1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering explained

In 1927, New Jersey's state highways were renumbered. The old system, which had been defined in sequence by the legislature since 1916, was growing badly, as several routes shared the same number, and many unnumbered state highways had been defined. A partial renumbering was proposed in 1926, but instead a total renumbering was done in 1927.

Some amendments were made in 1929, including the elimination of Route 18N (by merging it into Route 1), and the addition of more spurs, as well as Route 29A, but the system stayed mostly intact until the 1953 renumbering.

Proposed 1926 Renumbering

A partial renumbering was proposed in 1926 to get rid of the duplicates and assigning numbers to many of the unnumbered routes. The proposed 1926 renumbering would have:

• extended Route 4 over Route 19
• renumbered Route 17N to Route 17
• renumbered Route 18N to Route 18
• renumbered Route 18S to Route 19
• designated Route 21 from Trenton to Buttzville
• renumbered Route 17S to Route 22
• renumbered Route 18 (unsuffixed) to Route 23
• designated Route 24 from Mount Holly to Freehold
• renumbered the Route 20 "from a point on Route No. 3, extending by way of West Berlin, Gibbsboro and Haddonfield, connecting with Haddon Avenue in the Borough of Haddonfield, and continuing to approach the Delaware River Bridge" to Route 25, and extended it from West Berlin to Blue Anchor^[1]
• designated Route 26 from Five Points to Hammonton
• designated Route 27 from Camden to Atlantic City
• designated Route 28 from South Amboy to Atlantic Highlands
• designated Route 29 from Morristown to Hackettstown
• designated Route 30 from Far Hills to Tri-State

It was eventually determined that an entire overhaul of the numbering system was necessary.

Design

Chapter 319 of the 1927 public laws defined the new system of routes. Major roads received numbers from 1 to 12 and 21 to 50, as follows:

• 1-12: northern New Jersey
• 21-28: radiating from Newark
• 29-37: radiating from Trenton
• 38-47: radiating from Camden
• 48-50: southern New Jersey

Spurs were also defined, being assigned a prefix of S. For example, Route S26 was a short spur of Route 26 connecting to Route 25 south of New Brunswick. A second spur of Route 4 was assigned Route S4A, but two separate spurs of Route 24 both received the Route S24 designation.

While the majority of already-acquired routes were included in the new system, four sections of pre-1927 routes were not. The law authorizing the renumbering indicated that these were to remain, and so the State Highway Commission added a suffix of N to distinguish them from the new routes of the same number:

• Route 4N from pre-1927 Route 4, Eatontown to Belmar
• Route 5N from pre-1927 Route 5, Morris Plains to Denville
• Route 8N from pre-1927 Route 8, Sussex to Unionville, New York
• Route 18N from pre-1927 Route 18N, Fort Lee to Alpine

List of new routes

New Route		From	Through	To	Old Designation	Modern Designation (Rough)
Route 1		Rockleigh	Fort Lee - Alpine - Cresskill - Englewood - Fort Lee - Palisades Park - Ridgefield - North Bergen - Jersey City - Bayonne	Bayonne Bridge		CR 501
Route S1			Ridgefield - Fairview	North Bergen		63
Route 2		Suffern, New York	Ridgewood - Hackensack - Hasbrouck Heights - Rutherford - Lyndhurst	North Arlington	Route 17N (proposed to be Route 17 in 1926), Suffern - North Arlington	17
Route 3		Greenwood Lake, New York	Hewitt - Midvale - Haskell - Pompton - Haledon - Prospect Park - Hawthorne - Paterson - Clifton - Wallington - East Rutherford - Secaucus	North Bergen	L. 1926 c. 140, Wallington - North Bergen	CR 511, 208, 20, 3
Route 4		George Washington Bridge	Fort Lee - Riverside - Fair Lawn - Paterson - Clifton - Bloomfield - East Orange - Irvington - Roselle - Linden - Rahway - Woodbridge - Perth Amboy - South Amboy - Rose's Corner - Cheesequake - White Brown's Corner - Matawan - Freehold - Lakewood - Toms River - Tuckerton - Absecon - Pleasantville - Somer's Point - Beesley's Point - Seaville	Cape May	Route 4, Rahway - South Amboy L. 1925 c. 235, South Amboy - Matawan Route 7 (Spur), Freehold - Lakewood Route 4, Lakewood - Absecon Route 19 (proposed to be part of Route 4 in 1926), Absecon - Seaville Route 14, Seaville - Cape May	109, US 9, 166, 79, Garden State Parkway, 4
Route S4		Outerbridge Crossing		Perth Amboy		440 (South)
Route S4A		Tuckerton		Little Beach		N/A
Route 5		Paterson	Maywood - Hackensack - Little Ferry - Ridgefield - Fort Lee	Edgewater	Route 10, Paterson - Edgewater	I-80, 5
Route S5		Little Ferry		Ridgefield		Bergen Turnpike
Route 6		George Washington Bridge	Fort Lee - Palisades Park - Ridgefield Park - Little Ferry - Hasbrouck Heights - Paterson - Caldwell Township - Denville - Dover - Netcong - Hackettstown - Buttzville	Darlington's Bridge	Route 12, Paterson - Hackettstown Route 5, Denville - Delaware Bridge	US 46, 159
Route 7		Paterson	Clifton - Passaic - Nutley - Belleville - Kearny	Jersey City	Route 11, Paterson - Belleville L. 1926 c. 124, Belleville - Jersey City	7
Route 8		Delaware Bridge	Columbia - Hainesburg - Blairstown	Newton		94
Route 9		Belleville	Bloomfield - Montclair - Verona - Caldwell	Pine Brook Bridge	L. 1926 c. 124, Belleville - Pine Brook Bridge	CR 506
Route 10		Jersey City	Kearny - Harrison - Newark - Hanover - Whippany - Littleton	Dover	L. 1926 c. 126, Jersey City - Dover	10, I-280
Route 11		Whitehouse	Pluckemin - Martinsville	North Plainfield		I-78
Route 12		Frenchtown	Baptisttown - Croton - Flemington - Voorhees Corner - Three Bridges - Centreville	Somerville-Raritan line	L. 1926 c. 104, Flemington - Somerville	12, US 202
Route 21		Belleville		Newark	Route 11, Belleville - Newark	21
Route 22		Pine Brook Bridge	West Caldwell - Livingston - Millburn - Springfield	Rahway		59
Route 23		Verona	Cedar Grove - Pequannock - Bloomingdale - Oak Ridge - Franklin - Sussex - High Point	Port Jervis, New York	Route 8, Verona - Sussex L. 1925 c. 158, Sussex - Port Jervis	23
Route 24		Newark	Irvington - Maplewood - Springfield - Morristown - Chester - Long Valley - Stephensburg - Washington	Phillipsburg	Route 5, Newark - Morristown L. 1925 c. 230 (proposed to be Route 29 in 1926), Morristown - Schooleys Mountain Route 12, Stephensburg - Phillipsburg	82, 124, Old 24, 57
Route S24		Stephensburg		Hackettstown	Route 12, Stephensburg - Hackettstown	57
		Springfield		Elizabeth		82
Route 25		Holland Tunnel	Jersey City - Kearny - Newark - Elizabeth - Rahway - Woodbridge - North Brunswick - Deans - Dayton - Cranbury - Hightstown - Robbinsville - Bordentown - Burlington - Camden	Benjamin Franklin Bridge	Route 1 (Extension), Holland Tunnel - Elizabeth Route 1, North Brunswick - Robbinsville Route 2, Bordentown - Ben Franklin Bridge	US 1, US 130, US 30
Route 26		Trenton	Adams	New Brunswick	L. 1926 c. 14, Trenton - New Brunswick	26, US 1
Route S26		Adams		North Brunswick		US 1
Route 27		Newark	Elizabeth - Rahway - Metuchen - New Brunswick - Princeton	Trenton	Route 1, Elizabeth - New Brunswick Route 13, New Brunswick - Trenton	27, US 206
27-28 Link			Elizabeth			Westfield Ave
Route 28		Goethals Bridge	Elizabeth - Cranford - Westfield - Plainfield - Bound Brook - Somerville - Clinton	Phillipsburg	Route 9, Elizabeth - Phillipsburg	28, US 22, 173, 122
Route S28		Middlesex	Highland Park - New Brunswick - Weston Mills - Tanners Corner - Old Bridge - Browntown	Matawan		18
Route 29		Newark	Hillside - Union - Springfield - Mountainside - North Plainfield - Bound Brook - Ringoes - Lambertville - Washington's Crossing	Trenton	L. 1924 c. 233 (proposed to be Route 21 in 1926), Ringoes - Lambertville	US 22, US 206, US 202, 179, 29, 129
Route 30		Trenton	Pennington - Ringoes - Flemington - Clinton - Washington	Buttzville	L. 1924 c. 233 (proposed to be Route 21 in 1926), Trenton - Buttzville	31
Route 31		Princeton	Somerville - Bedminster - Chester - Netcong - Newton - Lafayette - Hamburg - Vernon	New Milford, New York	Route 16, Princeton - Bedminster L. 1925 c. 225 (proposed to be Route 30 in 1926), Bedminster - Newton Route 8 (Spur), Lafayette - North Church	US 206, 94
Route S31		Newton	Branchville - Montague	Milford, Pennsylvania	L. 1925 c. 225 (proposed to be Route 30 in 1926), Newton - Montague	US 206
Route 32		Bedminster	Bernardsville - Morristown - Morris Plains - Littleton - Boonton	Mountain View	Route 16, Bedminster - Morristown Route 5, Morristown - Morris Plains	US 202
Route 33		Trenton	Robbinsville - Hightstown - Freehold	Asbury Park	Route 1, Trenton - Hightstown Route 7, Hightstown - Asbury Park	33
Route 34		Matawan	Holmdel - Vanderburg - Colt's Neck - Shark River Station - Allenwood	Laurelton		34, 70
Route 35		South Amboy	Keyport - Eatontown - Belmar - Manasquan - Point Pleasant - Laurelton	Lakewood	Route 4, South Amboy - Eatontown Route 4, Belmar - Lakewood	35, 88
Route 36		Keyport	Keanesburg - Belford	Atlantic Highlands	L. 1925 c. 224 (proposed to be part of Route 28 in 1926), Keyport - Atlantic Highlands	36
Route 37		Trenton	White Horse - Allentown - Lakehurst - Toms River - Seaside Heights	Point Pleasant	Route 2, Trenton - White Horse Route 18, Lakehurst - Toms River	US 206, 37, 35
Route 38		Camden	Merchantville - Moorestown - Mount Holly	Eastampton	Route 18 (proposed to be Route 23 in 1926), Camden - Mount Holly L. 1925 c. 222 (proposed to be Route 24 in 1926), Mount Holly - Eastampton	38, 41
Route 39		Yardley Bridge	Ewing - Bakersville - Mercerville - White Horse - Bordentown - Columbus - Vincentown - Red Lion - Indian Mills - Atsion	Da Costa	Route 2, White Horse - Bordentown L. 1923 c. 202 (proposed to be part of Route 26 in 1926), Indian Mills - Da Costa	I-295, US-206
Route 40		Camden	Marlton - Red Lion - Four Mile - Whitesbog - Whitings - Lakehurst -	Lakewood	Route 18 (proposed to be Route 23 in 1926), Whitesbog - Lakehurst	70
Route S40		Four Mile		Manahawkin		72
Route 41		Moorestown	Haddonfield	Fairview		41, 47
Route S41		Tacony-Palmyra Bridge	Palmyra - Moorestown - Evesboro - Marlton	Berlin	L. 1923 c. 202 (proposed to be part of Route 26 in 1926), Palmyra - Evesboro	73
Route 42		Camden	Mt Ephraim - Chews Landing - Blackwood - Grenloch - Williamstown - Cecil - Weymouth	McKee City	L. 1925 c. 240 (proposed to be Route 27 in 1926), Camden - McKee City	168, 42, US 322
Route 43		Camden	Berlin - Hammonton - Egg Harbor City	Absecon	Route 3, Camden - Absecon	US 30
Route 44		Westville	Paulsboro - Bridgeport	Penns Grove	Route 17S (proposed to be Route 22 in 1926), Paulsboro - Penns Grove	44, US 130
Route 45		Camden	Woodbury - Mullica Hill - Woodstown	Salem	Route 6, Ben Franklin Bridge - Salem	Route 45
Route 46		Mullica Hill	Upper Pittsgrove	Bridgeton	Route 6, Mullica Hill - Bridgeton	77
Route 47		Brooklawn	Glassboro - Malaga - Vineland - Millville	Tuckahoe	Route 20, Brooklawn - Millville	47, 49
Route 48		Penns Grove	Woodstown - Elmer - Malaga - Mays Landing - Pleasantville	Atlantic City	Route 18S (proposed to be Route 19 in 1926), Penns Grove - Atlantic City	US 40
Route 49		Salem	Bridgeton - Millville - Port Elizabeth - Dennisville - South Dennis	Ocean View	Route 6, Salem - Bridgeton Route 15, Bridgeton - South Dennis	49, 47, 83
Route S49		South Dennis	Goshen	Rio Grande	Route 15, South Dennis - Rio Grande	47
Route 50		Egg Harbor City	Mays Landing - Oakville - Tuckahoe	Seaville	Route 14, Egg Harbor City - Seaville	50

Additions

1929 Amendment

Chapter 126 of the 1929 public law amended the 1927 act, removing redundant designations and creating entirely new roads in the New York Metropolitan Area. The amendments included

• Realigning Route 1 onto Route 18N, still left over from the first 1916 system
  • Establishing Route S1A, today Route 67, from the remnants of Route 18N not taken over by Route 1 (Lemoine and Palisades Avenues)
• Truncating Route 3 to the Hawthorne-Paterson Line
  • Establishing Route S3 (served by modern Route 3), running from Route 3 in East Rutherford to Route 6 in Clifton
• Declaring that Route S4A would be built, "provided, however, the county of Atlantic shall first agree to construct a suitable continuation of said road from Little Beach to the city of Atlantic City". Atlantic County was unable to build most of this extension, hence Route S4A was never built; the portions that were built became designated as Route 87
  • Establishing Route S4B, replacing the truncated sections of Route 3 (served today by Route 208)
• Truncating Route 5 to roughly its current length, with an extension to the centre of Ridgefield
  • Realigning Route S5 onto the southern portion of Grand Avenue (modern Route 93)
• Realigning Route 6 to a new alignment east of Caldwell Township, bypassing Paterson
  • Creating Route S6 (including modern Route 62) along the portions of Union Boulevard formerly used by Route 6
• Truncating Route 7 to Wallington

Other Additions

Route!From!To!Legislated!Modern Designation!Notes

Route 2N		Lyndhurst	Nutley	1938 c. 269	Kingsland and Park Ave
Route S3 Spur		Route S3	Clifton	1942 c. 77Named 1948 c. 221	161
Route 4A		Old Bridge	West Freehold	1942	34, 79	Replaced realigned section of Route 4
Route S4C		Bennet	Cape May		162, Beach Ave, Broadway, Seashore Road
Route S4D		Teaneck	Tappan, NY	1938 c. 134		Designated as Route 303 in 1953 renumbering to connect to NY equivalent; cancelled shortly after
Route 6A		Dover	Frankford	1938 c. 47	15
Route 6M		Montville	Fairfield	1941	159	Replaced realigned section of Route 6
Route 10N		Paterson	Ridgefield	1929	Hackensack Plank Road	Replaced realigned section of Route 5; eliminated by 1930s
Route 11N		Passaic	Paterson	1929	Main Ave	Replaced truncated section of Route 7
Route 13E		Point Pleasant	Bay Head	1938 c. 238	13
Route 17		Suffern, New York	North Arlington	1942	17	Route 2 renumbered to Route 17 to create one single route from the Great Lakes to the New York City area for WWII caravans
Route 18		Old Bridge	Eatontown	1939 c. 243	18	New freeway designated.
Route 19		Paterson	Belleville	1939 c. 200	Marshall Street, Hazel Street, Paulison Avenue, River Drive (old routing of 21)	Became part of Route 21 in 1948.
Route 24-28 Link		Philipsburg		1940	Morris St	When Route 24 was rerouted onto a freeway north of Morris St, the remnants were still state-maintained to link Routes 24 and 28
Route 25A		Newark	Harrison	1939 c. 198	I-280	Renumbered to Route 58 in 1953; in 1997, the designation was dropped in favour of I-280
Route 25AD		Newark	Harrison		158	Locally called the Center Street Bridge; designation removed 1960, bridge demolished in 1979
Route 25B		Newark		1939 c. 317	Port Street, Doremus Ave	Renumbered to Route 65 in 1953; removed from state highway system in 1963
Route 25M		North Brunswick	New Brunswick	1940	171	A former alignment of US-130
Route S25		Bristol, PA	Burlington	1929 c. 57	413
Route 25T		East Ferry	Jersey City		US 1/9 Truck	Truck route of Route 25, due to ban of trucks on Pulaski Skyway of the time
Route 26A		Adams	New Brunswick	1941	91
Route 28A						The only evidence of this route is the fact that it was later absorbed into US-22; possibly 24-28 link
Route 28-29 Link		North Branch	Bridgewater	1938 c. 17	US-22	US-22 Bypass of Route 28
Route 29A		New Hope	Frenchtown	1929 c. 241	29
Route 29B		Frenchtown	Philipsburg	1938 c. 183	CR 519
Route S29		Lambertville	New Hope, PA	1949	179
Route 31A		Princeton	Hightstown	1941 c. 105	Princeton-Hightstown Street, 64
Route 33-35 Link		Tinton Falls	Neptune Township		66
Route S41A		Berlin	Folsom	1938 c. 299	73
Route S41N		Wrightsville	Palmyra	1941	155
Route S43		Germania	Northfield	1938 c. 216	CR 563
Route S44		Bridgeport	Bridgeport Ferry	1938 c. 374	324
Route S44A		Ellisburg	Brooklawn	1938 c. 374	CR 551 Spur	Also known locally as Kings Highway
Route 44T		Paulsboro	Deptford	1938 c. 367		Designed to form a connection from a Paulsboro-Essington Bridge; never built
Route 51		Bridgeport	Williamstown	1939	US-322
Route 52		Somers Point	Mays Landing	1937	Somers Point Road
Route 54		Hammonton	Vineland	1938 c. 43	54, Lincoln Avenue
Route 55		Pleasantville	Atlantic City	1938 c. 83	US 40	Replaced truncated section of Route 48; became part of Route 48 again in 1948
Route 55		New York	Teaneck	1948		unbuilt northern extension of the New Jersey Turnpike; deleted by 1964
Route 56		Absecom	Atlantic City	1938 c. 177	US 30, Absecon Blvd
Route S56		Atlantic City		1941	87, 187
Route 84		Sussex	Unionville, NY	1942	284	Renumbering of 8N; renumbered 284 to avoid confusion with nearby I-84
Route 100		New Brunswick	Fort Lee	1938 c. 50	New Jersey Turnpike	Originally planned to extend to Route 26
Route S100		Elizabeth (Route 100)	Elizabeth (Route 25)	1938 c. 50	81
Route 101		Kearny	Hackensack	1939 c. 105	21, 17	Never built
Route S101		Hackensack	Montvale	1951 c. 289	444
Route 151		Camden		1946 c. 115	S10, S11 Aves, Memorial Ave, Flanders Blvd	Administration given back to Camden after 1969
Route 300		Delaware Memorial Bridge	New Brunswick	1947 c. 259	New Jersey Turnpike
Route 700		Delaware Memorial Bridge	US 46 in Ridgefield	1952	New Jersey Turnpike

See also

• • • List of state highways in New Jersey before 1927
• 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering

External links

• 1920s New Jersey Highways

Notes and References

1. Web site: NJ's First Renumbering (1927). jimmyandsharonwilliams.com.