I-95. One of the most infamous highways in the nation. Known for connecting the major cities of the US East Coast — and for the traffic that comes with it — it’s a vital link that drives the epicenter of the US economy.

And prior to last Monday, the existence of an I-95 that stretched between Florida and Maine was nothing more than a farce.

See, for decades, there was a gap in the highway. I-95 continued from Florida to Delaware, then on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River until entering the state of New Jersey… at which point I-95 North curved into I-295 South.

From the other direction of I-95, the Southbound roadway would merge into the New Jersey Turnpike, running concurrently for 68.15 miles until the I-95 designation simply disappeared… all of 7.9 miles as the crow flies from the other portion of I-95.

So, what was the issue? I-276 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike) linked Pennsylvania with the NJ Turnpike, but passed directly above the Pennsylvania portion of I-95. Thanks to the construction of a new interchange and a few highway re-designations (extending the NJ Turnpike / I-95 Concurrency from Exit 7A along the NJ Turnpike Extension to the Delaware River and renaming the PA segment of I-95 above the PA Turnpike into I-295), the contiguous highway is finally complete.

For more, check out a Bloomberg article and a local article from a town home to the interchange.