Jersey Jug Handles

We all know what a jug handle is. It looks like this:

But when I see a thing on my map that looks like this…

… I expect it to be a right ramp leading to a bridge or tunnel that crosses over or under the main road.

Unless I’m in New Jersey where such an intersection is known as a Jersey Jug Handle. Then I expect that crossing to be one where both roads are at the same elevation. Which would seem to imply you could turn left there. But, you can’t.

If you zoom in on that sign you’ll see the white part says, “All turns” with an arrow pointing towards that right hand exit.

Yes, you must turn right if you want to turn left. Then you curve to the left and cross the main road at right angles. So you have to cross all the lanes of traffic. But you don’t turn left on this road or many other roads in New Jersey. Ever.

TTYL,

Linda

2 thoughts on “Jersey Jug Handles”

  1. I can even remember the predecessor to jug handles in New Jersey: traffic circles. The problem was there didn’t seem to be any rules about who has the right of way. It was mostly a game of “dare ya” to determine who went first.

    Traffic circles in Paris were crazier but the iron-clad rule was “yield to your right” and everyone obeyed that rule. There could be forty-seven cars coming at you from your left and they ALL let you go through. But, one moped on your right had the right-of-way — no questions.

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