How to get to Great Neck

October 30, 2006 10:41 AM

Getting to Great Neck from New Jersey

I'm traveling mid-week from DC to a mid-day meeting in Great Neck. From NJ, MapQuest/Google Maps want to send me north and cross at the GW Bridge, to the Cross-Bronx, to the Throggs Neck Bridge and so forth.

But the GWB and the Cross-Bronx have evil memories for me. And looking at the map, better alternatives appear to be taking the Turnpike to 287E to the Verrazano and then either: 1) Taking 287N to the LIE (495E) to the Cross Island Parkway N to Northern Blvd, etc. OR 2) taking the Belt Parkway east to the Cross Island Parkway N, etc. I have zero, bukis, zilch experience with any of these highways. Can any Long Island Mefiers offer advice?

posted by mojohand to travel & transportation (10 comments total)

The GW route is probably quickest, otherwise you are on the Belt for a long time. Don't go through Manhattan mid-week.
posted by caddis at 10:51 AM on October 30, 2006

Uh, I wasn't under the impression that any of these routes went thru Manhatten. I don't know much, but I know enuf not to do that.
posted by mojohand at 11:01 AM on October 30, 2006

Take the GW/Cross-Bronx/Throgs Neck route. I recently went to LI from NJ on a Sunday morning and the Belt was an absolute parking lot. I can't imagine how bad it would be on a weekday.
posted by EiderDuck at 11:05 AM on October 30, 2006

None of them do, but on a weekend it might be the fastest route. Sorry for any confusion.
posted by caddis at 11:28 AM on October 30, 2006

I've always prefered the NJ Turnpike to the Outerbridge Crossing (440), through Staten Island, to 278, to the Verrazano, to the Belt. Then take the Cross Island north.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 11:45 AM on October 30, 2006

Avoid the Belt like you would avoid a fiery sword of damnation. (But if you are ever going to Brooklyn, Outerbridge to Verrazano rocks.)
posted by dame at 12:20 PM on October 30, 2006

I vote with ObscureReferenceMan.

You cut off a significant part of the NJT and mid-day, the belt going toward LI should not be that bad.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 12:40 PM on October 30, 2006

Not to open a wound, but it might help folks to know what you mean by "evil memories". Evil like stuck in some heinous traffic on this route in the past, or one of the Cross-Bronx potholes popped a tire?
Or evil like you lost a family member or friend in some kind of horrible accident?

Obviously, folks think you should take the GW. If you explain that it's going to cause you great psychological pain and distress to do so, then maybe folks will be more likely to help you plan your slower alternative route. If it's just a matter of a bad traffic memory, suck it up and take the GW.

Here's the best advice I have on the GW if you take it:
The GW is much much easier if you have EZpass than if you do not. Be sure to listen to 1010am on your way to the bridge to find out whether the upper or lower is better.
posted by Sprout the Vulgarian at 12:51 PM on October 30, 2006

Sorry, I was trying to be too clever. I simply meant evil memories as in sweltering parking lots when jammed, Ben Hur-chariot-race-esque matches with careening trucks when it's moving, etc.

But while the Belt seems to have its advocates (and significantly, the LIE none) that 'fiery sword of damnation' thing got my full and complete attention. I hate those things. And I've an EZPass.
posted by mojohand at 2:22 PM on October 30, 2006

I am of the minority opinion that you should NOT take the NJ Turnpike to the Cross Bronx. You do not mention when your midday meeting is, but let's say it is 1:00 PM, There is significant commuter traffic even at midday and trucks going into Manhattan, and also a lot of movement of trucks going from New England through the Middle Atlantic.

While basically it is something of a crapshoot as ANY New York roadway can have traffic, I firmly believe you will be somewhat less likely to hit said traffic if you take the Belt to the Cross Island - the BQE is undergoing extensive rehabilitation so I would avoid that at all costs - but see note below.

Note
The Belt isn't the best designed highway and is prone to flooding in not just heavy newsmaker rains but even just a grey rainy day, especially around Coney Island. You need to factor that in if you take my advice.

PS -I hate to be a stickler but technically taking the GWB you *are* in Manhattan for about a nanosecond. I know because I live there.
posted by xetere at 1:24 PM on October 31, 2006