florida and stop for the night. There is an I-95 website that you can look up any construction areas that you might encounter. I have driven down to Florida 2 times this year and there was always road construction going on somewhere along 95. Are you driving straight through? We are stopping once we get to Florida, then finishing up the next day.

 

[mike2u]

Yes I will be driven straight through.. I know there's always construction along the way and I have checked the I-95 website, but just wanted some personal feedback on someone that has driven it lately. I driven to Florida a dozen time and normally jsut drive straight through. It takes me about 12 hrs to get to Jacksonville. From there it's only about 2 or 3 hours to Orlando. We are staying at Pop Century... How about you..

 

[tci1212]

We are staying in a cabin in FW. The kids want to fly down but I don't like to fly so we are driving again. We have a portable dvd player so hopefully this will help to pass the time for the Kids.

 

[mike2u]

Yep have one of those DVD players too.. Also bought a portable Frig at Walmart.. Works in the car so I will have drinks also along the way.. Hopefully they sleep most of the night and i don't have to worry about them and just concentrate on driving.. Wife doesn't like to fly so thats why we drive, also plane fare for a family of 5 is way too much for me..

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Just north of Richmond on I-95 -- exit 86 or so, I believe -- they've been doing some work on a new interstate exit. It's near completion but probably still some of a mess in that area (I don't live in that area of town but I've heard about it on the radio). Be careful because I do hear of frequent accidents in that vacinity.

Also, Richmond rush hour traffic may be mild compared to DC, but I'd definitely recommend taking I-295 around the Richmond-Petersburg area.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Agree.
295 is the way to go around Richmond.
When you guys get back, how about some feedback on the I-95 "skyway" just opened around DC?? Is it still a traffic nightmare?

 

[jel0511]

We left NJ around Princeton on 7/10 at 4AM and arrived in Savannah, GA at 6PM. We had two one hour stops for breakfast and lunch. There was no real construction traffic at all, though there was volume traffic. The new "skyway" in VA was really weird to drive on. It is just so high in the sky, it's really strange. We didn't encounter any traffic problems through that area, either on 7/10 (hit it around 7AM) or on 7/23 (hit it around 11AM). We also had no problems with construction coming back, through did see some on the southbound side in VA and NC, which was causing slowdowns. All that construction south of Jacksonville was picked up, and it was clear sailing through that part of 95. Any other questions, please ask!

 

[tci1212]

I don't go near Richmond when I drive down. I pick up 95 in NC. I cross the ferry and take 13s to I64 to 58w then get on 95 near the NC- Va border. I prefer this route over driving through Dc and Baltimore. I'm glad to hear that the construction in Florida is all wrapped up.

 

[Disneymomma]

Does 295 put you out of the way at all? Or should I say, how far from 95 does 295 take you? Does it add or save time? Thanks for your help-I never took that route.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by Disneymomma
Does 295 put you out of the way at all? Or should I say, how far from 95 does 295 take you? Does it add or save time? Thanks for your help-I never took that route.

295 around Richmond is approximately 5 miles longer than driving straight through Richmond. Due to having less traffic than 95, you basically make up any time for the additional miles. Personally, having taking both routes, I think 295 is slightly faster.

 

[mike2u]

I always take 295 around richmond, because it's 70 MPH compared to 55 on I-95. Yes it's a bite longer miles wise, but you can go faster and it's also 3 lanes. Thanks to everyone for the info and when I get back I'll let you all know how it was.. Traffic should not be bad for me at all since I'm leaving at 6:00 pm at night.

 

[Disneymomma]

I appreciate your input. In fact, I just printed out a Trip Tik from AAA and the 295 route is actually part of the directions. Thanks for your help!

 

[mike2u]

NO prob DisneyMomma... Be carful and drive safely.. have a wonderful trip..

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

I live right off of 295 south of Richmond. It is MUCH quicker than taking 95 and way less traffic.

The speed limit is 65MPH. However, in my experience, the police never bat an eye unless your going over 80MPH.

 

[mrsltg]

how about some feedback on the I-95 "skyway" just opened around DC?? Is it still a traffic nightmare?

Ahhh the infamous mixing bowl...... I drive through it twice a day. It's a mess, but not as bad as before the overpass opened. Traffic southbound from 495/95 now merges on the left, while traffic from the west is still in the same place on the right. I must say that they are doing all of this construction with minimal impact on the daily commute.

I'm anxious to hear of any ongoing construction projects between DC and Orlando as well. I am planning on leaving at 3am on Thursday, September 9th, for what should be a 12 hour drive... we'll see!

Erin

 

[mike2u]

mrsltg...


I will let you know when i get back. I'm leaving August 14th at 6:00 pm and will be returning on August 22nd. I will let you know how the construction is...

 

[Uncleromulus]

Erin:
Friends of mine in Springfield are wodering how this "skyway" over-pass will fare in the ice and snow of winter. DC and N. Va. are hardly famous for their snow removal efforts.
Won't that be a special treat??!!
Just curious--are the signs for this new overpass clearly visable and do they do the job of diverting I-95 S. traffic in the proper direction? Pity the poor soul who somehow remains in those right hand lanes---.

 

[mrsltg]

Funny you should ask, Uncleromulous! The signs are not the best. It may just be because I am so used to going to the right hand side of the beltway to get onto 95s, but I used the new overpass last week and remember thinking to myself, "how are people going to know what to do?" Like I said, I may have just missed it, but I didn't see any signs directing alerting drivers to a new traffic pattern.

As fas as the snow and ice, you won't catch me on that thing during the winter. I'm more than happy to either go north 1 exit on 395 and turn around, or use backroads to get around it. The overpass is over 100 feet above the ground and it's steep. Unless I hear that the engineers did something to prevent icing (like heat rods in the roadway), there is not a chance I am going to get on it!!! But, they pay people much smarter than me to figure these things out so they may well have some sort of plan in place. Here's hoping!!!!

Mike-

Thanks! I'd appreciate the info. And you should be ok coming through my neck of the woods. I live off of exit 152 in Norhtern Va, and aside from some work they were doing around Quantico it's been pretty quiet here. I'll post anything that I hear/see, though.

Erin