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Route 44 (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Route 44 is a state highway
located in Gloucester County
in the U.S. state
of New Jersey
. It runs 10.28 mi (16.54 km) from Barker Avenue in Bridgeport
to a cul-de-sac at a ramp from southbound Interstate 295
(I-295) and U.S. Route 130
(US 130) in Thorofare
. The route, which is mostly a two-lane undivided road, passes through the communities of Gibbstown
and Paulsboro
in the northern part of the county, a short distance south of the Delaware River
. Route 44 generally runs a short distance to the north of I-295/US 130 for much of its length.
In 1923, Route 17S was legislated along the current route followed by Route 44 today, running between Penns Grove
and Westville
. The only portion of Route 17S ever built ran from Penns Grove to Salem
. Route 44 was designated in 1927 to replace Route 17S between Penns Grove and Westville. By the 1940s, Route 44 was extended south to Salem and US 130 was designated concurrent
with the route north of Penns Grove. Several spurs of Route 44 had existed or were planned prior to 1953, including Route S44, which ran concurrent with US 322 to the ferry between Bridgeport and Chester, Pennsylvania
; Route S44A, a never-built bypass of Camden
; and Route 44T
, which was to run from a tunnel
under the Delaware River in Paulsboro east to Route 42. In 1953, Route 44 was replaced by US 130 north of Deepwater
and by Route 49 south of there. After two bypasses were built for US 130 around Carneys Point and between Bridgeport and Westville, Route 44 was redesignated along the former US 130. After I-295 was completed in the 1960s, US 130 returned to its original alignment in Carneys Point and replaced that portion of Route 44.
, heading to the east on Crown Point Road, a two-lane undivided road. Shortly after beginning, the route heads through wooded areas a short distance to the north of a Conrail Shared Assets Operations
railroad line and intersects County Route (CR) 671. The road turns northeast and comes to an interchange with US 130
and continues closely parallel to the railroad line as it passes through more rural areas with some homes, coming to a junction with CR 684. Route 44 enters Greenwich Township
upon crossing the marshy Repaupo Creek and becomes a local road called West Broad Street. The route passes over the railroad tracks and continues east into residential and commercial areas of Gibbstown
, intersecting CR 607/CR 673 and CR 680 within the town.
At the intersection with CR 653, Route 44 enters Paulsboro
and passes more developed areas, soon meeting CR 678. The route intersects CR 667 in the center of Paulsboro before crossing the Mantua Creek on a lift bridge
and entering wetlands within West Deptford Township
. Here, the road heads into a mix of rural lands and development, crossing CR 656 and the Little Mantua Creek. Route 44 intersects the Mid-Atlantic Parkway, which provides access to I-295
and US 130 a short distance to the south, before continuing into inhabited areas. Here, the road crosses a Conrail Shared Assets Operations railroad line and CR 643. The route becomes a four-lane road and has access ramps to and from southbound I-295/US 130 prior to coming to a crossroads with CR 640 in Thorofare
. Past CR 640, the route closely parallels I-295/US 130 and crosses Woodbury Creek. Route 44 passes a mobile home park before coming to an end at cul-de-sac that has an access ramp to southbound Route 44 from southbound I-295/US 130.
to Westville
. By 1927, however, the only portion of Route 17S that had existed was a road that ran from Penns Grove south to Salem
. In the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering
that occurred that year, Route 44 was designated to run from Penns Grove to Westville, replacing what had been legislated as Route 17S. By the end of the 1930s, Route 44 was extended south from Penns Grove to Salem and US 130 was also designated along with Route 44 north of Penns Grove by 1941.
Prior to 1953, several spurs of Route 44 existed or were planned. Route S44 was designated in 1939 as a connection from Route 44 in Bridgeport to the ferry across the Delaware River
to Chester, Pennsylvania
, and was concurrent with US 322
. The S44 designation was removed in 1953 to avoid the concurrency with US 322. In 1974, the Commodore Barry Bridge
was built, bypassing the ferry, and the old alignment of US 322 became Route 324. Route S44A was planned in 1938 as an eastern bypass of Camden
from Route 45 in Brooklawn
to Route 40 (now Route 70) and Route 41 in Delaware Township (now Cherry Hill
), mostly along what is now CR 551
. The bypass was never built, although part of what would have been the bypass north of Haddonfield
is now Route 41. Route 44T
was planned in 1938 as an approach to a never-built tunnel
under the Delaware River near Paulsboro. Originally, the route was to run from the tunnel east to the intersection of Route 41 and Route 47 in Deptford Township
. In 1939, the planned route was extended east to Route 42 between Blackwood
and Williamstown
.
In the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering
, Route 44 was replaced by US 130 north of the Delaware Memorial Bridge
approach in Deepwater
and by Route 49 south of there. However, US 130 was moved to new freeway alignments around Carneys Point and between Bridgeport and Westville. The bypassed alignments of US 130, originally unnumbered, eventually became Route 44. After I-295 was built in the 1960s, it bypassed the portion of the US 130 freeway in Bridgeport and was designated along the US 130 freeway north to Westville and around Carneys Point. US 130 was moved back onto its old alignment in Carneys Point, replacing that portion of Route 44.
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 Gloucester County
Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 288,288. Its county seat is Woodbury....
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...
. It runs 10.28 mi (16.54 km) from Barker Avenue in Bridgeport
Bridgeport, New Jersey
Bridgeport is an unincorporated area within Logan Township, located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08014....
to a cul-de-sac at a ramp from southbound Interstate 295
Interstate 295 (Delaware-New Jersey)
Interstate 295 in New Jersey and Delaware is an auxiliary Interstate Highway, designated as a bypass around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The route begins at a junction with Interstate 95 south of Wilmington, Delaware, and runs to another junction with I-95 north of Trenton, New Jersey...
(I-295) and U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130 is a north–south U.S. Highway completely within the state of New Jersey. It runs from Interstate 295 and US 40 at Deepwater in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where the road continues east as Route 49, north to US 1 in North Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, where...
(US 130) in Thorofare
Thorofare, New Jersey
Thorofare is an unincorporated area within West Deptford Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08086....
. The route, which is mostly a two-lane undivided road, passes through the communities of Gibbstown
Gibbstown, New Jersey
Gibbstown is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Greenwich Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 3,758.-Geography:Gibbstown is located at ....
and Paulsboro
Paulsboro, New Jersey
Paulsboro is a Borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 6,097....
in the northern part of the county, a short distance south of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
. Route 44 generally runs a short distance to the north of I-295/US 130 for much of its length.
In 1923, Route 17S was legislated along the current route followed by Route 44 today, running between Penns Grove
Penns Grove, New Jersey
Penns Grove is a Borough in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 4,886.Penns Grove was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 8, 1894, from portions of Upper Penns Neck Township Penns Grove is a...
and Westville
Westville, New Jersey
Westville is a Borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 4,501. The Borough of Westville is known as "The Gateway to South Jersey."...
. The only portion of Route 17S ever built ran from Penns Grove to Salem
Salem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
. Route 44 was designated in 1927 to replace Route 17S between Penns Grove and Westville. By the 1940s, Route 44 was extended south to Salem and US 130 was designated 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 the route north of Penns Grove. Several spurs of Route 44 had existed or were planned prior to 1953, including Route S44, which ran concurrent with US 322 to the ferry between Bridgeport and Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
; Route S44A, a never-built bypass of 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 Route 44T
New Jersey Route 44T
Route 44T, also known as the Gloucester County Tunnel, was a proposed state highway and vehicular tunnel during the 1930s from Gloucester County, New Jersey to Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania...
, which was to run from a tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
under the Delaware River in Paulsboro east to Route 42. In 1953, Route 44 was replaced by US 130 north of Deepwater
Deepwater, New Jersey
Deepwater is a community in Pennsville, in Salem County, New Jersey, lying at the east end of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Deepwater is the location of the United States Postal Service area covering ZIP code 08023...
and by Route 49 south of there. After two bypasses were built for US 130 around Carneys Point and between Bridgeport and Westville, Route 44 was redesignated along the former US 130. After I-295 was completed in the 1960s, US 130 returned to its original alignment in Carneys Point and replaced that portion of Route 44.
Route description
Route 44 begins at an intersection with Barker Avenue in Logan TownshipLogan Township, New Jersey
Logan Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 6,032....
, heading to the east on Crown Point Road, a two-lane undivided road. Shortly after beginning, the route heads through wooded areas a short distance to the north of a Conrail Shared Assets Operations
Conrail Shared Assets Operations
Conrail Shared Assets Operations is an American railroad company. It operates three networks—the North Jersey, South Jersey/Philadelphia, and Detroit Shared Assets Areas, where it serves as a local carrier and switching company for CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway...
railroad line and intersects County Route (CR) 671. The road turns northeast and comes to an interchange with US 130
U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130 is a north–south U.S. Highway completely within the state of New Jersey. It runs from Interstate 295 and US 40 at Deepwater in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where the road continues east as Route 49, north to US 1 in North Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, where...
and continues closely parallel to the railroad line as it passes through more rural areas with some homes, coming to a junction with CR 684. Route 44 enters Greenwich Township
Greenwich Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
Greenwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 4,879....
upon crossing the marshy Repaupo Creek and becomes a local road called West Broad Street. The route passes over the railroad tracks and continues east into residential and commercial areas of Gibbstown
Gibbstown, New Jersey
Gibbstown is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Greenwich Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 3,758.-Geography:Gibbstown is located at ....
, intersecting CR 607/CR 673 and CR 680 within the town.
At the intersection with CR 653, Route 44 enters Paulsboro
Paulsboro, New Jersey
Paulsboro is a Borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 6,097....
and passes more developed areas, soon meeting CR 678. The route intersects CR 667 in the center of Paulsboro before crossing the Mantua Creek on a lift bridge
Lift bridge
A vertical-lift bridge or lift bridge is a type of movable bridge in which a span rises vertically while remaining parallel with the deck....
and entering wetlands within West Deptford Township
West Deptford Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,368 people, 7,719 households, and 5,125 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,218.4 people per square mile . There were 7,999 housing units at an average density of 503.2 per square mile...
. Here, the road heads into a mix of rural lands and development, crossing CR 656 and the Little Mantua Creek. Route 44 intersects the Mid-Atlantic Parkway, which provides access to I-295
Interstate 295 (Delaware-New Jersey)
Interstate 295 in New Jersey and Delaware is an auxiliary Interstate Highway, designated as a bypass around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The route begins at a junction with Interstate 95 south of Wilmington, Delaware, and runs to another junction with I-95 north of Trenton, New Jersey...
and US 130 a short distance to the south, before continuing into inhabited areas. Here, the road crosses a Conrail Shared Assets Operations railroad line and CR 643. The route becomes a four-lane road and has access ramps to and from southbound I-295/US 130 prior to coming to a crossroads with CR 640 in Thorofare
Thorofare, New Jersey
Thorofare is an unincorporated area within West Deptford Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08086....
. Past CR 640, the route closely parallels I-295/US 130 and crosses Woodbury Creek. Route 44 passes a mobile home park before coming to an end at cul-de-sac that has an access ramp to southbound Route 44 from southbound I-295/US 130.
History
What is now Route 44 was originally legislated as Route 17S in 1923, a route that was to run from Penns GrovePenns Grove, New Jersey
Penns Grove is a Borough in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 4,886.Penns Grove was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 8, 1894, from portions of Upper Penns Neck Township Penns Grove is a...
to Westville
Westville, New Jersey
Westville is a Borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 4,501. The Borough of Westville is known as "The Gateway to South Jersey."...
. By 1927, however, the only portion of Route 17S that had existed was a road that ran from Penns Grove south to Salem
Salem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
. 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...
that occurred that year, Route 44 was designated to run from Penns Grove to Westville, replacing what had been legislated as Route 17S. By the end of the 1930s, Route 44 was extended south from Penns Grove to Salem and US 130 was also designated along with Route 44 north of Penns Grove by 1941.
Prior to 1953, several spurs of Route 44 existed or were planned. Route S44 was designated in 1939 as a connection from Route 44 in Bridgeport to the ferry across the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
to Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
, and was concurrent with US 322
U.S. Route 322 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 322 is a U.S. highway running from Cleveland, Ohio east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The easternmost segment of the route in New Jersey runs from the Commodore Barry Bridge over the Delaware River in Logan Township, Glocuester County, where it continues into Chester, Pennsylvania,...
. The S44 designation was removed in 1953 to avoid the concurrency with US 322. In 1974, the Commodore Barry Bridge
Commodore Barry Bridge
The Commodore Barry Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Delaware River from Chester, Pennsylvania to Bridgeport, in Logan Township, New Jersey, USA...
was built, bypassing the ferry, and the old alignment of US 322 became Route 324. Route S44A was planned in 1938 as an eastern bypass of 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...
from Route 45 in Brooklawn
Brooklawn, New Jersey
Brooklawn is a Borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,955.Brooklawn was incorporated as a borough on March 11, 1924, from portions of the now-defunct Centre Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April...
to Route 40 (now Route 70) and Route 41 in Delaware Township (now Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
), mostly along what is now CR 551
County Route 551 (New Jersey)
County Route 551, abbreviated CR 551, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Pennsville-Salem Road in Pennsville Township to Penn Street in Camden.-Salem County:...
. The bypass was never built, although part of what would have been the bypass north of Haddonfield
Haddonfield, New Jersey
Haddonfield is a borough located in Camden County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough had a total population of 11,593....
is now Route 41. Route 44T
New Jersey Route 44T
Route 44T, also known as the Gloucester County Tunnel, was a proposed state highway and vehicular tunnel during the 1930s from Gloucester County, New Jersey to Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania...
was planned in 1938 as an approach to a never-built tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
under the Delaware River near Paulsboro. Originally, the route was to run from the tunnel east to the intersection of Route 41 and Route 47 in Deptford Township
Deptford Township, New Jersey
Deptford Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 30,561....
. In 1939, the planned route was extended east to Route 42 between Blackwood
Blackwood, New Jersey
Blackwood is a census-designated place located within Gloucester Township, in Camden County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 United States Census, the section population was 4,692...
and Williamstown
Williamstown, New Jersey
Williamstown, home of brandon ciarlante, is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Monroe Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey...
.
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 44 was replaced by US 130 north of the Delaware Memorial Bridge
Delaware Memorial Bridge
The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a set of twin suspension bridges crossing the Delaware River. The toll bridges carry Interstate 295 and U.S. Route 40 between Delaware and New Jersey...
approach in Deepwater
Deepwater, New Jersey
Deepwater is a community in Pennsville, in Salem County, New Jersey, lying at the east end of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Deepwater is the location of the United States Postal Service area covering ZIP code 08023...
and by Route 49 south of there. However, US 130 was moved to new freeway alignments around Carneys Point and between Bridgeport and Westville. The bypassed alignments of US 130, originally unnumbered, eventually became Route 44. After I-295 was built in the 1960s, it bypassed the portion of the US 130 freeway in Bridgeport and was designated along the US 130 freeway north to Westville and around Carneys Point. US 130 was moved back onto its old alignment in Carneys Point, replacing that portion of Route 44.