Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector

Infobox_road
state=NJ
type=
route=446X
highway_name=Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector
marker_

length_mi=2.3
length_round=2
length_ref=
direction_a=South
direction_b=North
starting_terminus=
ending_terminus=
established=2001
spur_type=NJ
spur_of=446
counties=Atlantic County, New Jersey
system=Atlantic City Expressway
maint=the South Jersey Transportation Authority
previous_type=
previous_route=446
browse_route=446X
next_type=
next_route=495
commons=category
customcommons=Atlantic City-Brigantine ConnectorThe Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector, also known as the Atlantic City Expressway Connector or simply the Brigantine Connector, [cite web|url=http://www.123exp-technology.com/t/03884175814/|title=Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector|publisher=123explore!|accessdate=2007-12-30] is a highway connector in Atlantic City, New Jersey, connecting downtown Atlantic City with Route 87 to Brigantine, New Jersey. The connector is convert|2.3|mi|kmcite web|url=http://www.phillyroads.com/roads/ac-brigantine/|title=Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector Historic Overview|publisher=phillyroads.com|accessdate=2007-12-30] (3.7 km) long, and is maintained by the South Jersey Transportation Authority. The road is considered to be a state highway, and is assigned as Route 446X, however the route number is not displayed among any of the road's signage. Approximately 25,000 cars travel on the connector daily, which features 16 bridges, 15 ramps, and 23 retaining walls. The total cost of the project was US$330 million, and was funded by various state-operated agencies, while one-third of the cost was privately-funded by MGM Mirage.

Route description

The Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector begins right where the Atlantic City Expressway begins on the edge of Atlantic City, and travels about two miles (3 km) north to the marina district, where it connects with Route 87. Unlike most highways, the exits are assigned letters rather than numbers, which range from A to H. The highway's entrance is assigned as Exit A for southbound traffic, and the following exit is Exit B for Bacharach Boulevard. Past Exit B, the freeway travels through a convert|1957|ft|m|sing=on-long (596 meter) tunnel. As there is no Exit C or Exit D, the next exits are E and F before the freeway ends as it splits to Exit G and Exit H. Exits E, F, G, and H are only accessible to northbound traffic, while southbound traffic is only served by Exits A and B.cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/smalpert/www/roads/nj/446x/|title=A.C.E. Connector|work=New Jersey Roads|accessdate=2007-12-30]

History

The Atlantic City Expressway opened in 1964, and at the time, the only road providing access to Brigantine, New Jersey was Route 87. After the legalization of gambling in the late 1970s, the Brigantine Bridge soon became very crowded as there was no highway connection from the bridge to the Expressway in downtown Atlantic City.

After three decades, there were no plans to create a freeway connecting the two roads, until the South Jersey Transportation Authority and the New Jersey Department of Transportation planned the construction of a four-lane connector highway and tunnel in 1995. Before the State of New Jersey officially announced plans for the connector project, the Atlantic City government requested proposals for a property in the northern section of the city near the marina, which at one time served as the city's landfill. Mirage Resorts president Steve Wynn won the bid against Donald Trump, the CEO of the Trump Organization. Wynn had intentions of constructing a new casino project on the property, known as "Le Jardin," with an exit ramp from the connector leading directly to his new property. The exit to Le Jardin was referred to as a "driveway" to the casino,cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DEEDC133DF93BA15754C0A9679C8B63|title=Atlantic City Car Tunnel Opens Briefly, for Pedestrians|first=Iver|last=Patterson|publisher="The New York Times"|date=July 28, 2001|accessdate=2007-12-30] which caused Trump to take legal action against the state, as he felt that the easy access to Wynn's new property would create an unfair business advantage against Trump Marina, a Trump-owned property in the same area.cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01E4D8143CF935A15752C0A9669C8B63|title=Metro Business; Trump Wins Ruling On Tunnel Project|publisher="The New York Times"|date=January 26, 2000|accessdate=2007-12-30]

In 1997, Governor Christine Todd Whitman approved the project, and construction began on November 4, 1998.cite web|url=http://www2.sjta.com/acexpressway/history.asp|title=Atlantic City Expressway History and Milestones|accessdate=2007-12-30|publisher=South Jersey Transportation Authority] After construction on the freeway began, Wynn's interests were purchased by MGM Grand Inc., thus creating the MGM Mirage company, and plans for Le Jardin were cancelled. Despite the fact that Le Jardin was cancelled and MGM Mirage's new casino, Borgata, was not scheduled to open until 2003, Trump was still fighting against the project's plans to build the exit directly to the new casino. Eventually, in January 2000, Trump dropped his case his case after an exit ramp leading to the Trump Marina was later added to the project.cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8323772_ITM|title=Atlantic City tunnel carries human cost|first=Amy S.|last=Rosenberg|publisher="The Philadelphia Inquirer"|date=July 28, 2001|accessdate=2007-12-30]

On July 27, 2001, the Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector had its grand opening ceremony after completing a 32-month construction period. The opening ceremony was opened to the public, which featured various festivities, including a pedestrian tunnel walk, all of which was open to the public. However, the connector was not opened to traffic until four days later due to a last-minute failure of the tunnel communications system. Once the connector opened to traffic, the exit ramps leading to the Borgata were still under construction along with the resort itself, and did not open up until July 2003.

Exit list

The entire route is in Atlantic City, Atlantic County.

External links

* [http://www.acexpressway.com/ Atlantic City Expressway]
* [http://www.sjta.com/ South Jersey Transportation Authority ]
* [http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000446X_-.pdf NJ Route 446X] (straight-line diagram)

References