.gif)
Route 37 (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Route 37 is a state highway
located in Ocean County
, New Jersey
, United States
. The route runs 13.43 mi (21.61 km) from Lakehurst
at an intersection with Route 70 to an interchange with Route 35 in Seaside Heights
. A four– to six–lane divided highway
its entire length, Route 37 serves as the major east–west route through the Toms River
area as well as a main route to the Barnegat Peninsula
, crossing the Barnegat Bay
on the Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney Bridges
. The route through Toms River Township is lined with many businesses and named Little League World Champions Boulevard in honor of Toms River East Little League's victory in the 1998 Little League World Series
. Route 37 intersects many major roads in the Toms River area, including County Route 527
, the Garden State Parkway
/U.S. Route 9, Route 166
, County Route 549
, and County Route 571
. The route experiences congestion from both development in the area and from traffic bound for the barrier islands in the summer.
Route 37 was first legislated in 1927 in two sections: one running from Trenton
to White Horse
along the current U.S. Route 206
alignment that replaced part of Pre-1927 Route 2 and the other running from Lakehurst to Point Pleasant
that replaced part of Pre-1927 Route 18 between Lakehurst and Toms River. In 1953, Route 37 was legislated along its current alignment, with the designation dropped on the Trenton–White Horse segment to avoid the concurrency with U.S. Route 206 and the Seaside Heights–Point Pleasant section becoming a realignment of Route 35. Route 37 was then proposed in the 1960s as a freeway running from White Horse to Seaside Heights. This freeway proposal was eventually altered to create Interstate 195
, running from Trenton to Wall Township
.
, heading east on a four–lane divided highway
. Soon after beginning, the route crosses into Manchester Township
. It intersects Commonwealth Boulevard, which provides access to the Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park
community, before crossing into Toms River Township
. Route 37 continues east with many intersections that feature jughandle
s and at the intersection with Industrial Way, the road widens to six lanes. Route 37 passes to the north of Holiday City - Silver Ridge Park
, an age-restricted community which contributes to the large population of senior residents in the area. The route meets County Route 642 (Mule Road) and County Route 527
(Oak Ridge Parkway/Lakehurst Road). After the intersection with County Route 527, the route crosses over the North Branch of the Toms River
.
Route 37 features a cloverleaf interchange
with the Garden State Parkway
/U.S. Route 9. Past the Garden State Parkway, the route crosses the former alignment of U.S. Route 9, Route 166
. Past this intersection, Route 37 becomes a road lined with several businesses. The route intersects County Route 549
(Hooper Avenue) and County Route 38 (Clifton Avenue). County Route 627 (Vaughn Avenue/West End Avenue) intersects next and Route 37 runs along the border of Toms River and Island Heights
, with Toms River to the north and Island Heights to the south. Route 37 meets the southern terminus of County Route 627 (Central Avenue) and fully enters Toms River Township again at the Gilford Avenue intersection. Further east, the route intersects County Route 549 Spur/County Route 571
(Fischer Boulevard).
Route 37 crosses the Barnegat Bay
on the Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney Bridges
with the eastbound bridge featuring a drawbridge
that allows ships to pass through while the westbound bridge is a higher-level span. The route continues onto Pelican Island
in the Barnegat Bay, crossing into a small piece of Berkeley Township
. Route 37 crosses over a part of the Barnegat Bay and enters Seaside Heights
on the Barnegat Peninsula
, where the route comes to its eastern terminus at an interchange with Route 35.
Due to the area's vacationers, many of which come from New York
and Northern New Jersey
, Route 37 is routinely congested with seasonal traffic in the summer, especially on and around the Mathis and Tunney Bridges and at the Garden State Parkway interchange as heavy tourist traffic converges on the shore. Additionally, the road sees congestion due to the area's rapid growth in commercial development.
and present-day County Route 527
in Toms River
was a part of Pre-1927 Route 18, which was legislated in 1923 to run from Camden
to Toms River. In the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering
, Route 37 was legislated to run from Route 27 and Route 30 (now U.S. Route 1 Business
, U.S. Route 206
, and Route 31) in Trenton
to Route 35 (now Route 88) in Point Pleasant
, passing through White Horse
, Allentown
, Lakehurst, Toms River, and Seaside Heights
. The portion between Trenton and White Horse replaced part of Pre-1927 Route 2, while the portion between Lakehurst and Toms River replaced part of Pre-1927 Route 18.
Following the 1927 renumbering, Route 37 existed in two separate sections, one running from downtown Trenton to the White Horse Circle, concurrent
with U.S. Route 206
, and one running from Route 40 (now Route 70) in Lakehurst to Point Pleasant. The remainder of the route between White Horse and Lakehurst remained incomplete. There are, as of mid-2008, a few old concrete bridges dating from the 1930s and 1940s between the White Horse Circle and Allentown, which list sections of what is now County Route 524
as having been Route 37 at that time, as well as one or two along County Route 539
south of Allentown. In addition, some maps labeled these routes as being part of Route 37. In the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering
, Route 37 was legislated to run along its current alignment from Route 70 in Lakehurst to Route 35 in Seaside Heights. The number was dropped between Trenton and White Horse in favor of U.S. Route 206, while the section between Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant became a realignment of Route 35.
Route 37 was proposed in the late 1960s as a freeway that was to run from Route 29 in the Trenton
area to Seaside Heights
. It was suggested that this freeway be completed by 1975 in order to handle a rapid growth of population in Central New Jersey. In 1968, this proposal was altered to build a road that compromised with the proposed Route 38 freeway between Camden
and Wall Township
. It soon received federal funding and was built as Interstate 195
, running from Trenton to Wall Township.
The portion of Route 37 within Toms River Township
was officially named Little League World Champions Boulevard in 1998 following Toms River East Little League's victory in the 1998 Little League World Series
.
.
{| class=wikitable
|-
!Location
!Mile
!Road(s)
!Notes
|-
|Lakehurst
|0.00
|
|Lakehurst Circle
|-
|rowspan=6|Toms River Township
|5.12
|
|
|-
|6.33
|, New York City
|cloverleaf interchange
|-
|6.65
|
|
|-
|7.35
|
|
|-
|10.89
|
|
|-
|11.92
|colspan=5 align="center"|Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney Bridges
over Barnegat Bay
|-
|Seaside Heights
|13.43
|
|Interchange
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
located in Ocean County
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The route runs 13.43 mi (21.61 km) from Lakehurst
Lakehurst, New Jersey
Lakehurst is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 2,654.Lakehurst was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1921, from portions of Manchester Township, based on the results of a...
at an intersection with Route 70 to an interchange with Route 35 in Seaside Heights
Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Seaside Heights is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,887. Seaside Heights is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean...
. A 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:...
its entire length, Route 37 serves as the major east–west route through the 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...
area as well as a main route to the Barnegat Peninsula
Barnegat Peninsula
The Barnegat Peninsula, also known as the Island Beach Peninsula and colloquially as "the barrier island", is a 20-mile long, narrow barrier peninsula located in Ocean County, New Jersey, that divides the Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a vacation destination and summer colony area and...
, crossing the Barnegat Bay
Barnegat Bay
Barnegat Bay is a small brackish arm of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles long, along the coast of Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States. It is a long barrier peninsula, as well as by the north end of Long Beach Island...
on the Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney Bridges
Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney Bridges
The Thomas A. Mathis Bridge and J. Stanley Tunney Bridge are a pair of bridges that span Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, New Jersey, connecting Route 37 in Toms River with Pelican Island and communities along the Jersey Shore on the Barnegat Peninsula...
. The route through Toms River Township is lined with many businesses and named Little League World Champions Boulevard in honor of Toms River East Little League's victory in the 1998 Little League World Series
1998 Little League World Series
The 1998 Little League World Series took place from August 23 to August 29 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA. Toms River, New Jersey, USA defeated Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan in the championship game of the 52nd Little League World Series.-Qualification:...
. Route 37 intersects many major roads in the Toms River area, including 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...
, 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...
/U.S. Route 9, Route 166
New Jersey Route 166
Route 166 is a short, 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...
, County Route 549
County Route 549 (New Jersey)
County Route 549 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street at County Route 527 in Toms River Township to County Route 547 at Monmouth CR 21 in Howell Township...
, and County Route 571
County Route 571 (New Jersey)
County Route 571, abbreviated CR 571, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Route 37 in Toms River Township to Route 27 in the Borough of Princeton.-Ocean County:...
. The route experiences congestion from both development in the area and from traffic bound for the barrier islands in the summer.
Route 37 was first legislated in 1927 in two sections: one running from Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
to White Horse
White Horse, New Jersey
White Horse is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Hamilton Township, in Mercer County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 9,373.-Geography:White Horse is located at ....
along the current U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206 is a long north–south United States highway in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, United States. Only about a half a mile of its length is in Pennsylvania; the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge carries it over the Delaware River into New Jersey, where it is the remainder of the route...
alignment that replaced part of Pre-1927 Route 2 and the other running from Lakehurst to Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Point Pleasant is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,392...
that replaced part of Pre-1927 Route 18 between Lakehurst and Toms River. In 1953, Route 37 was legislated along its current alignment, with the designation dropped on the Trenton–White Horse segment to avoid the concurrency with U.S. Route 206 and the Seaside Heights–Point Pleasant section becoming a realignment of Route 35. Route 37 was then proposed in the 1960s as a freeway running from White Horse to Seaside Heights. This freeway proposal was eventually altered to create Interstate 195
Interstate 195 (New Jersey)
Interstate 195 is an auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its western end is at I-295 and Route 29 just south of Trenton, New Jersey in Hamilton Township, Mercer County while its eastern end is at the Garden State Parkway, Route 34 and Route...
, running from Trenton to Wall Township
Wall Township, New Jersey
Wall Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 26,164.Wall Township was formally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1851...
.
Route description
Route 37 begins at the Lakehurst Circle intersection with Route 70 in LakehurstLakehurst, New Jersey
Lakehurst is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 2,654.Lakehurst was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1921, from portions of Manchester Township, based on the results of a...
, heading east on a four–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:...
. Soon after beginning, the route crosses into Manchester Township
Manchester Township, New Jersey
Manchester Township is a Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. The township is noted for containing the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, the site of the infamous Hindenburg disaster of May 6, 1937...
. It intersects Commonwealth Boulevard, which provides access to the Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park
Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park, New Jersey
Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Manchester Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey...
community, before crossing into Toms River Township
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...
. Route 37 continues east with many intersections that feature jughandle
Jughandle
A jughandle is a type of ramp or slip road that changes the way traffic turns left at at-grade intersections. Instead of a standard left turn being made from the left lane, left-turning traffic uses a ramp on the right side of the road...
s and at the intersection with Industrial Way, the road widens to six lanes. Route 37 passes to the north of Holiday City - Silver Ridge Park
Holiday City - Silver Ridge Park
Holiday City - Silver Ridge is an unincorporated Master-planned community located within Berkeley Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, near Toms River. The entire community has a total population of 21,631 in five separate census-designated places according to the United States...
, an age-restricted community which contributes to the large population of senior residents in the area. The route meets County Route 642 (Mule Road) and 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...
(Oak Ridge Parkway/Lakehurst Road). After the intersection with County Route 527, the route crosses over the North Branch of the Toms River
Toms River
The Toms River, formerly Tom's River, is a freshwater river and estuary in Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States.The Toms River rises in the Pine Barrens of northern Ocean County and flows southeast and east, fed by several branches, in a meandering course through wetland area and empties...
.
Route 37 features a cloverleaf interchange
Cloverleaf interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads...
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...
/U.S. Route 9. Past the Garden State Parkway, the route crosses the former alignment of U.S. Route 9, Route 166
New Jersey Route 166
Route 166 is a short, 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...
. Past this intersection, Route 37 becomes a road lined with several businesses. The route intersects County Route 549
County Route 549 (New Jersey)
County Route 549 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street at County Route 527 in Toms River Township to County Route 547 at Monmouth CR 21 in Howell Township...
(Hooper Avenue) and County Route 38 (Clifton Avenue). County Route 627 (Vaughn Avenue/West End Avenue) intersects next and Route 37 runs along the border of Toms River and Island Heights
Island Heights, New Jersey
Island Heights is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,673....
, with Toms River to the north and Island Heights to the south. Route 37 meets the southern terminus of County Route 627 (Central Avenue) and fully enters Toms River Township again at the Gilford Avenue intersection. Further east, the route intersects County Route 549 Spur/County Route 571
County Route 571 (New Jersey)
County Route 571, abbreviated CR 571, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Route 37 in Toms River Township to Route 27 in the Borough of Princeton.-Ocean County:...
(Fischer Boulevard).
Route 37 crosses the Barnegat Bay
Barnegat Bay
Barnegat Bay is a small brackish arm of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles long, along the coast of Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States. It is a long barrier peninsula, as well as by the north end of Long Beach Island...
on the Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney Bridges
Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney Bridges
The Thomas A. Mathis Bridge and J. Stanley Tunney Bridge are a pair of bridges that span Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, New Jersey, connecting Route 37 in Toms River with Pelican Island and communities along the Jersey Shore on the Barnegat Peninsula...
with the eastbound bridge featuring 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:...
that allows ships to pass through while the westbound bridge is a higher-level span. The route continues onto Pelican Island
Pelican Island (New Jersey)
Pelican Island is an island in the Barnegat Bay wholly located in Ocean County, New Jersey. It is accessible from Toms River and Seaside Heights via the Tunney and Mathis Bridges on New Jersey Route 37. It is part of Toms River and Berkeley Township. The island was featured in the opening credits...
in the Barnegat Bay, crossing into a small piece of Berkeley Township
Berkeley Township, New Jersey
Berkeley Township is a Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population had increased to a record high of 41,255....
. Route 37 crosses over a part of the Barnegat Bay and enters Seaside Heights
Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Seaside Heights is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,887. Seaside Heights is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean...
on the Barnegat Peninsula
Barnegat Peninsula
The Barnegat Peninsula, also known as the Island Beach Peninsula and colloquially as "the barrier island", is a 20-mile long, narrow barrier peninsula located in Ocean County, New Jersey, that divides the Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a vacation destination and summer colony area and...
, where the route comes to its eastern terminus at an interchange with Route 35.
Due to the area's vacationers, many of which come from 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...
and Northern New Jersey
North Jersey
North Jersey is a colloquial term, with no precise consensus definition, for the northern portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. A straightforward, noncolloquial term for the region is northern New Jersey.- Two-portion approaches :...
, Route 37 is routinely congested with seasonal traffic in the summer, especially on and around the Mathis and Tunney Bridges and at the Garden State Parkway interchange as heavy tourist traffic converges on the shore. Additionally, the road sees congestion due to the area's rapid growth in commercial development.
History
Prior to 1927, the route between present-day Route 70 in LakehurstLakehurst, New Jersey
Lakehurst is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 2,654.Lakehurst was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1921, from portions of Manchester Township, based on the results of a...
and present-day 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...
in 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...
was a part of Pre-1927 Route 18, which was legislated in 1923 to run from Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
to Toms River. 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...
, Route 37 was legislated to run from Route 27 and Route 30 (now U.S. Route 1 Business
U.S. Route 1 Business (Trenton, New Jersey)
U.S. Route 1 Business is a four-lane surface road that provides an alternate to the Trenton Freeway northeast of Trenton in Mercer County, New Jersey. The route is long and runs between US 1 in Trenton and Lawrence Township. On the border of Trenton and Lawrence Township, US 1 Business...
, U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206 is a long north–south United States highway in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, United States. Only about a half a mile of its length is in Pennsylvania; the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge carries it over the Delaware River into New Jersey, where it is the remainder of the route...
, and Route 31) in Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
to Route 35 (now Route 88) in Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Point Pleasant is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,392...
, passing through White Horse
White Horse, New Jersey
White Horse is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Hamilton Township, in Mercer County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 9,373.-Geography:White Horse is located at ....
, Allentown
Allentown, New Jersey
Allentown is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,828.Allentown was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 29, 1889, from portions of Upper Freehold Township, based on the...
, Lakehurst, Toms River, and Seaside Heights
Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Seaside Heights is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,887. Seaside Heights is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean...
. The portion between Trenton and White Horse replaced part of Pre-1927 Route 2, while the portion between Lakehurst and Toms River replaced part of Pre-1927 Route 18.
Following the 1927 renumbering, Route 37 existed in two separate sections, one running from downtown Trenton to the White Horse Circle, concurrent
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...
with U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206 is a long north–south United States highway in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, United States. Only about a half a mile of its length is in Pennsylvania; the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge carries it over the Delaware River into New Jersey, where it is the remainder of the route...
, and one running from Route 40 (now Route 70) in Lakehurst to Point Pleasant. The remainder of the route between White Horse and Lakehurst remained incomplete. There are, as of mid-2008, a few old concrete bridges dating from the 1930s and 1940s between the White Horse Circle and Allentown, which list sections of what is now County Route 524
County Route 524 (New Jersey)
County Route 524 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from the Whitehorse Circle in Hamilton Township to Route 71 in Spring Lake Heights....
as having been Route 37 at that time, as well as one or two along County Route 539
County Route 539 (New Jersey)
County Route 539, abbreviated CR 539, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street in Tuckerton to U.S. Route 130 in Cranbury Township. However, signage on CR 539 suggests that it crosses U.S...
south of Allentown. In addition, some maps labeled these routes as being part of Route 37. In the 1953 New Jersey 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:...
, Route 37 was legislated to run along its current alignment from Route 70 in Lakehurst to Route 35 in Seaside Heights. The number was dropped between Trenton and White Horse in favor of U.S. Route 206, while the section between Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant became a realignment of Route 35.
Route 37 was proposed in the late 1960s as a freeway that was to run from Route 29 in the Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
area to Seaside Heights
Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Seaside Heights is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,887. Seaside Heights is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean...
. It was suggested that this freeway be completed by 1975 in order to handle a rapid growth of population in Central New Jersey. In 1968, this proposal was altered to build a road that compromised with the proposed Route 38 freeway between Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
and Wall Township
Wall Township, New Jersey
Wall Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 26,164.Wall Township was formally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1851...
. It soon received federal funding and was built as Interstate 195
Interstate 195 (New Jersey)
Interstate 195 is an auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its western end is at I-295 and Route 29 just south of Trenton, New Jersey in Hamilton Township, Mercer County while its eastern end is at the Garden State Parkway, Route 34 and Route...
, running from Trenton to Wall Township.
The portion of Route 37 within Toms River Township
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...
was officially named Little League World Champions Boulevard in 1998 following Toms River East Little League's victory in the 1998 Little League World Series
1998 Little League World Series
The 1998 Little League World Series took place from August 23 to August 29 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA. Toms River, New Jersey, USA defeated Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan in the championship game of the 52nd Little League World Series.-Qualification:...
.
Major intersections
The entire route is in Ocean CountyOcean 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...
.
{| class=wikitable
|-
!Location
!Mile
!Road(s)
!Notes
|-
|Lakehurst
Lakehurst, New Jersey
Lakehurst is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 2,654.Lakehurst was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1921, from portions of Manchester Township, based on the results of a...
|0.00
|
|Lakehurst Circle
|-
|rowspan=6|Toms River Township
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...
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|6.33
|, 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...
|cloverleaf interchange
Cloverleaf interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads...
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|6.65
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|7.35
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|10.89
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|11.92
|colspan=5 align="center"|Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney Bridges
Thomas A. Mathis and J. Stanley Tunney Bridges
The Thomas A. Mathis Bridge and J. Stanley Tunney Bridge are a pair of bridges that span Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, New Jersey, connecting Route 37 in Toms River with Pelican Island and communities along the Jersey Shore on the Barnegat Peninsula...
over Barnegat Bay
Barnegat Bay
Barnegat Bay is a small brackish arm of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles long, along the coast of Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States. It is a long barrier peninsula, as well as by the north end of Long Beach Island...
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|Seaside Heights
Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Seaside Heights is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,887. Seaside Heights is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean...
|13.43
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|Interchange