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U.S. Route 22 in New Jersey

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This article is about the section of U.S. Route 22 in New Jersey. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 22.

U.S. Route 22 marker
U.S. Route 22
Map
US 22 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NJDOT and DRJTBC
Length60.5 mi[1] (97.4 km)
Existed1926–present
Major junctions
West end US 22 at the Pennsylvania state line on the Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge
Major intersections
East end I-78 / US 1-9 / Route 21 in Newark
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew Jersey
CountiesWarren, Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Essex
Highway system
← Route 21→ Route 22

U.S. Route 22 (US 22) is a United States Numbered Highway stretching from Cincinnati, Ohio, in the west to Newark, New Jersey, in the east. In New Jersey, the route runs for 60.5 miles (97.37 km) from the Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge over the Delaware River in Phillipsburg, Warren County, to I-78, US 1/9, and Route 21 at the Newark Airport Interchange in Newark, Essex County. The road first heads through the Phillipsburg–Alpha area as an arterial road before running concurrent with I-78 through mountainous and agricultural sections of western New Jersey between Alpha and east of Clinton in Hunterdon County. For the remainder of the route, US 22 runs to the south of I-78 through mostly suburban areas as a four- to six-lane arterial road, passing through Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, and Essex counties. Along this portion, it interchanges with US 202/US 206 in Bridgewater, I-287 also in Bridgewater, and the Garden State Parkway in Union.

What became US 22 in 1926 was first designated as Route 9, a route running from Phillipsburg to Elizabeth, in 1916. In 1927, Route 9 west of Elizabeth became Route 28 while the portion within Elizabeth became Route 27-28 Link. By 1941, US 22 was moved to its current alignment in the Phillipsburg area, following Route 24 and Route 24-28 Link; Route 28 in Phillipsburg became US 22 Alternate (US 22 Alt.; now Route 122). Also, US 22 was moved off Route 28 east of Bridgewater Township to follow Route 28-29 Link and Route 29 to Newark. In 1953, the long concurrencies with the state highways were removed. In the 1960s, I-78 was constructed close to the US 22 corridor throughout New Jersey. US 22 was moved onto the new Interstate between Alpha and Clinton in 1969 with most of the old route becoming Route 173.

Route description

Phillipsburg to Annandale

US 22 westbound at Main Street in Phillipsburg

US 22 enters New Jersey from Easton, Pennsylvania, on the Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge over the Delaware River and Norfolk Southern Railway's Portland Secondary line.[2] It heads into Phillipsburg, Warren County, as a four-lane undivided freeway maintained by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.[1][2] East of the bridge, the westbound lanes pass through the bridge toll plaza, and the route has an eastbound exit and westbound entrance for Broad and Main streets.[1] From the previous exit, US 22 runs eastward as a four-lane divided freeway maintained by the New Jersey Department of Transportation that ends in an interchange with Morris Street and Hillcrest Boulevard.[1] At this point, the route becomes unnamed at the at-grade intersection; a commercial four to six-lane arterial road with a wide median consisting of U-turn ramps and jughandles. The median narrows as the road forms the border between Lopatcong Township to the north and Phillipsburg to the south.[1][2] The route fully enters Lopatcong Township and comes to an interchange with the western terminus of Route 57, with an eastbound exit and a westbound entrance.[1] After passing the Route 57 junction, US 22 takes a southeasterly turn and passes over the Washington Secondary line that is owned by Norfolk Southern Railway and operated by the Dover and Delaware River Railroad before entering an agricultural area. The route forms the border between Pohatcong Township to the west and Greenwich Township to the east as it passes to the east of former Phillipsburg Mall. A short distance later, US 22 intersects with St. James Avenue/Uniontown Road (CR 519) before heading back into a business district and meeting the intersection of Greenwich Street (CR 638). East of Alpha, the route intersects with New Brunswick Avenue (Route 122), which is the final junction of the at-grade section of US 22.[1][2]

I-78/US 22 westbound past Route 31 interchange in Clinton

Past the Route 122 intersection, US 22 has an interchange with exit 3 of I-78 and the western endpoint of Route 173. From there, US 22 is concurrent with I-78 through a mountainous and rural area of western New Jersey.[1][2] I-78/US 22 follow a six-lane freeway east through Greenwich Township, coming to a westbound exit and eastbound entrance with South Main Street (CR 637). The road turns southeast and has an eastbound exit and westbound entrance with Bloomsbury Road (CR 632) in Franklin Township.[1] Within the ramps for this interchange, there are weigh stations in both directions.[2] A short distance after this interchange, I-78/US 22 crosses the Musconetcong River into Bloomsbury, Hunterdon County. In Bloomsbury, the road has an interchange with Route 173.[1] After this interchange, the freeway enters Bethlehem Township, with Route 173 closely running to the north of I-78/US 22.[1][2] The road comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway's Central Running Track line and has rest areas in both directions before it passes over Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line and turns southeast to cross Musconetcong Mountain.[2]

The freeway turns east again and enters Union Township, coming to an interchange with Pattenburg Road (CR 614) and Route 173.[1] From here, I-78/US 22 continue east directly to the south of Route 173, coming to another interchange with that route as well as Mechlin Corner Road (CR 625). Entering more commercial areas, Route 173 merges onto I-78/US 22 at exit 13.[1][2] At exit 15, the highway meets an interchange with Pittstown Road (CR 513), and Route 173 splits from I-78/US 22 by heading north on Pittstown Road (CR 513). At this point, the freeway runs along the border of Franklin Township to the south and Clinton to the north before entirely entering Clinton and crossing the South Branch of the Raritan River.[1] I-78/US 22 turns northeast and leaves Clinton for Clinton Township, where it has an eastbound exit and westbound entrance for Route 173 that also provides access to Route 31.[1][2] Immediately after is the interchange with Route 31.[1] At the next interchange near the community of Annandale, US 22 splits from I-78, heading closely to the south of that route.[1][2]

Annandale to Somerville

US 22 eastbound in Bridgewater Township
View east along US 22 in Branchburg Township

Upon splitting from I-78, US 22 becomes a four-lane arterial road that runs through rural areas with some development and crosses NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line. It enters Lebanon, passing to the north of the town center. Upon leaving Lebanon, the route heads back into Clinton Township. In the community of Potterstown, US 22 enters Readington and takes a southeasterly turn away from I-78. Here, the road passes to the southwest of the Merck Headquarters Building before reaching the community of Whitehouse Station, where it has a short concurrency with CR 523.[1][2] Past Whitehouse Station, US 22 continues through a mix of residential and commercial areas.[2]

US 22 continues into Branchburg, Somerset County, where development near the road increases but remains mostly rural. Easton Turnpike (CR 614) parallels US 22 to the north to pass through the community of North Branch before US 22 intersects with Readington Road/Raritan Valley College Road (CR 637) and crosses the North Branch of the Raritan River into Bridgewater.[1][2] In Bridgewater, the route comes to an interchange with Easton Turnpike (CR 614 and the western terminus of Route 28).[1] Past this interchange, US 22 passes business parks and the Raritan Valley Country Club, widening to six lanes in the process. Afterward, it comes to an interchange with US 202/US 206. Past this interchange, US 22 quickly transitions from a rural to a more suburban setting and heads east along the border of Somerville to the south and Bridgewater to the north, passing south of the Bridgewater Commons shopping mall. The median of the route widens as it runs immediately to the south of I-287, fully entering Bridgewater again as it comes to an interchange with I-287 at exits 14A and 14B.[1][2]

I-287 to the Newark Airport Interchange

View east along US 22 at Cramer Avenue in Green Brook

East of I-287, US 22 continues east as a four-lane arterial road passing to the south of the Watchung Mountains.[2] The road comes to an interchange with Chimney Rock Road (CR 675), where it also passes under Norfolk Southern Railway's Middle Brook Industrial Track line. The route then has an interchange with Thompson Avenue (CR 525), where the wide grassy median narrows to a jersey barrier. The road continues through wooded surroundings and passes through a portion of Bound Brook, widening back to six lanes before meeting the interchange with Mountain Avenue (CR 527).[1][2] From here, the route takes a northeasterly course, entering Bridgewater again and narrowing to four lanes before crossing into Green Brook while designated a short distance north of the Middlesex–Somerset county line.[1] US 22 continues through business areas as an arterial with jughandles, crossing the intersection of Washington Avenue (CR 529).[1][2] In North Plainfield, the route widens to six lanes and has an interchange with Watchung Avenue (CR 531). Past this interchange, the road continues along the border of Watchung to the west and North Plainfield to the southeast before crossing Green Brook.[1]

US 22 eastbound at a U-turn ramp in Union

At this crossing, US 22 heads north-northeast into Scotch Plains, Union County, coming to an interchange with New Providence Road (CR 655).[1] The route continues northeast as a four- to five-lane arterial road, passing near former Bowcraft Amusement Park.[2] The road continues east through Mountainside, turning northeast before entering Springfield, where it has an interchange with Springfield Avenue (CR 577).[1][2] Past this interchange, for 1.8 miles (2.9 km), US 22 has a wide median that contains commercial businesses and numerous U-turn ramps. In this area, the road comes to a level crossing with the abandoned Rahway Valley Railroad.[2] It crosses the Rahway River into Union, where the wide median continues. The route briefly forms the northern border of Kenilworth before the median narrows back into a jersey barrier. US 22 splits into two carriageways at the interchange with exits 140 and 140A of the Garden State Parkway and Route 82, site of the Union Watersphere.[1][2]

Past this interchange, the route comes to an exit for Vauxhall Road (CR 630) before crossing the Elizabeth River into Hillside, where it heads east through more urban areas.[1][2] The road has an interchange at Bloy Street before passing over Liberty Avenue (CR 509) and Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Irvington Industrial Track line. After an interchange with Broad Street, US 22 turns northeast as a four-lane freeway.[1] It heads into Newark in Essex County, where the highway crosses under Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Lehigh Line, which also carries NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, and passes through wooded Weequahic Park parallel to the railroad tracks. Past the park, US 22 turns to the east into urban areas and closely runs to the south of I-78, where it comes to an eastbound exit and westbound entrance for Empire Street, which provides access to Route 27.[1][2] A short distance later, the freeway has a direct westbound exit and eastbound entrance with Route 27.[1] Past this interchange, US 22 continues parallel to I-78, passing over Amtrak's Northeast Corridor before reaching the Newark Airport Interchange; south of Downtown Newark and northwest of Newark Airport.[1][2] US 22 eastbound merges with US 1/9, with one southbound ramp and two northbound ramps (one for local and another for the express lanes). The main line follows the US 1/9 local northbound ramp for another 0.4 miles (0.64 km), with an intermediate exit for Route 21. The official eastern terminus of US 22 is at the ramp split for I-78 and northbound US 1/9.[2][3]

US 22 eastbound at CR 577 interchange in Springfield Township

History

The portion of US 22 between Phillipsburg and Somerville roughly follows the alignment of the Jersey Turnpike, which was chartered in 1806 to run from New Brunswick to Philipsburg.[4] This was originally built on a branch of the Great Minisink Trail that ran from what is now Metuchen to Lopatcong village in what is now Phillipsburg.[5] The portion of the modern route that now enters Philipsburg was originally part of the Washington Turnpike, before being incorporated into the William Penn Auto Trail by 1916.[6]

US 22 westbound at Route 27 in Newark

What became US 22 across New Jersey was originally designated as Route 9 in 1916, a route that ran from Phillipsburg east to Elizabeth.[7][8] When the U.S. Numbered Highway System was established in 1926, US 22 was designated through New Jersey from the Northampton Street Bridge in Phillpsburg and followed Route 9 east to US 1/9 in Elizabeth.[8][9] A year later, in the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering, Route 9 was replaced by Route 28, which itself was rerouted to continue to the Goethals Bridge. As a result, the alignment of US 22 in Elizabeth was designated Route 27-28 Link.[10][11] By 1941, US 22 underwent two significant realignments within the state. In Phillipsburg, the route was moved from Route 28 to follow its current alignment on what was Route 24 between the Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge and present-day Route 57 (then a part of Route 24) and Route 24-28 Link between there and Route 28.[12] The approach to the Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge, which opened in 1938, had been planned to be designated Route 24N, but instead became a part of Route 24.[13] With the realignment of US 22 in Phillipsburg, the old alignment was designated as US 22 Alt. (now Route 122). In addition, US 22 was moved off from Route 28 east of Bridgewater Township to follow Route 28-29 Link and Route 29 to Newark; Route 29 had been legislated in the 1927 renumbering while Route 28-29 Link was legislated in 1938.[10][12][14]

In the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering, the state highways running concurrent with US 22 were removed.[15][16] With the planning of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s, an Interstate Highway connecting the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area to New York City was planned to run roughly along the US 22 corridor in New Jersey.[17] This Interstate was designated as I-78 in the final plans in 1958.[18] The new Interstate roughly followed the alignment of the unconstructed Route 11, which had been legislated in 1927 to run from US 22 between White House and Warrenville.[10][11] Between the Alpha area and Annandale, I-78 was to directly follow US 22; the portion between exits 11 and 13 involved the creation of new eastbound lanes for I-78 and conversion of the eastbound lanes of US 22 into the westbound lanes of I-78. The westbound lanes of US 22 were turned into a two-lane frontage road. This construction took place during the 1960s.[19] US 22 was moved to the I-78 alignment between these two points in 1969.[20] The former alignment between Alpha and Clinton became Route 173 while the portion east of there became county-maintained Beaver Avenue (currently designated CR 626).[20][21] Originally, I-78 had been planned to use the Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge across the Delaware River and follow US 22 through Phillipsburg and along the Lehigh Valley Thruway west through the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.[22] However, opposition within Phillipsburg led to the cancelation of this routing, and I-78 was rerouted to head to the south of the Lehigh Valley.[23] In addition to the construction of I-78 along the US 22 corridor, US 22 itself evolved into a multilane divided highway from a two-lane road.[12][19]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Delaware River0.00.0

 US 22 west to PA 611 – Easton		Pennsylvania state line
Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge
(westbound toll; cash or E-ZPass)
WarrenPhillipsburg0.2–
0.6		0.32–
0.97		Main St / Broad St – PhillipsburgBroad Street signed eastbound; Phillipsburg signed westbound
Eastern end of the freeway section
Lopatcong Township2.03.2
 Route 57 east – Washington		Interchange; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; western terminus of Route 57
Pohatcong Township3.65.8 CR 519 (Uniontown Rd/St. James Ave) – Harmony, Belvidere, Alpha
4.36.9
 Route 122 west (New Brunswick Ave) – Alpha		Eastern terminus of Route 122
Greenwich Township4.67.4Western end of the freeway section

 I-78 west – Pennsylvania

 Route 173 east – Bloomsbury		West end of the overlap with I-78
6.310.14Warren Glen, StewartsvilleWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; access via CR 637
Franklin Township7.912.76Warren Glen, Asbury, WEIGH STATIONEastbound exit and westbound entrance; access via CR 632
HunterdonBloomsbury8.313.47 Route 173 – West Portal, Bloomsbury
Union Township12.620.311 Route 173 – W Portal, PattenburgAccess via CR 614
14.323.012 Route 173 – Jutland, NortonAccess via CR 625
15.9–
15.9		25.6–
25.6		13
 Route 173 west (Service Rd)		West end of the overlap with Route 173; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Franklin Township16.927.215
 Route 173 east – Clinton, Pittstown		East end of the overlap with Route 173; access via CR 513
Clinton Township18.2–
18.7		29.3–
30.1		17 Route 31 – Clinton, Washington, Flemington, TrentonSigned as exits 16 (NORTH) and 17 (SOUTH) eastbound
19.230.9
 I-78 east – Newark		East end of the overlap with I-78; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
Eastern end of the freeway section
Readington Township25.641.2
 CR 523 north (Oldwick Rd) – Oldwick, Bedminster		West end of the overlap with CR 523
25.841.5
 CR 523 south (Main St) – Whitehouse Sta, Flemington		East end of the overlap with CR 523
SomersetBranchburg30.849.6North Branch StationInterchange; access via CR 679
Bridgewater Township31.550.7
 Route 28 east – Somerville, Raritan
North Branch		Interchange; western terminus of Route 28; access via CR 614; access westbound US 22 to eastbound Route 28 via Garretson Road
33.854.4

 US 202 / US 206 to I-287 north – Morristown, Netcong, Flemington, Princeton		Interchange
34.054.7Mountain Ave – SomervilleInterchange; eastbound exit and entrance; access via CR 643 south
34.355.2Commons WayInterchange; no eastbound exit
34.755.8N Bridge St / Grove St – Somerville, BridgewaterInterchange; westbound exit and entrance; access via CR 639
36.358.4Finderne Ave / Foothill Rd – Manville (U-TURN)Interchange; westbound exit and entrance; access via CR 633
36.6–
36.8		58.9–
59.2


 I-287 to I-78 / I-95 / N.J. Turnpike – Morristown, Mahwah, Perth Amboy		No eastbound access to I-287 north; Exits 14A-B (I-287)
37.259.9
 CR 675 (Chimney Rock Rd) to Route 28 (U-TURN)		Interchange
37.560.4 CR 525 (Thompson Ave) – Bound Brook, MartinsvilleInterchange
Bound Brook–Bridgewater Township line39.062.8 CR 527 (Mountain Ave) – Bound Brook, VA HospitalInterchange
Green Brook Township42.167.8 CR 529 (Washington Ave) – Green Brook, Dunellen
North Plainfield44.771.9Somerset St – The Plainfields (U-TURN)Interchange; access via CR 631
44.872.1 CR 531 (Watchung Ave) – Watchung, Plainfield, VA Hospital (U-TURN)Interchange
UnionScotch Plains47.476.3
 Park Ave to I-78 – Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Berkeley Hts, New Providence		Interchange; access via CR 655
Mountainside51.582.9Mountain Ave TO Sheffield StInterchange; access via CR 635 north
Springfield Township52.083.7 CR 577 – Westfield, SpringfieldInterchange
Union Township55.3–
55.7		89.0–
89.6		 G.S. Parkway / Route 82 – Union, Springfield, ElizabethExit 140B (Garden State Parkway)
56.190.3

 Vauxhall Rd to G.S. Parkway north – Union, Millburn, Elizabeth, Hillside		Interchange; G.S. Parkway not signed eastbound; access via CR 630
Hillside56.991.6Bloy StInterchange; access via CR 631
58.093.3Western end of the freeway section
Hillside, Irvington (U-TURN)Access via CR 628
EssexNewark59.4–
59.6		95.6–
95.9		 Route 27 (Frelinghuysen Ave) / Empire St – Newark
59.996.4
 US 1-9 south – Main Terminals, Elizabeth		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
60.296.9
 Route 21 north – Newark		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
60.597.4


 I-78 / US 1-9 north to I-95 / N.J. Turnpike – Clinton, Holland Tunnel, North Area / South Area, Port Newark		Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "US 22 straight line diagram" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "overview of U.S. Route 22 in New Jersey" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  3. ^ "US 22 ramps dialog" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 20, 2007.
  4. ^ Murphy, John L. Index of Colonial and State Laws Between the Years 1663 and 1877 Inclusive. Stare of New Jersey. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
  5. ^ Snyder, John (1969). "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries 1606-1968"
  6. ^ Rand McNally and Co. "Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, South East Michigan, Southern Ontario, Western New York: District No. 4". Rand McNally Official Auto Trails Map, 3rd ed., 1924, pp. 168-169. David Rumsey Historical Map Collection, David Rumsey (curator), Cartography Associates, Accessed Nov 4, 2019, www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~201570~3000600:Auto-Trails-Map--Pennsylvania,-New-.
  7. ^ Annual Report. State of New Jersey. 1917.
  8. ^ a b Map of New Jersey (Map). Tydol Trails. 1927. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  9. ^ Bureau of Public Roads & American Association of State Highway Officials (November 11, 1926). United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). 1:7,000,000. Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. OCLC 32889555. Retrieved November 7, 2013 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  10. ^ a b c State of New Jersey, Laws of 1927, Chapter 319.
  11. ^ a b 1927 New Jersey Road Map (Map). State of New Jersey. Archived from the original on October 31, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  12. ^ a b c Map of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Map). Cartography by H.M. Gousha. Mid-West Map Co. 1941. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  13. ^ State of New Jersey, Laws of 1938, Chapter 85.
  14. ^ State of New Jersey, Laws of 1938, Chapter 17.
  15. ^ 1953 renumbering, New Jersey Department of Highways, archived from the original on June 28, 2011, retrieved July 31, 2009
  16. ^ "New Road Signs Ready in New Jersey". The New York Times. December 16, 1952. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  17. ^ Secretary of Commerce (1955). Interstate Highway System plan (Map). United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  18. ^ Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (Map). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. 1958. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  19. ^ a b Map of New Jersey (Map). Cartography by H.M. Gousha. Chevron Oil Company. 1969.
  20. ^ a b U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee (June 24, 1969). "U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee Agenda Showing Action Taken by the Executive Committee" (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway Officials. p. 379. Retrieved October 16, 2014 – via Wikisource.
  21. ^ "County Route 626 straight line diagram" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 29, 2008.
  22. ^ Map of New Jersey (Map). Cartography by General Drafting. Esso. 1970.
  23. ^ "A Long-Delayed Link Between New Jersey and Pennsylvania Opens". The New York Times. November 22, 1989. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
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