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Route 94 (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Route 94 is a state highway
in the northwestern part of the New Jersey
, United States
. It runs 45.94 mi (73.93 km) from the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge over the Delaware River
in Knowlton Township
, Warren County
, where it connects to Pennsylvania Route 611
(PA 611), northeast to the New York
state line in Vernon Township
, Sussex County
. At the New York border, New York State Route 94
(NY 94) continues to Newburgh, New York. Route 94 is mostly a two-lane undivided road that runs through mountain and valley areas of Warren and Sussex counties, serving Columbia
, Blairstown, Newton
, and Hamburg
. The route intersects several roads, including U.S. Route 46
(US 46) and Interstate 80
(I-80) in Knowlton Township, US 206
in Newton, Route 15 in Lafayette Township
, and Route 23 in Hamburg.
What is now Route 94 was legislated as part of two separate routes in 1927. The portion of road between Route 6/US 46 near the Delaware Bridge
to Newton became Route 8, while the route north of Newton to the New York border became a part of Route 31. Prior to 1953, the only portion of Route 31 north of Newton that was a state highway was between North Church and Hamburg. In 1953, Route 94 was designated to replace all of Route 8 as well as Route 31 north of Newton; the number was chosen to match NY 94. After the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge and the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge
were both completed in December 1953, the southern terminus of Route 94 was cut back to an intersection with US 611 in Columbia, which had be rerouted into New Jersey across both bridges, following a freeway between Columbia and the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge that would later become a part of I-80. The former alignment of Route 94 between the Delaware Bridge and the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge became a part of US 46. By 1969, US 611 was routed out of New Jersey, and Route 94 was extended to the state line on the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge. Through the 1960s and 1970s, a freeway was proposed for the Route 94 corridor. This freeway, proposed to be a part of the Interstate Highway System
, was never built.
Route 94 begins at the two-lane undivided Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge over the Delaware River
in Knowlton Township
, where it connects to PA 611
on the Pennsylvania
side of the river. This bridge is maintained by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
; the rest of Route 94 is maintained by the New Jersey Department of Transportation
(NJDOT). Immediately after the bridge, the route comes to a large interchange with the western terminus of US 46
as well as with I-80
a short distance later, near the community of Columbia
. In the area of the US 46/I-80 interchange, the directions of Route 94 split, carrying two lanes in each direction. From here, the route becomes a two-lane undivided road that continues northeast through a mix of woods and farms with some development, passing under the abandoned Lackawanna Cut-Off. After passing through the community of Hainesburg, the road turns more to the east and enters Blairstown Township
. Route 94 turns northeast before reaching the community of Blairstown, where the road continues east past some development before intersecting CR 521
. It forms a short wrong-way concurrency with that route, along which it crosses the Paulins Kill
. A short distance later, Route 94 enters Frelinghuysen Township
, passing through more rural surroundings. The road turns northeast through the community of Marksboro before heading east again. After the intersection with CR 661, Route 94 makes a sharp turn to the north-northeast.
at Fredon Township
, heading through mostly hilly farmland with areas of woods and homes. The road turns more to the northeast as a two-lane road before heading east again and entering Newton
. Here, Route 94 becomes High Street and passes several homes, intersecting CR 519
. CR 519 forms a concurrency
with Route 94 and the two routes continue to downtown Newton. In the downtown area, the road comes to the Park Place square, where it meets US 206
. At this point, all three routes run concurrent north on four-lane undivided Water Street for a short distance. CR 519 splits from the road by turning north on Mill Street, while US 206 and Route 94 continue north as a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane, where a shopping district lines the road as it leaves Newton for Hampton Township
. The road narrows back to two lanes as it heads into areas of farmland. Route 94 splits from US 206 by making a right turn to continue east.
The road passes a mobile home park before making a turn northeast and heading into Lafayette Township
. In Lafayette Township, the route resumes to the east through a mix of rural and industrial areas. The road continues to a junction with Route 15, where Route 94 makes a right turn to head southeast along Route 15 in a wrong way concurrency. Upon splitting, Route 15 stays straight and heads southeast as Route 94 turns at a right hand reverse jughandle
to head northeast. Route 94 continues through more rural areas with occasional development and enters Sparta Township
, where it is known as North Church Road. Here, the road passes near some residential developments before continuing into Hardyston Township
. In Hardyston Township, the route runs through the community of North Church. After making a sharp turn to the east, Route 94 enters Hamburg
and becomes Vernon Avenue. The route passes a few homes before intersecting Route 23 in the center of town. From this intersection, the route makes a turn to the northeast before leaving the town and heading back into Hardyston Township. The road passes rural developed areas before entering Vernon Township
.
At this point, the surroundings become more wooded and mountainous as the road passes near residential areas and reaches the community of McAfee
. In McAfee, CR 517
intersects with Route 94 and the two routes head east for a short wrong way concurrency, crossing the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
before CR 517 turns to the south. Route 94 continues northeast as McAfee Vernon Road, briefly becoming a divided highway
as it passes the entrance to the Mountain Creek
ski resort. Continuing northeast, the route comes to an intersection with CR 515
, which it runs concurrent with on Vernon Warwick Road. The two routes continue north, with CR 515 splitting from Route 94 at the crossing the Appalachian Trail
. From here, Route 94 continues through more countryside before reaching the New York
state line, where the road continues into that state as NY 94
.
north to Columbia
before turning northeast to Route 31 (now U.S. Route 206
) in Newton. Past Newton, Route 31 continued northeast to the New York state line (current US 206 north of here was Route S31). In the original version of the renumbering bill, Route 31 was to reach the border via Sussex
, incorporating pre-1927 Route 8 (now Route 284) from Sussex to the state line. However, in the final version, Route 31 ran via Hamburg
, using the same alignment as a planned spur of pre-1927 Route 8 from Lafayette
to North Church. Route 8 was eventually taken over by the state. On the other hand, by 1949, only one section of Route 31 north of the Route S31 split had been taken between North Church to Hamburg.
In the 1953 renumbering
, Route 8 was renumbered to Route 94, which was extended northeast past Newton along former Route 31 to the New York state line, matching NY 94 across the border. It was initially only marked south of Hamburg, as none of the route north of Hamburg was state-maintained. Originally, Route 94 began at the now razed Delaware Bridge, where US 46 would cross into Pennsylvania. Route 94 would wind right and north-east a few to Columbia, where it joined its current route. In December 1953, both the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge and Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge
opened. That year a section of Old Mine Road
was rebuilt and aligned as a four lane freeway between Columbia and the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge. At this time, US 46 was rerouted over the first several miles of Route 94 between the Delaware Bridge and Columbia, and Route 94 was cut back to Columbia, near the Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge. Here, US 46 would end and US 611, would cross the Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge
from Pennsylvania and follow the freeway north to the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge. The freeway portion that US 611 followed became a part of I-80 in 1959. When US 611 was removed from New Jersey by 1969, Route 94 was extended to the state line on the Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge. Also by this time, the unsigned portions of Route 94 north of Newton were signed. In 1973, this whole area was realigned into a complex interchange as the New Jersey portion of Interstate 80 was completed.
In 1964, a Route 94 freeway was proposed to run from I-80 in Netcong
north to the planned Route 23 freeway in Hamburg, following US 206 north to Newton and current Route 94 to Hamburg. In the late 1960s, the NJDOT planned for the Route 94 freeway to run from I-80/US 46 in Columbia northeast to the New York border near Wawayanda State Park
. The NJDOT hoped to get funding for the freeway in 1970 for it to become an Interstate highway as it was planned to serve the proposed Tocks Island
recreation area. This proposed Interstate, which was to run from I-80 in Hope Township
to I-84
in Port Jervis
and continue northeast along US 209, was denied funding. After reviewing the proposal again in 1972, the NJDOT determined that the freeway would cost $96 million. It was eventually canceled due to environmental concerns and financial constraints.
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...
in the northwestern part of the 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...
. It runs 45.94 mi (73.93 km) from the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge over 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...
in Knowlton Township
Knowlton Township, New Jersey
- Local government :The Knowlton Township Committee consists of Mayor Frank Van Horn , Deputy Mayor Ronald Farber , Theresa Capriccio , René Mathez and Scott Odorizzi ....
, 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...
, where it connects to Pennsylvania Route 611
Pennsylvania Route 611
Pennsylvania Route 611 is a major state highway in Pennsylvania, United States, running from Interstate 95 south of downtown Philadelphia north to Interstate 380 in Coolbaugh Township, Pennsylvania in The Poconos....
(PA 611), northeast 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...
state line in Vernon Township
Vernon Township, New Jersey
-Communities and neighborhoods:Communities and neighborhoods in Vernon Township include the following sections:*Vernon Village "Town Center"*Vernon Valley a.k.a...
, Sussex County
Sussex County, New Jersey
The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
. At the New York border, New York State Route 94
New York State Route 94
New York State Route 94 is a state highway entirely within Orange County in southern New York. The western terminus is at the New York-New Jersey state line, where it continues as NJ 94 for another to Columbia, New Jersey. Its eastern terminus is located at U.S. Route 9W in New Windsor....
(NY 94) continues to Newburgh, New York. Route 94 is mostly a two-lane undivided road that runs through mountain and valley areas of Warren and Sussex counties, serving Columbia
Columbia, New Jersey
Columbia is a census-designated place within Knowlton Township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07832.As of the United States 2010 Census, the population for Columbia was 229....
, Blairstown, Newton
Newton, New Jersey
Newton is a town in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 8,244. It is the county seat of Sussex County....
, and Hamburg
Hamburg, New Jersey
Hamburg is a Borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 3,277.In 1753, when Sussex County was formed, Hamburg was part of New Town; on February 25, 1762, it became part of the newly established Hardyston Township...
. The route intersects several roads, including U.S. Route 46
U.S. Route 46
U.S. Route 46 is an east–west U.S. Highway, running for , completely within the state of New Jersey. The west end is at an interchange with Interstate 80 and Route 94 in Columbia, Warren County on the Delaware River...
(US 46) and Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in New Jersey
Interstate 80 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States, running from the New York City Metropolitan Area westward to San Francisco, California...
(I-80) in Knowlton Township, US 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...
in Newton, Route 15 in Lafayette Township
Lafayette Township, New Jersey
Lafayette Township is a Township located in the Skylands Region of Sussex County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 2,300....
, and Route 23 in Hamburg.
What is now Route 94 was legislated as part of two separate routes in 1927. The portion of road between Route 6/US 46 near the Delaware Bridge
Delaware Bridge
The Darlington's Bridge at Delaware Station was a highway bridge over the Delaware River in the community of Delaware, New Jersey . Formerly a railroad bridge constructed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1855, the bridge was sold off when the new one upstream was constructed....
to Newton became Route 8, while the route north of Newton to the New York border became a part of Route 31. Prior to 1953, the only portion of Route 31 north of Newton that was a state highway was between North Church and Hamburg. In 1953, Route 94 was designated to replace all of Route 8 as well as Route 31 north of Newton; the number was chosen to match NY 94. After the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge and the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge
Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge
The Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge is a toll bridge that carries I-80 across the Delaware River at the Delaware Water Gap, connecting Hardwick Township, New Jersey and Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania. The bridge was built by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission...
were both completed in December 1953, the southern terminus of Route 94 was cut back to an intersection with US 611 in Columbia, which had be rerouted into New Jersey across both bridges, following a freeway between Columbia and the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge that would later become a part of I-80. The former alignment of Route 94 between the Delaware Bridge and the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge became a part of US 46. By 1969, US 611 was routed out of New Jersey, and Route 94 was extended to the state line on the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge. Through the 1960s and 1970s, a freeway was proposed for the Route 94 corridor. This freeway, proposed to be a part of the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
, was never built.
Warren County
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...
in Knowlton Township
Knowlton Township, New Jersey
- Local government :The Knowlton Township Committee consists of Mayor Frank Van Horn , Deputy Mayor Ronald Farber , Theresa Capriccio , René Mathez and Scott Odorizzi ....
, where it connects to PA 611
Pennsylvania Route 611
Pennsylvania Route 611 is a major state highway in Pennsylvania, United States, running from Interstate 95 south of downtown Philadelphia north to Interstate 380 in Coolbaugh Township, Pennsylvania in The Poconos....
on the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
side of the river. This bridge is maintained by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is a bistate, public agency charged with providing safe, dependable and efficient river crossings between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The DRJTBC was established under legislation enacted in the two states in 1934. The federal Compact for the...
; the rest of Route 94 is maintained by 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...
(NJDOT). Immediately after the bridge, the route comes to a large interchange with the western terminus of US 46
U.S. Route 46
U.S. Route 46 is an east–west U.S. Highway, running for , completely within the state of New Jersey. The west end is at an interchange with Interstate 80 and Route 94 in Columbia, Warren County on the Delaware River...
as well as with I-80
Interstate 80 in New Jersey
Interstate 80 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States, running from the New York City Metropolitan Area westward to San Francisco, California...
a short distance later, near the community of Columbia
Columbia, New Jersey
Columbia is a census-designated place within Knowlton Township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07832.As of the United States 2010 Census, the population for Columbia was 229....
. In the area of the US 46/I-80 interchange, the directions of Route 94 split, carrying two lanes in each direction. From here, the route becomes a two-lane undivided road that continues northeast through a mix of woods and farms with some development, passing under the abandoned Lackawanna Cut-Off. After passing through the community of Hainesburg, the road turns more to the east and enters Blairstown Township
Blairstown Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,747 people, 2,040 households, and 1,638 families residing in the township. The population density was 185.3 people per square mile . There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 68.9 per square mile...
. Route 94 turns northeast before reaching the community of Blairstown, where the road continues east past some development before intersecting CR 521
County Route 521 (New Jersey)
County Route 521 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends 43.71 miles from High Street in Hope Township to the New York state line in Montague Township....
. It forms a short wrong-way concurrency with that route, along which it crosses the Paulins Kill
Paulins Kill
The Paulins Kill is a tributary of the Delaware River in northwestern New Jersey in the United States...
. A short distance later, Route 94 enters Frelinghuysen Township
Frelinghuysen Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,083 people, 722 households, and 578 families residing in the township. The population density was 88.9 people per square mile . There were 755 housing units at an average density of 32.2 per square mile...
, passing through more rural surroundings. The road turns northeast through the community of Marksboro before heading east again. After the intersection with CR 661, Route 94 makes a sharp turn to the north-northeast.
Sussex County
The route continues into Sussex CountySussex County, New Jersey
The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
at Fredon Township
Fredon Township, New Jersey
Fredon Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 2,860....
, heading through mostly hilly farmland with areas of woods and homes. The road turns more to the northeast as a two-lane road before heading east again and entering Newton
Newton, New Jersey
Newton is a town in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 8,244. It is the county seat of Sussex County....
. Here, Route 94 becomes High Street and passes several homes, intersecting CR 519
County Route 519 (New Jersey)
County Route 519 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Daniel Bray Highway in Delaware Township to the New York state line in Wantage Township...
. CR 519 forms a concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with Route 94 and the two routes continue to downtown Newton. In the downtown area, the road comes to the Park Place square, where it meets US 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...
. At this point, all three routes run concurrent north on four-lane undivided Water Street for a short distance. CR 519 splits from the road by turning north on Mill Street, while US 206 and Route 94 continue north as a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane, where a shopping district lines the road as it leaves Newton for Hampton Township
Hampton Township, New Jersey
Hampton Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 4,943....
. The road narrows back to two lanes as it heads into areas of farmland. Route 94 splits from US 206 by making a right turn to continue east.
Lafayette Township, New Jersey
Lafayette Township is a Township located in the Skylands Region of Sussex County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 2,300....
. In Lafayette Township, the route resumes to the east through a mix of rural and industrial areas. The road continues to a junction with Route 15, where Route 94 makes a right turn to head southeast along Route 15 in a wrong way concurrency. Upon splitting, Route 15 stays straight and heads southeast as Route 94 turns at a right hand reverse 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...
to head northeast. Route 94 continues through more rural areas with occasional development and enters Sparta Township
Sparta Township, New Jersey
Sparta Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 19,722...
, where it is known as North Church Road. Here, the road passes near some residential developments before continuing into Hardyston Township
Hardyston Township, New Jersey
Hardyston Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 6,171.-Geography:...
. In Hardyston Township, the route runs through the community of North Church. After making a sharp turn to the east, Route 94 enters Hamburg
Hamburg, New Jersey
Hamburg is a Borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 3,277.In 1753, when Sussex County was formed, Hamburg was part of New Town; on February 25, 1762, it became part of the newly established Hardyston Township...
and becomes Vernon Avenue. The route passes a few homes before intersecting Route 23 in the center of town. From this intersection, the route makes a turn to the northeast before leaving the town and heading back into Hardyston Township. The road passes rural developed areas before entering Vernon Township
Vernon Township, New Jersey
-Communities and neighborhoods:Communities and neighborhoods in Vernon Township include the following sections:*Vernon Village "Town Center"*Vernon Valley a.k.a...
.
At this point, the surroundings become more wooded and mountainous as the road passes near residential areas and reaches the community of McAfee
McAfee, New Jersey
McAfee is an unincorporated area within Vernon Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07428....
. In McAfee, CR 517
County Route 517 (New Jersey)
County Route 517 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Lamington Road in Tewksbury Township to the New York state line in Vernon Township where it continues as Orange County Route 26. It mainly traverses through small, rural communities and unincorporated...
intersects with Route 94 and the two routes head east for a short wrong way concurrency, crossing 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...
before CR 517 turns to the south. Route 94 continues northeast as McAfee Vernon Road, briefly becoming a 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:...
as it passes the entrance to the Mountain Creek
Mountain Creek
Mountain Creek is the ski resort closest to New York metropolitan area, located in Vernon Township, New Jersey, on Route 94, from the George Washington Bridge. It offers 167 skiable acres on four mountain peaks, 100% night skiing/snowboarding, and the region's highest vertical feet. Mountain Creek...
ski resort. Continuing northeast, the route comes to an intersection with CR 515
County Route 515 (New Jersey)
County Route 515 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Route 23 in Hardyston Township to the New York state line in Vernon Township. Between Route 23 and Route 94, this highway is known as Vernon-Stolkholm Road. The road then runs concurrent with NJ 94 for ....
, which it runs concurrent with on Vernon Warwick Road. The two routes continue north, with CR 515 splitting from Route 94 at the crossing the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
. From here, Route 94 continues through more countryside before reaching 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...
state line, where the road continues into that state as NY 94
New York State Route 94
New York State Route 94 is a state highway entirely within Orange County in southern New York. The western terminus is at the New York-New Jersey state line, where it continues as NJ 94 for another to Columbia, New Jersey. Its eastern terminus is located at U.S. Route 9W in New Windsor....
.
History
In the 1927 renumbering of state highways, Route 8 was defined to run along present-day Route 94 from Route 6 (current US 46) at the Delaware BridgeDelaware Bridge
The Darlington's Bridge at Delaware Station was a highway bridge over the Delaware River in the community of Delaware, New Jersey . Formerly a railroad bridge constructed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1855, the bridge was sold off when the new one upstream was constructed....
north to Columbia
Columbia, New Jersey
Columbia is a census-designated place within Knowlton Township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07832.As of the United States 2010 Census, the population for Columbia was 229....
before turning northeast to Route 31 (now 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...
) in Newton. Past Newton, Route 31 continued northeast to the New York state line (current US 206 north of here was Route S31). In the original version of the renumbering bill, Route 31 was to reach the border via Sussex
Sussex, New Jersey
Sussex is a borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 2,130.Sussex was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 14, 1891, as Deckertown, from portions of Wantage...
, incorporating pre-1927 Route 8 (now Route 284) from Sussex to the state line. However, in the final version, Route 31 ran via Hamburg
Hamburg, New Jersey
Hamburg is a Borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 3,277.In 1753, when Sussex County was formed, Hamburg was part of New Town; on February 25, 1762, it became part of the newly established Hardyston Township...
, using the same alignment as a planned spur of pre-1927 Route 8 from Lafayette
Lafayette Township, New Jersey
Lafayette Township is a Township located in the Skylands Region of Sussex County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 2,300....
to North Church. Route 8 was eventually taken over by the state. On the other hand, by 1949, only one section of Route 31 north of the Route S31 split had been taken between North Church to Hamburg.
In the 1953 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 8 was renumbered to Route 94, which was extended northeast past Newton along former Route 31 to the New York state line, matching NY 94 across the border. It was initially only marked south of Hamburg, as none of the route north of Hamburg was state-maintained. Originally, Route 94 began at the now razed Delaware Bridge, where US 46 would cross into Pennsylvania. Route 94 would wind right and north-east a few to Columbia, where it joined its current route. In December 1953, both the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge and Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge
Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge
The Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge is a toll bridge that carries I-80 across the Delaware River at the Delaware Water Gap, connecting Hardwick Township, New Jersey and Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania. The bridge was built by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission...
opened. That year a section of Old Mine Road
Old Mine Road
Old Mine Road is a road in New Jersey and New York said to be one of the oldest continuously-used roads in the United States of America. At a length of 104 miles, it stretches from the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to the vicinity of Kingston, New York.Among the theories regarding the...
was rebuilt and aligned as a four lane freeway between Columbia and the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge. At this time, US 46 was rerouted over the first several miles of Route 94 between the Delaware Bridge and Columbia, and Route 94 was cut back to Columbia, near the Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge. Here, US 46 would end and US 611, would cross the Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge
Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge
The Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge is a toll bridge that carries New Jersey Route 94 over the Delaware River, between Pennsylvania Route 611 at Portland, Pennsylvania and Columbia in Knowlton Township, New Jersey. It is owned and operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. U.S....
from Pennsylvania and follow the freeway north to the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge. The freeway portion that US 611 followed became a part of I-80 in 1959. When US 611 was removed from New Jersey by 1969, Route 94 was extended to the state line on the Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge. Also by this time, the unsigned portions of Route 94 north of Newton were signed. In 1973, this whole area was realigned into a complex interchange as the New Jersey portion of Interstate 80 was completed.
In 1964, a Route 94 freeway was proposed to run from I-80 in Netcong
Netcong, New Jersey
Netcong is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,580. Its estimated population in 2006 was 3,292...
north to the planned Route 23 freeway in Hamburg, following US 206 north to Newton and current Route 94 to Hamburg. In the late 1960s, the NJDOT planned for the Route 94 freeway to run from I-80/US 46 in Columbia northeast to the New York border near Wawayanda State Park
Wawayanda State Park
Wawayanda State Park is a 34,350 acre state park in Sussex County and Passaic County in northern New Jersey. The park is in Vernon Township on the Sussex side, and West Milford on the Passaic side. There are 60 miles of hiking trails in the park, including a 20-mile stretch of the Appalachian...
. The NJDOT hoped to get funding for the freeway in 1970 for it to become an Interstate highway as it was planned to serve the proposed Tocks Island
Tocks Island
Tocks Island, located upstream from Delaware Water Gap in the Delaware River was the controversial site of a dam, proposed in the 1950s, which would have created a 37-mile long lake between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with depths of up to 140 feet...
recreation area. This proposed Interstate, which was to run from I-80 in Hope Township
Hope Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,891 people, 697 households, and 538 families residing in the township. The population density was 102.2 people per square mile . There were 747 housing units at an average density of 40.4 per square mile...
to I-84
Interstate 84 in New York
Interstate 84 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, in the Eastern United States. In New York, I-84 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis to the Connecticut state line east of Brewster...
in Port Jervis
Port Jervis, New York
Port Jervis is a city on the Delaware River in western Orange County, New York, with a population of 8,860 at the 2000 census. The communities of Deerpark, Huguenot, Sparrowbush, and Greenville are adjacent to Port Jervis, and the towns of Montague, New Jersey and Matamoras, Pennsylvania face the...
and continue northeast along US 209, was denied funding. After reviewing the proposal again in 1972, the NJDOT determined that the freeway would cost $96 million. It was eventually canceled due to environmental concerns and financial constraints.