:New Jersey Route 79
{{Short description|State highway in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox road
|state=NJ
|type=NJ
|route=79
|length_mi=12.1
|length_ref={{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000079__-.pdf |format = PDF |title = Route 79 straight line diagram |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |access-date = March 17, 2020 }}
|map={{maplink-road|from=New Jersey Route 79.map}}
|map_custom=yes|map_notes=Route 79 highlighted in red
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|NJ|33}} in Freehold Township
|junction=
- {{jct|state=NJ|NJ-Bus|33}} in Freehold
- {{jct|state=NJ|CR|537}} in Freehold
- {{jct|state=NJ|NJ|18}} in Marlboro
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|34|CR-Spur|516}} in Matawan
|counties=Monmouth
|previous_type=I
|previous_route=78
|next_type=I
|next_route=80
}}
Route 79 is a state highway located in Monmouth County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It runs {{convert|12.1|mi|km|abbr=on}} from an intersection of US 9 in Freehold Township north to an intersection of Route 34 and Main Street (CR 516 Spur) in Matawan. The route is a mostly two-lane undivided road that passes through a mixture of suburban residential, urban commercial, and open rural areas. The route interchanges with Route 33 in Freehold Township, intersects with Business Route 33 and CR 537 in Freehold, interchanges with Route 18 and intersects with CR 520 in Marlboro, and intersects with CR 516 in Matawan.
In 1927, the current alignment of Route 79 was designated as a part of Route 4, which was to run from Cape May to the George Washington Bridge, and US 9 was additionally designated along the route by the 1940s. After US 9 and Route 4 were moved to a new routing between Freehold and Cheesequake, the former route became Route 4A, a spur of Route 4. In 1953, Route 4A became Route 79 between Freehold and Matawan and an extension of Route 34 between Matawan and Cheesequake.
Route description
Route 79 begins at an intersection of US 9 in Freehold Township, heading north on South Street, a two-lane divided highway that soon becomes an undivided road. It interchanges with Route 33 and continues through a mix of residential and commercial areas.{{google maps |url = https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=route+9+and+south+street+freehold,+nj&daddr=route+34+and+route+79+matawan,+nj&geocode=&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=40.242421,-74.279509&sspn=0.014479,0.027509&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11 |title = Overview of Route 79 |access-date = June 24, 2009 }} The route enters Freehold, where it crosses the intersection of Park Avenue (Business Route 33). Route 79 heads into Downtown Freehold, where it crosses the Freehold Industrial Track railroad line operated by the Delaware and Raritan River Railroad and intersects with West Main Street (CR 537). Here, the route heads northeast on West Main Street to run concurrently with CR 537 for a short distance. It eventually splits from CR 537 by forking to the left to head northeast on Broadway while CR 537 continues east-northeast on East Main Street. The route continues to travels north on Broadway, as it heads past homes and eventually passes by Freehold High School at the intersection of Route 79 and Dutch Lane Road (CR 46). Route 79 crosses back into Freehold Township, where it continues through suburban residential areas, with intermittent farms and woods. It heads into Marlboro. The route passes some businesses before it widens into a four-lane divided highway and comes to an interchange with Route 18.
File:2020-09-13 13 24 44 View north along New Jersey State Route 79 and east along Monmouth County Route 537 (Main Street) at the exit for Monmouth County Route 537 EAST in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg eastbound in Freehold]]
Past this interchange, Route 79 heads through a mix of homes and businesses, narrowing back into a two-lane undivided road. The route continues as Route 79 at the intersection of School Road. The road passes through residential and commercial areas with some farm fields, along with passing by Marlboro High School, and then intersecting with Newman Springs Road (CR 520). Past this intersection, Route 79 continues north and heads into more suburban areas, with the Henry Hudson Trail parallel to the west of the road before it splits to the west. The road heads through wooded areas with some development, intersects with Tennent Road (CR 3) in Morganville and forms a short concurrency with that route that lasts until CR 3 heads northeast on Lloyd Road. Route 79 continues north through wooded neighborhoods and enters Matawan, where it becomes Main Street. It passes through residential areas and heads across the Henry Hudson Trail before the road crosses the intersection of Broad Street/New Brunswick Avenue (CR 516) in a commercial area. Route 79 continues a short distance north past this intersection to its northern terminus at the intersection of Route 34. At this intersection, unsigned CR 516 Spur continues northeast on Main Street.
History
{{infobox road small
|state=NJ
|type=NJ 1926
|county=
|route=4A
|location= Freehold–Cheesequake
|length_mi=
|length_round=
|length_ref=
|formed=1940s{{cite map |author = Mid-West Map |title = Map of Pennsylvania and New Jersey |year = 1941 |author2 = H.M. Gousha |url = http://www.mapsofpa.com/roadcart/1941_1467m.jpg |publisher = Mid-West Map |access-date = March 29, 2009 }}
}}
What has become Route 79 is an original road for the area. On June 7, 1701, a patent was granted to John Johnstone for a road from old Oysterbank Landing (Matawan Creek) to Wickatunk.{{cite book |title = The New Jersey Coast in Three Centuries: History of the New Jersey |volume = 2 |editor-first = William |editor-last = Nelson |year = 1902 |page = 188 }} This would have roughly followed that Route 79 path. Almost the entirety of the road was maintained in the late 19th century as part of the Monmouth County Plank Road. Before 1927, what is today Route 79 was an unnumbered road.{{cite web |last1 = Williams |first1 = Jimmy |last2 = Williams |first2 = Sharon |url = http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/maps/1927tt2.jpg |title = 1927 Tydol Trails Map: South |work = 1920s New Jersey Highways |access-date = March 30, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110514153745/http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/maps/1927tt2.jpg |archive-date = May 14, 2011 }} In the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering, the route was legislated as part of Route 4, which was to run from Cape May to the George Washington Bridge.State of New Jersey, Laws of 1927, Chapter 319.{{cite web |last1 = Williams |first1 = Jimmy |last2 = Williams |first2 = Sharon |url = http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |title = 1927 New Jersey Road Map |work = 1920s New Jersey Highways |access-date = October 8, 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160313112746/http://jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |archive-date = March 13, 2016 }} Between 1932 and 1934,{{Cite map |author = New Jersey State Highway Commission |year = 1934 |title = Road Map of New Jersey |url = https://collections.lib.uwm.edu/digital/collection/agdm/id/16589 |scale = Scale not given |location = Trenton |publisher =
New Jersey State Highway Commission |access-date = August 20, 2022 |via = American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries |language = en }} the State Highway Department took over this section of the route, and US 9 was realigned to follow this portion of road along with Route 4. Beginning with a bypass of Freehold in 1938,{{Cite news |date = November 3, 1938 |title = Asks Federal Help For Freehold By-Pass |pages = 5 |work = Monmouth Democrat |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107970176/asks-federal-help-for-freehold-by-pass/ |access-date = August 20, 2022 }} US 9 and Route 4 were moved to a new alignment between Freehold and Cheesequake, and the former alignment between these two points became Route 4A, a spur of Route 4. The realignment was completed by 1941.{{Cite news |date = December 6, 1940 |title = Will Receive Bids For Shore Highway |pages = 31 |work = The Central New Jersey Home News |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107972991/will-receive-bids-for-shore-highway/ |access-date = August 20, 2022 }} In the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering, Route 4A became Route 79 between Freehold and Matawan and an extension of Route 34 between Matawan and Cheesequake.{{Cite web |title = 1953 renumbering |url = http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1953_New_Jersey_state_highway_renumbering |publisher = New Jersey Department of Highways |access-date = July 31, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110628183145/http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1953_New_Jersey_state_highway_renumbering |archive-date = June 28, 2011 }} On December 15, 2006, a project which rebuilt the intersection between US 9 and Route 79 was completed. This project's goals included improved safety and reduced traffic congestion.{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2006/122106.shtm |title = NJDOT improves Route 9 in Freehold Township |date = December 21, 2006 |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |access-date = June 25, 2009 }}
Major intersections
{{Jcttop|length_ref=|county=Monmouth|state=NJ}}
{{NJint
|mile=0.0
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|location1=Lakewood|location2=The Amboys}}
|location=Freehold Township
|lspan=2
|notes=Southern terminus
}}
{{NJint
|type=
|mile=0.1
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|33|city1=Trenton|location2=Asbury Pk}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint
|mile=0.7
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ-Bus|33|name1=Park Ave|city1=Trenton|city2=Asbury Park|location3=Inspection Sta}}
|location=Freehold Borough
|lspan=3
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=1.4
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|537|dir1=west|name1=W Main St}}
|notes=South end of the overlap with CR 537
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=1.5
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|537|dir1=east|name1=E Main St}}
|notes=North end of the overlap with CR 537
}}
{{NJint
|mile=5.1
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|18|city1=New Brunswick|location2=Pt Pleasant}}
|location=Marlboro Township
|lspan=2
|notes=Exits 25A-B (Route 18)
}}
{{NJint
|mile=6.8
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|520|name1=Newman Springs Rd|to2=to|GSP|dir2=south|city1=Robertsville|location2=Marlboro State Hospital|location3=Holmdel}}
}}
{{NJint
|mile=11.8
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|516|name1=New Brunswick Ave/Broad St|location1=Old Bridge|city2=Keyport}}
|location=Matawan
|lspan=2
}}
{{NJint
|mile=12.1
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|34|location1=The Amboys|city2=Asbury Park}}
{{jct|state=NJ|CR-Spur|516|dir1=east|name1=Main St|city1=Keyport}}
|notes=Northern terminus; western terminus of CR 516 Spur
}}
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}
See also
- {{Portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}
- {{Portal-inline|New Jersey}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|New Jersey Route 79}}
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
- [http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/nj_79/ New Jersey Roads: Route 79]
- [http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/traffic_orders/speed/rt79.shtm Speed Limits for State Roads: Route 79]
{{good article}}