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County Route 542 (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
County Route 542, abbreviated CR 542, is a county highway
in the U.S. state
of New Jersey
. The highway extends 20.57 miles (33.1 km) from Route 54 in Hammonton
to U.S. Route 9 in Bass River Township
.
, Atlantic County
, heading east on two-lane undivided Central Avenue. The road passes through wooded residential areas, intersecting CR 724 and CR 680. Near Atlanticare - Kessler Memorial Hospital, the route intersects US 30
, at which point CR 542 turns south for a brief concurrency
on four-lane undivided White Horse Pike. Near Hammonton Lake, CR 542 splits from US 30 by heading east on two-lane undivided Hammonton-Pleasant Mills Road, soon intersecting CR 679. The road continues through a mix of homes and farms, turning northeast and entering Mullica Township
, where CR 542 curves east again and passes through woods as it reaches a junction with CR 693. From this point, the route continues back into agricultural areas with some homes, meeting CR 658. CR 542 turns northeast and enters the Wharton State Forest
, a part of the Pine Barrens
. After passing to the north of Nescochague Lake, the road reaches the CR 623 junction.
, CR 542 crosses into Washington Township
in Burlington County
and becomes Hammonton Road. The road passes to the south of Batsto Village
and makes a turn southeast into dense forests, running a short distance to the north of the Mullica River. After a turn to the east, the route comes to an intersection with CR 651 before coming to a brief concurrency with CR 563
. Past this point, the road continues through rural areas for several miles, with a junction at CR 652. CR 542 enters marshland as it crosses the Wading River
on a drawbridge
into Bass River Township
. A short distance later, the road meets CR 653 and turns southeast, running a short distance east of the Wading River through areas of forests and marshland. CR 542 turns east and comes to its eastern terminus at US 9 in the community of New Gretna
.
County highway
A county highway is a road in the United States and in the Canadian province of Ontario that is designated and/or maintained by the county highway department...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The highway extends 20.57 miles (33.1 km) from Route 54 in Hammonton
Hammonton, New Jersey
Hammonton is a town in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 14,791. It is located directly between Philadelphia and the resort town of Atlantic City, along a former route of the Pennsylvania Railroad currently used by New Jersey...
to U.S. Route 9 in Bass River Township
Bass River Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,510 people, 548 households, and 409 families residing in the township. The population density was 19.9 people per square mile . There were 602 housing units at an average density of 7.9 per square mile...
.
Atlantic County
CR 542 begins at an intersection with Route 54 in HammontonHammonton, New Jersey
Hammonton is a town in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 14,791. It is located directly between Philadelphia and the resort town of Atlantic City, along a former route of the Pennsylvania Railroad currently used by New Jersey...
, Atlantic County
Atlantic County, New Jersey
-National protected areas:* Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
, heading east on two-lane undivided Central Avenue. The road passes through wooded residential areas, intersecting CR 724 and CR 680. Near Atlanticare - Kessler Memorial Hospital, the route intersects US 30
U.S. Route 30 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 30 is a U.S. highway running from Astoria, Oregon east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the U.S. state of New Jersey, US 30 runs from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge at the Delaware River in Camden, Camden County while concurrent with Interstate 676 southeast to Virginia...
, at which point CR 542 turns south for a brief concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
on four-lane undivided White Horse Pike. Near Hammonton Lake, CR 542 splits from US 30 by heading east on two-lane undivided Hammonton-Pleasant Mills Road, soon intersecting CR 679. The road continues through a mix of homes and farms, turning northeast and entering Mullica Township
Mullica Township, New Jersey
Mullica Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 6,147....
, where CR 542 curves east again and passes through woods as it reaches a junction with CR 693. From this point, the route continues back into agricultural areas with some homes, meeting CR 658. CR 542 turns northeast and enters the Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest is a state park in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The largest single tract of land in the state park system of New Jersey, it encompasses approximately of the Pinelands northwest of Hammonton, in Burlington, Camden, and Atlantic counties. The entire park is located within ...
, a part of the Pine Barrens
Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
. After passing to the north of Nescochague Lake, the road reaches the CR 623 junction.
Burlington County
Upon crossing the Mullica RiverMullica River
The Mullica River is a river in southern New Jersey in the United States. The Mullica was once known as the Little Egg Harbor River.The river provides one of the principal drainages into the Atlantic Ocean of the extensive Pinelands...
, CR 542 crosses into Washington Township
Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey
Washington Township is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 621....
in Burlington County
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
and becomes Hammonton Road. The road passes to the south of Batsto Village
Batsto Village, New Jersey
Batsto Village is a New Jersey Historic site located in Wharton State Forest in the south central Pine Barrens, and a part of the Pinelands National Reserve. It is listed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, and is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental...
and makes a turn southeast into dense forests, running a short distance to the north of the Mullica River. After a turn to the east, the route comes to an intersection with CR 651 before coming to a brief concurrency with CR 563
County Route 563 (New Jersey)
County Route 563, abbreviated CR 563, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from CR 629/Ocean Drive in Margate City, Atlantic County north to Route 72 in Woodland Township, Burlington County...
. Past this point, the road continues through rural areas for several miles, with a junction at CR 652. CR 542 enters marshland as it crosses the Wading River
Wading River (New Jersey)
The Wading River is a tributary of the Mullica River, approximately long, in southern New Jersey in the United States. The river drains a rural forested area of the Pinelands, one of the most pristine areas along the coast of the northeastern United States....
on a drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
into Bass River Township
Bass River Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,510 people, 548 households, and 409 families residing in the township. The population density was 19.9 people per square mile . There were 602 housing units at an average density of 7.9 per square mile...
. A short distance later, the road meets CR 653 and turns southeast, running a short distance east of the Wading River through areas of forests and marshland. CR 542 turns east and comes to its eastern terminus at US 9 in the community of New Gretna
New Gretna, New Jersey
New Gretna is an unincorporated area within Bass River Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08224....
.