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Route 208 (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Route 208 is a state highway in the northern part of New Jersey
in the United States. It runs 10.07 mi (16.21 km) from an interchange with Route 4 and County Route 79 (Saddle River Road) in Fair Lawn
northwest to an interchange with Interstate 287
in Oakland
. The route runs through suburban areas of Bergen
and Passaic
counties as four- to six-lane divided highway
. It is constructed like a freeway, as intersections with cross roads are controlled by interchanges, but is not a controlled access road as several driveways exist. The route runs through the communities of Glen Rock
, Hawthorne
, Wyckoff
, and Franklin Lakes
along the way, interchanging with County Route 507
in Fair Lawn and County Route 502
in Franklin Lakes.
What is now Route 208 was initially planned as Route S4B in 1929, a spur of Route 4 that was to run from Fair Lawn northwest to the New York
border in Greenwood Lake
, where it would eventually connect to New York State Route 208
. This route replaced what was planned as a part of Route 3 in 1927 between Paterson
and Greenwood Lake. By the time the route was renumbered to Route 208 in 1953 to match NY 208, only a portion of the route in Fair Lawn from Route 4 to Maple Avenue had been built. Route 208 was completed west to U.S. Route 202
in Oakland by 1960 as a two-lane undivided road; it would be built into its present configuration in later years. A Route 208 freeway was planned across the Ramapo Mountains
from Oakland to connect to a proposed NY 208 freeway at Greenwood Lake; however, it was never built due to environmental concerns. After Interstate 287 was extended from Montville to the New York border in 1993, it took over the alignment of Route 208 between U.S. Route 202 and the route’s current northern terminus. The last traffic signal along Route 208 at McBride Avenue was removed in 1997 and the interchange with Route 4 and Saddle River Road was reconstructed in 2002.
access; however, no traffic may cross the highway at grade. Traffic moves in at least two lanes in each direction for the road's entire length of 10.07 mi (16.21 km), widening briefly to three lanes near its northern terminus.
The road originates at an interchange with Route 4 in Fair Lawn
, Bergen County
that also includes ramps for County Route 79 (Saddle River Road), heading to the west near residential areas. Shortly after beginning, a ramp from southbound Route 208 provides access via Virginia Drive to westbound Route 4. The next exit is a partial interchange with County Route 78 (Morlot Avenue), followed by a full interchange with Plaza Road. Past the latter, the route passes over New Jersey Transit
’s Bergen County Line
and comes to a southbound exit and entrance with Berdan Avenue. From here, the road turns to the northwest, passing near more neighborhoods before coming to an interchange with County Route 76 (Fair Lawn Avenue). Past this interchange, the northbound direction of Route 208 widens to three lanes and it continues into commercial areas, with some driveways along the road and an intersection with McBride Avenue. At this point, the highway passes an industrial park, including a Nabisco
plant on the right side. A short distance later, the road reaches the interchange with County Route 507
(Maple Avenue) and County Route 127 (Harristown Road). Past this interchange, the road enters Glen Rock
and has a northbound exit and entrance with De Boer Drive before crossing over the New Jersey Transit Main Line
. Past the railroad crossing, Route 208 heads through wooded residential areas prior to a northbound interchange with County Route 653 (Lincoln Avenue), where it enters Hawthorne
, Passaic County
. County Route 653 and Route 208 are connected by a short segment of County Route 664 (Rea Avenue).
The highway has turnoffs in each direction for Utter Avenue before passing beneath the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
track prior the interchange with County Route 659 (Goffle Road). Past here, the highway turns north and climbs a hill, passing the Hawthorne Gospel Church on the right. It re-enters Bergen County in Wyckoff
, just before the Grandview Avenue interchange. From here, Route 208 largely resembles a wooded parkway
, although there are a few driveways off the road. The road turns northwest and interchanges with County Route 93 (Cedar Hill Avenue) before passing near more homes and coming to an interchange with County Route S93 (Russell Avenue). The road continues into Franklin Lakes
and interchanges with County Route 502
(Ewing Avenue) before turning west-northwest and coming to an exit for County Route S89 (Summit Avenue). Past Summit Avenue, the road has two interchanges providing access to the Becton Dickinson
headquarters campus, where the road carries three lanes in each direction. It narrows back to two lanes in each direction before coming to the interchange with County Route 117 (Colonial Road) and County Route 89 (High Mountain Road). The final exit heading northbound is for Interstate 287
north, an interchange that includes another crossing of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway. After passing the exit, Route 208 northbound merges into Interstate 287 southbound at the Franklin Lakes and Oakland
border.
, and West Milford
to the New York
border near Greenwood Lake
. This route was to replace what was to be a portion of Route 3 between Paterson
and the New York border that was designated in the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering
. The road was projected to continue into New York and continue through Sterling Forest
and Monroe, New York
, where it would join New York's Route 208
at its intersection with New York State Route 17
. By 1953, the portion of Route S4B between Route 4 and Maple Avenue in Fair Lawn was completed; that same year, it was renumbered to Route 208 in order to match NY 208. By 1960, the road was extended to a northern terminus at U.S. Route 202
and West Oakland Avenue in Oakland, where traffic could exit and continue over Skyline Drive
to Ringwood. When first constructed, this portion of Route 208 was a two-lane undivided road. By 1969, the portion between Maple Avenue and Goffle Road was widened to a divided highway with the entire route built into a multi-lane divided highway by the 1980s.
Meanwhile, plans still existed to build Route 208 past Oakland to the New York border. Passaic County called for a divided highway was called for to bypass Skyline Drive, and in 1967 the New Jersey Department of Transportation
proposed a Route 208 freeway through the Ramapo Mountains
that would run from Oakland to the New York border in Greenwood Lake, where it would connect to a proposed NY 208 freeway (called the Orange Expressway) that would continue north to Interstate 84
in Maybrook, New York
. This freeway, which was to cost $66.3 million, was to improve traffic in the resort areas of the Ramapo Mountains and also connect to the proposed Route 94 freeway leading to Warren County
and the proposed Route 178 freeway leading to Morris County
. In 1975, this proposed freeway was recommended by the Tri-State Regional Planning Commission to be completed by 2000. However, concerns for the environment of the Ramapo Mountains and Sterling Forest caused the road's extension to be scuttled.
When Interstate 287 was extended from Montville to the New York border in 1993, it took over the alignment of Route 208 between U.S. Route 202 and the current northern terminus of Route 208. In 1997, the last traffic signal along Route 208 at McBride Avenue was removed. In 2002, construction was completed on a $32 million project that improved the interchange with Route 4 in Fair Lawn. This interchange saw improvements of the ramps and bridges, including the Route 208 bridge over Saddle River Road. The Route 208 freeway, like many others in New Jersey, once had solar powered emergency call boxes every 1 miles (1.6 km); however with the advent of cell phones the usage of these call boxes became extremely limited. To save on maintenance costs, the NJDOT removed these call boxes in 2005.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=11|Bergen
|rowspan=10|Borough of Fair Lawn
|0.00
|, New York City
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance; southern terminus
|-
|0.07
|
|Southbound access to southbound CR 79 and northbound access to northbound CR 79
|-
|0.25
|
|Southbound exit and entrance
|-
|0.94
|
|Northbound exit only
|-
|1.22
|Plaza Road – Fair Lawn
|
|-
|1.50
|Berdan Avenue
|Southbound exit and entrance
|-
|1.83
|
|
|-
|2.44
|McBride Avenue
|Northbound exit and entrance
|-
|2.88
|
|
|-
|2.97
|
|
|-
|rowspan=1|Borough of Glen Rock
|3.17
|De Boer Drive
|Northbound exit and entrance
|-
|rowspan=3|Passaic
|rowspan=3|Borough of Hawthorne
|3.54
|
|Northbound exit and entrance
|-
|3.76
|Utter Avenue
|
|-
|4.40
|
|
|-
|rowspan=10|Bergen
|rowspan=3|Wyckoff Township
|5.32
|Grandview Avenue – Wyckoff
|
|-
|5.97
|
|
|-
|6.93
|
|
|-
|rowspan=6|Borough of Franklin Lakes
|7.87
|
|
|-
|8.48
|
|
|-
|8.82
|Becton Dickinson
headquarters
|Southbound exit, northbound exit and entrance
|-
|9.14
|Becton Dickinson
headquarters
|Northbound and southbound entrance
|-
|9.45
|
|
|-
|9.62
|, New York Thruway
|Northbound exit
|-
|Borough of Oakland
|10.07
|
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance; northern terminus
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...
in the United States. It runs 10.07 mi (16.21 km) from an interchange with Route 4 and County Route 79 (Saddle River Road) in Fair Lawn
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Fair Lawn is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and a suburban municipality in the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 32,457. Fair Lawn was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March...
northwest to an interchange with Interstate 287
Interstate 287
Interstate 287 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York. It is a partial beltway around New York City, serving the northern half of New Jersey and the counties of Rockland and Westchester in New York...
in Oakland
Oakland, New Jersey
Oakland is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,754.Oakland was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1902, from portions of Franklin Township.-History:The Van Allen House...
. The route runs through suburban areas of Bergen
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 Passaic
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
counties as four- to six-lane divided highway
Divided Highway
Divided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
. It is constructed like a freeway, as intersections with cross roads are controlled by interchanges, but is not a controlled access road as several driveways exist. The route runs through the communities of Glen Rock
Glen Rock, New Jersey
Glen Rock is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 11,601.-History:...
, Hawthorne
Hawthorne, New Jersey
Hawthorne is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 18,218.Hawthorne was originally part of the now-defunct Manchester Township, which was later subdivided to create Hawthorne, Haledon, North Haledon, Prospect Park,...
, Wyckoff
Wyckoff, New Jersey
Wyckoff is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,696. As of the 2000 Census, Wyckoff ranked 54th in 100 highest-income places in the United States...
, and Franklin Lakes
Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
Franklin Lakes is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,590. As of the 2000 Census, Franklin Lakes had the 18th-highest per-capita income of all 566 municipalities in the state. Nationwide, Franklin Lakes ranked 17th among the...
along the way, interchanging with County Route 507
County Route 507 (New Jersey)
County Route 507 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Harrison Avenue on the Kearny-Harrison town line to the New York state line in Mahwah. Between Ho-Ho-Kus and Mahwah, this highway is known as Franklin Turnpike...
in Fair Lawn and County Route 502
County Route 502 (New Jersey)
County Route 502 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends 23.79 miles from Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne to Palisades Boulevard in Alpine....
in Franklin Lakes.
What is now Route 208 was initially planned as Route S4B in 1929, a spur of Route 4 that was to run from Fair Lawn northwest to the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
border in Greenwood Lake
Greenwood Lake
Greenwood Lake is an interstate lake approximately seven miles long, straddling the border of New Jersey and New York. It is located in West Milford, New Jersey and Greenwood Lake, New York ....
, where it would eventually connect to New York State Route 208
New York State Route 208
New York State Route 208 is a state highway located in southern New York in the United States. The southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 17M in the Orange County village of Monroe...
. This route replaced what was planned as a part of Route 3 in 1927 between Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
and Greenwood Lake. By the time the route was renumbered to Route 208 in 1953 to match NY 208, only a portion of the route in Fair Lawn from Route 4 to Maple Avenue had been built. Route 208 was completed west to U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 202 is a U.S. Highway running from New Castle, Delaware northeast to Bangor, Maine. In the U.S. state of New Jersey, the route runs from the New Hope-Lambertville Toll Bridge over the Delaware River at the Pennsylvania border in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County near Lambertville...
in Oakland by 1960 as a two-lane undivided road; it would be built into its present configuration in later years. A Route 208 freeway was planned across the Ramapo Mountains
Ramapo Mountains
The Ramapo Mountains are a forested chain of the Appalachian mountains in northeastern New Jersey and southeastern New York in the United States...
from Oakland to connect to a proposed NY 208 freeway at Greenwood Lake; however, it was never built due to environmental concerns. After Interstate 287 was extended from Montville to the New York border in 1993, it took over the alignment of Route 208 between U.S. Route 202 and the route’s current northern terminus. The last traffic signal along Route 208 at McBride Avenue was removed in 1997 and the interchange with Route 4 and Saddle River Road was reconstructed in 2002.
Route description
Route 208 (dedicated as the World War II Veterans Memorial Highway) is constructed like a freeway, however, at no point does it meet the standard of controlled access. Several streets and private driveways abut the road throughout its length, with right-in/right-outRight-in/right-out
Right-in/right-out and left-in/left-out refer to a type of road intersection where turning movements of vehicles are restricted. A RIRO permits only right turns and a LILO permits only left turns. RIRO is usual where vehicles drive on the right, and LILO is usual where vehicles drive on the left...
access; however, no traffic may cross the highway at grade. Traffic moves in at least two lanes in each direction for the road's entire length of 10.07 mi (16.21 km), widening briefly to three lanes near its northern terminus.
The road originates at an interchange with Route 4 in Fair Lawn
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Fair Lawn is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and a suburban municipality in the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 32,457. Fair Lawn was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March...
, 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...
that also includes ramps for County Route 79 (Saddle River Road), heading to the west near residential areas. Shortly after beginning, a ramp from southbound Route 208 provides access via Virginia Drive to westbound Route 4. The next exit is a partial interchange with County Route 78 (Morlot Avenue), followed by a full interchange with Plaza Road. Past the latter, the route passes over New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
’s Bergen County Line
Bergen County Line
The Bergen County Line is a commuter rail line and service owned and operated by New Jersey Transit in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The line loops off the Main Line between the Meadowlands and Glen Rock, with trains continuing in either direction along the Main Line...
and comes to a southbound exit and entrance with Berdan Avenue. From here, the road turns to the northwest, passing near more neighborhoods before coming to an interchange with County Route 76 (Fair Lawn Avenue). Past this interchange, the northbound direction of Route 208 widens to three lanes and it continues into commercial areas, with some driveways along the road and an intersection with McBride Avenue. At this point, the highway passes an industrial park, including a Nabisco
Nabisco
Nabisco is an American brand of cookies and snacks. Headquartered in East Hanover, New Jersey, the company is a subsidiary of Illinois-based Kraft Foods. Nabisco's plant in Chicago, a production facility at 7300 S...
plant on the right side. A short distance later, the road reaches the interchange with County Route 507
County Route 507 (New Jersey)
County Route 507 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Harrison Avenue on the Kearny-Harrison town line to the New York state line in Mahwah. Between Ho-Ho-Kus and Mahwah, this highway is known as Franklin Turnpike...
(Maple Avenue) and County Route 127 (Harristown Road). Past this interchange, the road enters Glen Rock
Glen Rock, New Jersey
Glen Rock is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 11,601.-History:...
and has a northbound exit and entrance with De Boer Drive before crossing over the New Jersey Transit Main Line
Main Line (NJ Transit)
The Main Line is a rail line owned and operated by New Jersey Transit running from Suffern, New York to Hoboken, New Jersey. It runs daily commuter service and was once the north-south main line of the Erie Lackawanna Railroad...
. Past the railroad crossing, Route 208 heads through wooded residential areas prior to a northbound interchange with County Route 653 (Lincoln Avenue), where it enters Hawthorne
Hawthorne, New Jersey
Hawthorne is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 18,218.Hawthorne was originally part of the now-defunct Manchester Township, which was later subdivided to create Hawthorne, Haledon, North Haledon, Prospect Park,...
, Passaic County
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
. County Route 653 and Route 208 are connected by a short segment of County Route 664 (Rea Avenue).
The highway has turnoffs in each direction for Utter Avenue before passing beneath the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also known as the Susie-Q, or simply the Susquehanna, is a Class II American freight railway operating over 500 miles of track in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was formed in 1881 from the merger of several...
track prior the interchange with County Route 659 (Goffle Road). Past here, the highway turns north and climbs a hill, passing the Hawthorne Gospel Church on the right. It re-enters Bergen County in Wyckoff
Wyckoff, New Jersey
Wyckoff is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,696. As of the 2000 Census, Wyckoff ranked 54th in 100 highest-income places in the United States...
, just before the Grandview Avenue interchange. From here, Route 208 largely resembles a wooded parkway
Parkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
, although there are a few driveways off the road. The road turns northwest and interchanges with County Route 93 (Cedar Hill Avenue) before passing near more homes and coming to an interchange with County Route S93 (Russell Avenue). The road continues into Franklin Lakes
Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
Franklin Lakes is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,590. As of the 2000 Census, Franklin Lakes had the 18th-highest per-capita income of all 566 municipalities in the state. Nationwide, Franklin Lakes ranked 17th among the...
and interchanges with County Route 502
County Route 502 (New Jersey)
County Route 502 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends 23.79 miles from Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne to Palisades Boulevard in Alpine....
(Ewing Avenue) before turning west-northwest and coming to an exit for County Route S89 (Summit Avenue). Past Summit Avenue, the road has two interchanges providing access to the Becton Dickinson
Becton Dickinson
Becton, Dickinson and Company , is an American medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD does business in nearly 50 countries and has 28,803 employees worldwide. In...
headquarters campus, where the road carries three lanes in each direction. It narrows back to two lanes in each direction before coming to the interchange with County Route 117 (Colonial Road) and County Route 89 (High Mountain Road). The final exit heading northbound is for Interstate 287
Interstate 287
Interstate 287 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York. It is a partial beltway around New York City, serving the northern half of New Jersey and the counties of Rockland and Westchester in New York...
north, an interchange that includes another crossing of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway. After passing the exit, Route 208 northbound merges into Interstate 287 southbound at the Franklin Lakes and Oakland
Oakland, New Jersey
Oakland is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,754.Oakland was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1902, from portions of Franklin Township.-History:The Van Allen House...
border.
History
NJ 208 was first plotted in 1929 as Route S4B, a spur off Route 4 that was to run from Fair Lawn northwest through RingwoodRingwood, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there are 12,396 people, 4,108 households, and 3,446 families residing in the borough. The population density is 491.0 people per square mile . There are 4,221 housing units at an average density of 167.2 per square mile...
, and West Milford
West Milford, New Jersey
West Milford is a township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 25,850.-History:...
to the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
border near Greenwood Lake
Greenwood Lake
Greenwood Lake is an interstate lake approximately seven miles long, straddling the border of New Jersey and New York. It is located in West Milford, New Jersey and Greenwood Lake, New York ....
. This route was to replace what was to be a portion of Route 3 between Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
and the New York border that was designated in the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering
1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering
In 1927, New Jersey's state highways were renumbered. The old system, which had been defined in sequence by the legislature, was growing badly, as several routes shared the same number, and many unnumbered state highways had been defined...
. The road was projected to continue into New York and continue through Sterling Forest
Sterling Forest, New York
Sterling Forest, New York is a hamlet in the Town of Warwick, Orange County. It is served by an active United States post office of the same name. It is situated on the eastern shore of Greenwood Lake, at the New Jersey state line. Part of the hamlet extends into West Milford Township, Passaic...
and Monroe, New York
Monroe (town), New York
Monroe is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 31,407 at the 2000 census. The town is named after President James Monroe....
, where it would join New York's Route 208
New York State Route 208
New York State Route 208 is a state highway located in southern New York in the United States. The southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 17M in the Orange County village of Monroe...
at its intersection with New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
. By 1953, the portion of Route S4B between Route 4 and Maple Avenue in Fair Lawn was completed; that same year, it was renumbered to Route 208 in order to match NY 208. By 1960, the road was extended to a northern terminus at U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 202 is a U.S. Highway running from New Castle, Delaware northeast to Bangor, Maine. In the U.S. state of New Jersey, the route runs from the New Hope-Lambertville Toll Bridge over the Delaware River at the Pennsylvania border in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County near Lambertville...
and West Oakland Avenue in Oakland, where traffic could exit and continue over Skyline Drive
Skyline Drive (New Jersey)
Skyline Drive is a 5.76-mile long road in Northern New Jersey, between Interstate 287 in Oakland, Bergen County and County Route 511 in Ringwood, Passaic County, passing through Ringwood State Park in the Ramapo Mountains. It is a major route for those in the Ringwood and Wanaque area to get to...
to Ringwood. When first constructed, this portion of Route 208 was a two-lane undivided road. By 1969, the portion between Maple Avenue and Goffle Road was widened to a divided highway with the entire route built into a multi-lane divided highway by the 1980s.
Meanwhile, plans still existed to build Route 208 past Oakland to the New York border. Passaic County called for a divided highway was called for to bypass Skyline Drive, and in 1967 the New Jersey Department of Transportation
New Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey Department of Transportation is the agency responsible for transportation issues and policy in New Jersey. It is headed by the Commissioner of Transportation...
proposed a Route 208 freeway through the Ramapo Mountains
Ramapo Mountains
The Ramapo Mountains are a forested chain of the Appalachian mountains in northeastern New Jersey and southeastern New York in the United States...
that would run from Oakland to the New York border in Greenwood Lake, where it would connect to a proposed NY 208 freeway (called the Orange Expressway) that would continue north to Interstate 84
Interstate 84 (east)
Interstate 84 is an Interstate Highway extending from Dunmore, Pennsylvania at an interchange with Interstate 81 to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, at an interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike . I-84 has mile-log junction numbering in Pennsylvania; otherwise, exit numbers are roughly sequential...
in Maybrook, New York
Maybrook, New York
Maybrook is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 3,084 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
. This freeway, which was to cost $66.3 million, was to improve traffic in the resort areas of the Ramapo Mountains and also connect to the proposed Route 94 freeway leading to Warren County
Warren County, New Jersey
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 108,692. Its county seat is Belvidere...
and the proposed Route 178 freeway leading to Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
. In 1975, this proposed freeway was recommended by the Tri-State Regional Planning Commission to be completed by 2000. However, concerns for the environment of the Ramapo Mountains and Sterling Forest caused the road's extension to be scuttled.
When Interstate 287 was extended from Montville to the New York border in 1993, it took over the alignment of Route 208 between U.S. Route 202 and the current northern terminus of Route 208. In 1997, the last traffic signal along Route 208 at McBride Avenue was removed. In 2002, construction was completed on a $32 million project that improved the interchange with Route 4 in Fair Lawn. This interchange saw improvements of the ramps and bridges, including the Route 208 bridge over Saddle River Road. The Route 208 freeway, like many others in New Jersey, once had solar powered emergency call boxes every 1 miles (1.6 km); however with the advent of cell phones the usage of these call boxes became extremely limited. To save on maintenance costs, the NJDOT removed these call boxes in 2005.
Exit list
{| class=wikitable!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=11|Bergen
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...
|rowspan=10|Borough of Fair Lawn
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Fair Lawn is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and a suburban municipality in the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 32,457. Fair Lawn was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March...
|0.00
|, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance; southern terminus
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|0.07
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|Southbound access to southbound CR 79 and northbound access to northbound CR 79
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|0.25
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|Southbound exit and entrance
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|0.94
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|Northbound exit only
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|1.22
|Plaza Road – Fair Lawn
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Fair Lawn is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and a suburban municipality in the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 32,457. Fair Lawn was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March...
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|1.50
|Berdan Avenue
|Southbound exit and entrance
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|1.83
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|2.44
|McBride Avenue
|Northbound exit and entrance
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|2.88
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|2.97
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|rowspan=1|Borough of Glen Rock
Glen Rock, New Jersey
Glen Rock is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 11,601.-History:...
|3.17
|De Boer Drive
|Northbound exit and entrance
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|rowspan=3|Passaic
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
|rowspan=3|Borough of Hawthorne
Hawthorne, New Jersey
Hawthorne is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 18,218.Hawthorne was originally part of the now-defunct Manchester Township, which was later subdivided to create Hawthorne, Haledon, North Haledon, Prospect Park,...
|3.54
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|Northbound exit and entrance
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|3.76
|Utter Avenue
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|4.40
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|rowspan=10|Bergen
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...
|rowspan=3|Wyckoff Township
Wyckoff, New Jersey
Wyckoff is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,696. As of the 2000 Census, Wyckoff ranked 54th in 100 highest-income places in the United States...
|5.32
|Grandview Avenue – Wyckoff
Wyckoff, New Jersey
Wyckoff is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,696. As of the 2000 Census, Wyckoff ranked 54th in 100 highest-income places in the United States...
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|5.97
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|6.93
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|rowspan=6|Borough of Franklin Lakes
Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
Franklin Lakes is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,590. As of the 2000 Census, Franklin Lakes had the 18th-highest per-capita income of all 566 municipalities in the state. Nationwide, Franklin Lakes ranked 17th among the...
|7.87
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|8.48
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|8.82
|Becton Dickinson
Becton Dickinson
Becton, Dickinson and Company , is an American medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD does business in nearly 50 countries and has 28,803 employees worldwide. In...
headquarters
|Southbound exit, northbound exit and entrance
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|9.14
|Becton Dickinson
Becton Dickinson
Becton, Dickinson and Company , is an American medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD does business in nearly 50 countries and has 28,803 employees worldwide. In...
headquarters
|Northbound and southbound entrance
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|9.45
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|9.62
|, New York Thruway
|Northbound exit
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|Borough of Oakland
Oakland, New Jersey
Oakland is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,754.Oakland was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1902, from portions of Franklin Township.-History:The Van Allen House...
|10.07
|
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance; northern terminus