New Jersey Route 166
Encyclopedia
Route 166 is a short, 3.73 miles (6 km) state highway in Ocean County
, New Jersey
. The route provides an alternate alignment of U.S. Route 9 through South Toms River
and Toms River
. The southern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 9 northbound in Beachwood
, where it heads northward along Atlantic City Boulevard. The route continues until ending where U.S. Route 9 leaves the Parkway north of Toms River. US 9 itself uses the Garden State Parkway
to bypass Toms River.
Route 166 is a former alignment of New Jersey Route 4, designated in 1920 and U.S. Route 9, designated in 1927 through Toms River. The highways were realigned when the Garden State Parkway was built, and the original alignment became U.S. Route 9 Alternate in the 1950s, which was eventually replaced with Route 166. The alignment has remained the same since.
. The route heads northward along the right-of-way of Atlantic City Boulevard, progressing northward along residential homes. Paralleling to the north of U.S. Route 9, Route 166 continues, passing a war memorial
in the southern portion of the business district. In the center of the community, the highway intersects with Ocean County Route 621 (Admiral Avenue). There, Route 166 turns to the northeast, running along the shoreline for the Atlantic Ocean
. Heading past a marina, the highway crosses on a four-lane bridge over the ocean and into Toms River
.
After landing down on the Toms River side, Route 166 heads to the northwest, intersecting with the incomplete Herficker Boulevard. The highway turns off its right-of-way, and crosses another branch into the center of Toms River. Passing the Riverfront Landing, Route 166 intersects with the eastern/southern terminus of County Route 527
(Water Street). The highway continues northward along commercial buildings as Main Street, passing to the west of Toms River High School and back into the residential districts. Route 166 continues northbound to an interchange with New Jersey Route 37 (Little League World Champions Boulevard) in Toms River. At the interchange, Route 166 switches names from Main Street to Lakewood Road, which heads northwestward.
Route 166, after changing monikers, continues northwestward through the commercial and industrial portions of Toms River, intersecting with several local and county roads until a fork with Ocean County Route 623, where the highway forks at Riverside Cemetery. A short distance later, the highway begins a split parallel with the Garden State Parkway
and U.S. Route 9 to the east. Route 166 then leaves the commercial and industrial districts for the residential ones soon later, crossing through several developments including Colonial Gardens. The highway continues northward, intersecting with Albert Avenue, where it returns to the commercial area. After an intersection with Briar Knoll, Route 166 divides, approaching Interchange 83 on the Garden State Parkway, where the designation terminates. The right-of-way continues northward as U.S. Route 9.
to Rahway
. This designation remained in place for seven years, until the 1927 state highway renumbering, which remained part of an extended Route 4. A year prior to the state highway renumbering, the alignment of Route 4 was also co-designated as part of U.S. Route 9, which had been assigned as part of a nationwide system. Route 4 remained intact concurrnent with Route 9 until the state highway renumbering
on January 1, 1953. On that day, Route 4 was truncated back to Fort Lee
in Bergen County
, and the alignment became only U.S. Route 9. A bypass was built of the Route 9 alignment in the 1950s along with construction of the Garden State Parkway, which was completed soon after. The route currently Route 166 became U.S. Route 9 Alternate by 1954, remaining for several years, when it was decommissioned in place for Route 166. The route has remained intact since.
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
, 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 route provides an alternate alignment of U.S. Route 9 through South Toms River
South Toms River, New Jersey
South Toms River is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 3,684....
and Toms River
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
. The southern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 9 northbound in Beachwood
Beachwood, New Jersey
Beachwood is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population increased to a record high of 11,045....
, where it heads northward along Atlantic City Boulevard. The route continues until ending where U.S. Route 9 leaves the Parkway north of Toms River. US 9 itself uses the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
to bypass Toms River.
Route 166 is a former alignment of New Jersey Route 4, designated in 1920 and U.S. Route 9, designated in 1927 through Toms River. The highways were realigned when the Garden State Parkway was built, and the original alignment became U.S. Route 9 Alternate in the 1950s, which was eventually replaced with Route 166. The alignment has remained the same since.
Route description
Route 166 begins at an interchange with U.S. Route 9 northbound (Atlantic City Boulevard) in the community of South Toms RiverSouth Toms River, New Jersey
South Toms River is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 3,684....
. The route heads northward along the right-of-way of Atlantic City Boulevard, progressing northward along residential homes. Paralleling to the north of U.S. Route 9, Route 166 continues, passing a war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
in the southern portion of the business district. In the center of the community, the highway intersects with Ocean County Route 621 (Admiral Avenue). There, Route 166 turns to the northeast, running along the shoreline for the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Heading past a marina, the highway crosses on a four-lane bridge over the ocean and into Toms River
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
.
After landing down on the Toms River side, Route 166 heads to the northwest, intersecting with the incomplete Herficker Boulevard. The highway turns off its right-of-way, and crosses another branch into the center of Toms River. Passing the Riverfront Landing, Route 166 intersects with the eastern/southern terminus of County Route 527
County Route 527 (New Jersey)
County Route 527 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street in Toms River Township to Pompton Avenue in Cedar Grove. It is the second longest county highway in New Jersey after Route 519. It was first given the number 527 in 1954...
(Water Street). The highway continues northward along commercial buildings as Main Street, passing to the west of Toms River High School and back into the residential districts. Route 166 continues northbound to an interchange with New Jersey Route 37 (Little League World Champions Boulevard) in Toms River. At the interchange, Route 166 switches names from Main Street to Lakewood Road, which heads northwestward.
Route 166, after changing monikers, continues northwestward through the commercial and industrial portions of Toms River, intersecting with several local and county roads until a fork with Ocean County Route 623, where the highway forks at Riverside Cemetery. A short distance later, the highway begins a split parallel with the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
and U.S. Route 9 to the east. Route 166 then leaves the commercial and industrial districts for the residential ones soon later, crossing through several developments including Colonial Gardens. The highway continues northward, intersecting with Albert Avenue, where it returns to the commercial area. After an intersection with Briar Knoll, Route 166 divides, approaching Interchange 83 on the Garden State Parkway, where the designation terminates. The right-of-way continues northward as U.S. Route 9.
History
The alignment of Route 166 was originally part of Route 4 prior to 1927, designated from AbseconAbsecon, New Jersey
Absecon is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 8,411.What is now the City of Absecon was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 29, 1872, from portions of Egg Harbor...
to Rahway
Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway is a city in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, being 15 miles southwest of Manhattan and five miles west of Staten Island...
. This designation remained in place for seven years, until the 1927 state highway renumbering, which remained part of an extended Route 4. A year prior to the state highway renumbering, the alignment of Route 4 was also co-designated as part of U.S. Route 9, which had been assigned as part of a nationwide system. Route 4 remained intact concurrnent with Route 9 until the state highway renumbering
1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering
On January 1, 1953, the New Jersey Department of Transportation renumbered many of the State Routes. A few rules were followed in deciding what to renumber:...
on January 1, 1953. On that day, Route 4 was truncated back to Fort Lee
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
in Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
, and the alignment became only U.S. Route 9. A bypass was built of the Route 9 alignment in the 1950s along with construction of the Garden State Parkway, which was completed soon after. The route currently Route 166 became U.S. Route 9 Alternate by 1954, remaining for several years, when it was decommissioned in place for Route 166. The route has remained intact since.