Garden State Parkway

File:Ellipse_sign_444.svg

The Garden State Parkway begins at New Jersey Route 109 in Cape May County, at one of the very few expressway interchanges in the United States designated as Exit 0. It runs north along the mainland side of the Jersey Shore, crossing the Great Egg Harbor Bay and passing to the west of Atlantic City. The parkway passes through the sparsely populated Pine Barrens until it reaches Toms River in Ocean County. From here, the road heads into suburban areas. North of Tinton Falls, the route splits into a local-express lane configuration, which it maintains through Sayreville. Here, the highway crosses the Raritan River into Woodbridge Township, where it meets the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95). North of here, the Garden State Parkway passes through densely populated communities in Middlesex and Union counties and intersects Interstate 78 near Newark. The parkway eventually passes to the south and east of Paterson and meets Interstate 80 in Saddle Brook. After traversing the suburban northern section of Bergen County, the road enters the state of New York where it becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, continuing north to the New York State Thruway mainline.

File:2020-09-02 15 28 18 View south along New Jersey State Route 47 (Wildwood Boulevard) at the exit for the Garden State Parkway NORTH in Middle Township, Cape May County, New Jersey.jpg

The parkway serves as a major route connecting North Jersey with all of the state's shore points, and as such, is subject to frequent congestion. The number of lanes on the parkway ranges from four in Cape May, Atlantic, and Bergen counties, to 15 on the Driscoll Bridge. Much of the highway runs closely parallel to, or concurrently with U.S. Route 9. The speed limit on the parkway is {{convert|65|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} for most of its length. However, it is posted at {{convert|55|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} on a {{convert|5|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} section near Toms River and on a {{convert|40|mi|km|adj=on}} section between Sayreville and Paramus. The NJTA may temporarily reduce the speed limit when special hazards exist.{{cite web |title = N.J.A.C. 19:9-1.2 |url = https://www.njta.com/media/1064/njta_regulations_revised_for_oal_submission_3-2017.pdf }} Commercial trucks with a registered weight of over {{convert|10,000|lbs|kg}} are not allowed to use the parkway north of exit 105, just past the Asbury Park Toll Plaza.{{cite web |title = N.J.A.C. 19:9-1.9(b) |url = https://www.njta.com/media/1064/njta_regulations_revised_for_oal_submission_3-2017.pdf }} The entire length of the Garden State Parkway carries the unsigned designation of Route 444, and is part of the National Highway System,{{cite map |author = Federal Highway Administration |title = National Highway System: New Jersey |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/new_jersey/nj_newjersey.pdf |scale = Scale not given |location = Washington, DC |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |access-date = August 29, 2019 }} a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.{{cite web |first1 = Stefan |last1 = Natzke |first2 = Mike |last2 = Neathery |first3 = Kevin |last3 = Adderly |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/ |title = What is the National Highway System? |work = National Highway System |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |date = June 20, 2012 |access-date = July 1, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120924215257/http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/ |archive-date = September 24, 2012 |url-status = live }}

File:2020-07-16 15 07 45 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 0 (New Jersey State Route 109 NORTH TO U.S. Route 9, North Cape May) in Lower Township, Cape May County, New Jersey.jpg

The parkway begins at an at-grade intersection with Route 109 in Lower Township, Cape May County, where Route 109 continues south toward Cape May and west (north) toward U.S. Route 9 and the Cape May–Lewes Ferry. The Garden State Parkway runs north as a four-lane freeway on the Cape May Peninsula through the Cape Island Wildlife Management Area, running west of swampland, separating the highway from the Jersey Shore communities. Trees occupy the median and the sides of the road for the next several miles. After passing to the east of Cape May National Golf Club, crossing over Jones Creek, and passing a pond in the median, the highway enters Middle Township and has an interchange with Route 47, which serves The Wildwoods resort area and the community of Rio Grande. North of this point, the parkway crosses over the abandoned Wildwood Branch of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines, and afterwards, the trees in the median disappear and the highway has a partial interchange with Route 147, which provides access to North Wildwood, Whitesboro, and Burleigh. Crossing into the county seat of Cape May Court House, the median narrows and U.S. Route 9 appears within yards of the southbound lanes of the parkway as it passes west of The Shore Club golf course. The two highways then split apart and the Garden State Parkway bisects residential areas before reaching an interchange for Stone Harbor Boulevard (CR 657), which serves the Cape Regional Medical Center and Stone Harbor.{{google maps |url = https://www.google.com/maps/dir/38.9613252,-74.9029574/41.0990225,-74.0370007/@40.5533935,-74.4533976,295629m/data=!3m1!1e3 |title = Overview Map of the Garden State Parkway (NJ 444) |access-date = April 22, 2018 }}{{cite web |url = https://www.njta.com/media/3984/rfeoi_solicitation_p3670_p3671.pdf |title = 2019 New Jersey Turnpike Authority Bridge Inspection Program |date = August 2, 2018 |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date = October 12, 2019 }}

File:2021-08-31 11 15 26 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) from the pedestrian overpass between Exit 9 and Exit 10 in Middle Township, Cape May County, New Jersey.jpg

Past this point, the road comes to an interchange for Crest Haven Road (CR 609), which provides access to the Cape May County Park & Zoo and a building complex containing the Cape May County Technical School District. After a southbound entrance ramp from U.S. Route 9, the parkway leaves Cape May Court House and returns to a desolate wooded setting with a wide tree-filled median. Continuing north, the parkway has an interchange with Avalon Boulevard (CR 601), serving Avalon and Swainton. North of this point, the highway enters Dennis Township and has a partial interchange with Sea Isle Boulevard (CR 625), serving Sea Isle City before reaching the Bruce Willis Service Area in the median. Past the service area, the parkway enters Upper Township and reaches the Cape May Toll Plaza northbound immediately before meeting the southern terminus of Route 50, which serves Seaville, at a partial interchange. After passing east of several homes and a golf course, the parkway has the John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly Picnic Area in the median before it crosses over the abandoned Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines Ocean City Branch. Continuing north, the highway comes to a diamond interchange with U.S. Route 9 and Roosevelt Boulevard (CR 623), which serves Ocean City and Marmora. North of this exit, U.S. Route 9 begins to run concurrently with the Garden State Parkway, and the two routes run east of the community of Beesleys Point before the median narrows, and they cross the Great Egg Harbor Bay on the Great Egg Harbor Bridge.

File:2020-07-11 13 19 03 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 38B (Atlantic City Expressway WEST, Camden) in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey.jpg

The highway surfaces into Somers Point, Atlantic County, where the southbound roadway has the Great Egg Toll Plaza before U.S. Route 9 leaves the parkway at a partial junction. Past this point, the median widens and the parkway passes west of the Greate Bay Country Club and some homes before a partial interchange with West Laurel Drive, which provides access to Somers Point and Ocean City. After passing to the west of more residences, the median briefly becomes a Jersey barrier as the route crosses the Patcong Creek into Egg Harbor Township, where developments begin to appear on the west side of the highway. Eventually, the parkway crosses into uninhabited areas again before heading into a commercial area and widening to six lanes. Here, the road has an interchange with Black Horse Pike (U.S. Route 40/U.S. Route 322) and Tilton Road (CR 563), marking the first of three interchanges with roads that serve Atlantic City, located to the east. The median then transitions to a Jersey barrier and the parkway passes over the abandoned Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines Newfield Branch before a partial interchange with Washington Avenue (CR 608) and a cloverleaf interchange with the controlled-access Atlantic City Expressway (which heads west towards Philadelphia), where the northbound and southbound roadways split apart again. Upon leaving the commercial area, the highway passes to the east of Atlantic City International Airport and crosses over a flume of the Atlantic City Reservoir, which has a basin on each side of the highway. Continuing north, the highway enters Galloway Township and passes over NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line before it comes to a partial interchange with White Horse Pike (U.S. Route 30), serving Absecon. North of this exit, the median is home to the Frank Sinatra Service Area, which also has a barrack of the New Jersey State Police. Immediately north of the service area, the parkway has an interchange with Jimmie Leeds Road (CR 561), serving the community of Pomona. The parkway then enters the sparsely populated Pine Barrens, passing to the east of Stockton University and reaching an interchange with Pomona Road (CR 575/CR 561 Alt.) Past this point, the road turns northeast and crosses into Port Republic as it winds north into the uninhabited Port Republic Wildlife Management Area. With some occasional development appearing along the sides of the road, the median narrows to a Jersey barrier as U.S. Route 9 merges back onto the parkway, along with the Pine Barrens Byway, and the three routes cross the Mullica River.

File:2020-07-11 13 33 56 View north along U.S. Route 9 and New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 50 (U.S. Route 9 NORTH, New Gretna, Tuckerton) in Bass River Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.jpg

The highway surfaces into Bass River Township, Burlington County, and U.S. Route 9 and the Pine Barrens Byway depart at a partial interchange. Continuing northeast past the community of New Gretna, the parkway passes over U.S. Route 9 with no access before crossing the Bass River and the median widens and contains a maintenance yard. Past this point, the median temporarily narrows again as the northbound lanes have the New Gretna Toll Plaza. Crossing northward through Bass River State Forest, the six-lane highway becomes desolate as it enters Little Egg Harbor Township, Ocean County. Here, the Garden State Parkway interchanges with North Green Street (CR 539), which serves Tuckerton, before entering Eagleswood, where it crosses over Westecunk Creek and passes to the west of Eagles Nest Airport. Afterwards, the parkway enters Stafford Township where development along the road begins to increase. Here, the highway has an interchange with Route 72, which provides access to Manahawkin and Long Beach Island. The parkway then forms a border between residential neighborhoods to the west and forest to the east before passing to the east of a golf course and entering Barnegat, where the concentration of houses shifts to the east. After an interchange with West Bay Avenue (CR 554), the parkway passes by residential neighborhoods on both sides of the highway before the median shortly narrows and the southbound roadway has the Barnegat Toll Plaza. Now in Ocean Township, the parkway meets the interchange with Wells Mills Road (CR 532) and crosses over Oyster Creek before entering Lacey Township, where it crosses the south, middle, and north branches of the Forked River before reaching an interchange with CR 614, serving the community of Forked River, and the Celia Cruz Service Area in the median.

File:2021-05-27 11 45 01 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) from the overpass for Ocean County Route 614 (Lacey Road) in Lacey Township, Ocean County, New Jersey.jpg

Father north, the road crosses over Cedar Creek and enters Berkeley Township, passing west of a golf course and Central Regional High School while traversing Double Trouble State Park. The route then crosses into Beachwood and passes west of several homes before entering South Toms River, where the median narrows and the parkway becomes concurrently with U.S. Route 9 once again at an interchange with CR 530. After crossing the Toms River and entering Toms River, the highway passes west of the Toms River Bus Terminal serving NJ Transit buses. Past this point, the road crosses the abandoned Conrail Barnegat Branch and reaches an exit for Lakehurst Road (CR 527) before passing trees and reaching a cloverleaf interchange with Route 37, which provides access to Lakehurst, Seaside Heights, and Island Beach State Park. After heading northwest between trees on the west and neighborhoods on the east, the Garden State Parkway turns northeast as the median widens and contains a maintenance yard, and U.S. Route 9 leaves the parkway at an interchange with Route 166. Past the interchange, the parkway reaches the bi-directional Toms River Toll Plaza and passes by lighter suburban development in addition to parkland, with Ocean County College to the east. Upon entering Lakewood Township, the parkway has an interchange with Route 70, serving Brick Township and Point Pleasant to the east; this interchange also serves CR 528. Running along the border of Lakewood and Brick townships, the route has an interchange with CR 549 before crossing the South Branch of the Metedeconk River and passing over Route 88 with no access. Now entirely within Brick Township, the route crosses the North Branch of the Metedeconk River and reaches a second exit for CR 549, where a pedestrian bridge for the Brick Park & Ride, located to the east, passes over the parkway. North of this interchange, the road widens to eight lanes and passes west of a solar farm.

File:2020-07-11 14 35 46 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 98 (New Jersey State Route 138 EAST, Interstate 195 WEST, New Jersey State Route 34, Belmar, Trenton) in Wall Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg

Upon entering Wall Township, Monmouth County, the southbound lanes have a truck inspection area and the parkway passes west of Brick Township Reservoir through woods. The parkway crosses the Manasquan River and passes under the Capital to Coast Trail before reaching a large interchange near Allaire State Park. The interchange includes a pair of collector-distributor roads and serves the eastern terminus of Interstate 195 (which runs west across Central Jersey toward Trenton), Route 34 (which runs southeast toward Point Pleasant), and Route 138 (which runs east toward Belmar). A park and ride is present in the southeastern cloverleaf with Route 138. Passing to the west of Shark River Park, the median contains the Judy Blume Service Area, which provides a park and ride for commuters and access to Belmar Boulevard (CR 18). The parkway enters Tinton Falls and has exits for Route 33, which runs east toward Bradley Beach and west towards Freehold Township, and Route 66, which heads east towards Asbury Park. Soon afterwards, the parkway passes to the west of the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets and has a partial exit for Asbury Avenue (CR 16), where the road widens to ten lanes. North of this point, the parkway reaches the northbound Asbury Park Toll Plaza.

File:2020-07-11 14 54 44 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 105 (New Jersey State Route 36 NORTH, New Jersey State Route 18 NORTH, Eatontown, Long Branch, New Brunswick) in Tinton Falls, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg

Immediately north of the toll barrier, the road divides into a local-express lane configuration with two express and three local lanes in each direction. The parkway passes to the east of a solar farm before reaching an interchange with Route 18 and Route 36, which head north towards New Brunswick and east towards Long Branch, respectively. The connector road from the parkway to the western terminus of Route 36 and Hope Road (CR 51) is designated by the New Jersey Department of Transportation as Route 444S.{{cite map |author = New Jersey Department of Transportation |title = Monmouth County National Highway System Routes - MAP - 21 |url = https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/roadway/nhsmaps/Monmouth.pdf |year = 2019 |scale = Scale not given |location = Trenton |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |access-date = January 18, 2020 }} North of the interchange, the Garden State Parkway passes over the Southern Secondary railroad line operated by the Delaware and Raritan River Railroad and bisects residential neighborhoods before crossing the Swimming River into Middletown Township, where the road has an interchange with CR 520, which contains a park and ride and serves Red Bank and Lincroft. The parkway then passes over Normandy Road, which serves as a road and railroad link between the two sections of Naval Weapons Station Earle. Continuing northwest past houses and parks, the route has an interchange with Red Hill Road (CR 52) as it enters Holmdel Township, where it serves the PNC Bank Arts Center and the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. Upon entering Hazlet, the parkway crosses NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line before reaching an interchange for Route 35 and Route 36, which serves Keyport. At this point, the express roadway in each direction gains a third lane. Immediately north of here is a southbound exit and entrance at Lloyd Road (CR 3), where the parkway briefly enters Aberdeen Township and passes over the Matawan Creek before crossing the North Jersey Coast Line for a second time while the southbound lanes of the parkway briefly enters Matawan. Upon entering Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County, and reaching an interchange for Matawan Road (CR 626) serving Matawan, the highway enters Cheesequake State Park.

File:2020-07-11 15 30 24 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 127 (U.S. Route 9 NORTH, New Jersey State Route 440, TO Interstate 287, Woodbridge, Staten Island) in Sayreville, Middlesex County, New Jersey.jpg

After crossing the Cheesequake Creek near a marina and leaving the park, the road enters Sayreville and has the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area in the median, with access to both the express and local lanes of the highway. Passing to the southwest of South Amboy, the parkway has a partial interchange with U.S. Route 9 and passes over Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Amboy Secondary line. After a northbound entrance and southbound exit at Main Street (CR 670), the lanes, now as a 4-3-3-4 configuration, merge as they cross the abandoned Raritan River Railroad and reach the Raritan Toll Plaza southbound. North of the toll barrier is an exit for Chevalier Avenue; all southbound vehicles exiting here must have an E-ZPass transponder. Paralleling U.S. Route 9 and Route 35, the parkway becomes 15 lanes as it crosses the Raritan River on the Driscoll Bridge, the widest motor vehicle bridge in the world.{{cite web |url = https://www.mottmac.com/en-US/article/11873/projects/garden-state-parkway-interchange-125 |title = Minimizing congestion and supporting riverfront development |publisher = Mott MacDonald |access-date = December 24, 2019 |quote = With 15 travel lanes, the Driscoll Bridge, which carries the Garden State Parkway over the Raritan River, is the world's widest highway bridge. It is also one of the busiest, crossed by about 400,000 drivers each day. }} On the bridge, the northbound lanes are divided into two roadways; only the eastern roadway has access to exit 127, an interchange for U.S. Route 9 and Route 440, providing access to the Outerbridge Crossing to Staten Island. Just north of exit 127 in Woodbridge Township, the parkway runs in between the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. Route 9. After passing under Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Perth Amboy Running Track, U.S. Route 9 splits off to the east and the parkway reaches an interchange with the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95). Running northwest through Woodbridge as a ten-lane roadway, the highway has an interchange with U.S. Route 1 and crosses under Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Port Reading Secondary line as it enters the community of Iselin, passing to the east of several corporate offices. Immediately after passing under Amtrak's Northeast Corridor east of the Metropark station serving Amtrak and NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line, the GSP has an interchange with Route 27, which serves Rahway to the northeast. North of this point, the parkway curves northeast through densely populated neighborhoods, passing the Colonia South and Colonia North service areas.

File:2020-07-16 09 51 31 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 141 (Vauxhall Road) in Union Township, Union County, New Jersey.jpg

Crossing into Clark, Union County, the highway continues to pass through dense neighborhoods as a ten-lane roadway with a Jersey barrier. After crossing the Robinson's Branch Reservoir and passing an interchange with Central Avenue (CR 613), the southbound lanes have access to a maintenance yard. The highway then passes west of a park and Winfield Township before crossing the Rahway River into Cranford, where there is an interchange with Raritan Road (CR 607) and Centennial Avenue (CR 615). After passing west of a business park and over Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Lehigh Line and the inactive Rahway Valley Railroad, the parkway crosses NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line and reaches an interchange with Route 28, which serves Roselle Park to the east. Upon entering Kenilworth, the highway passes many businesses before the road meets the interchange with Galloping Hill Road (CR 509), passes to the east of Galloping Hill Golf Course, and enters Union, where the parkway has an interchange with Chestnut Street (CR 619). Immediately afterwards, the road comes to an interchange with U.S. Route 22 and Route 82 serving Hillside, where the Garden State Parkway briefly runs in between the carriageways of U.S. Route 22 and the Union Watersphere appears on the east side of the parkway. Here, the parkway narrows to eight lanes, and the northbound lanes have access to the Whitney Houston Service Area. After the service area, the road crosses the Elizabeth River and briefly enters Hillside, where it reaches the northbound Union Toll Plaza before an interchange with Interstate 78.

File:2021-06-05 15 43 04 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) from the pedestrian overpass at New Street in East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey.jpg

Running northeast into Irvington, Essex County, the highway passes west of a park and east of many houses before reaching a pair of interchanges for local roads and passing through a short tunnel underneath a parking lot for Irvington Bus Terminal, serving NJ Transit buses. North of this point, the parkway gains frontage roads in each direction, which are mostly lined by residences. The frontage road for the northbound lanes is called Eastern Parkway, and the frontage road for the southbound lanes is called Western Parkway. After an interchange with South Orange Avenue (CR 510), the frontage roads end, and the parkway briefly enters Newark where it bisects Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, the northern end of which is in East Orange. After leaving the cemetery, the highway regains frontage roads which are known as Oraton Parkway. After passing East Orange General Hospital's Eastern Pavilion, the parkway comes to an interchange with Interstate 280 and Central Avenue (CR 508), which serve Downtown Newark. At the interchange, the Garden State Parkway loses a lane in each direction and passes under NJ Transit's Morris & Essex Lines near East Orange station. The parkway continues to run in between frontage roads containing many houses before passing west of several apartment buildings and hospitals and crossing the abandoned Orange Branch of the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway. Winding into Bloomfield as a six-lane roadway, the Garden State Parkway crosses NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line and has an interchange with Bloomfield Avenue (CR 506 Spur), where the frontage roads end. After passing under Norfolk Southern Railway's Boonton Line and reaching an exit for Belleville Avenue (CR 506), the parkway enters a more suburban area and the southbound parkway has the Essex Toll Plaza. The highway briefly enters Nutley before crossing back into Bloomfield, where the jersey barrier becomes a grassy median and the parkway reaches a diamond interchange for Watchung Avenue (CR 655) serving Montclair and passing the Larry Doby and Connie Chung service areas, serving northbound and southbound traffic respectively, to the west of the Upper Montclair Country Club.

File:2020-07-11 16 58 30 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 154 (U.S. Route 46 EAST, Clifton) in Clifton, Passaic County, New Jersey.jpg

The parkway crosses into Clifton, Passaic County, where it reaches an interchange with Route 3. At this point, the space between the northbound and southbound roadways contains the Allwood Road Park and Ride serving NJ Transit buses. After passing under a set of power lines and bisecting a residential area, the route has an incomplete interchange with U.S. Route 46. Immediately north, the parkway meets the southern terminus of the Route 19 freeway, which heads north toward Paterson. Past this point, the highway curves northeast and passes over NJ Transit's Main Line before the median transitions to a Jersey barrier and the highway has a northbound exit and southbound entrance at Hazel Street (CR 702), serving Passaic. The parkway heads northeast past many homes before heading into a business district and crossing Norfolk Southern's Passaic Spur line. After passing many more residences near the route, the parkway reaches a partial interchange with the southern terminus of Route 20. Immediately afterwards, the parkway crosses the Passaic River and enters Elmwood Park, Bergen County, where it comes to a second interchange with U.S. Route 46, serving Garfield. Passing more homes, followed by several businesses, the highway then passes over the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway's New Jersey Subdivision line and under NJ Transit's Bergen County Line before reaching an interchange with Interstate 80 and the northbound Bergen Toll Plaza in Saddle Brook.

File:2020-07-11 17 33 35 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 163 (New Jersey State Route 17 NORTH, Mahwah) in Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey.jpg

Continuing northeast, the road passes through Saddle River County Park and crosses the Saddle River tributary into Rochelle Park. After leaving the park, it crosses a pair of interchanges for Route 208 and Route 4 as it enters Paramus near the Garden State Plaza shopping mall. North of Route 4, the parkway passes east of the Arcola Country Club and runs closely parallel with Route 17 before interchanging with it. Past this interchange, the median becomes grass-filled. After passing east of businesses and west of homes, the parkway passes in between the Paramus Park shopping mall and New Bridge Medical Center before reaching an interchange with East Ridgewood Avenue (CR 80), which serves Oradell and has a park and ride. After bisecting residential neighborhoods, the parkway has a partial interchange with Linwood Avenue (CR 110) before entering Washington Township where the southbound lanes have the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza—the northernmost toll plaza on the highway. North of the toll plaza, the median becomes substantially wider and trees begin to appear within it. The Garden State Parkway finally narrows from six to four lanes at the exit for Washington Avenue (CR 502), serving Westwood and Emerson. Winding through the Pascack Valley region of Bergen County past many homes and woodland, the parkway briefly enters Hillsdale before entering Woodcliff Lake, where there is a northbound exit and southbound entrance for Chestnut Ridge Road, which is accessed via CR S73 and serves Saddle River. The parkway then enters Montvale, where it reaches the James Gandolfini Service Area, the northernmost service area on the road. Immediately north is an exit for Grand Avenue (CR 94) serving Park Ridge; this is the northernmost exit of the Garden State Parkway, which crosses into the state of New York soon afterwards. From there, the route becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, a component of the New York State Thruway system, which heads north toward the thruway mainline (Interstate 87/Interstate 287) in Nanuet.

File:2020-07-11 15 59 31 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 136 (Linden, Roselle) on the border of Clark Township and Cranford Township in Union County, New Jersey.jpg

Plans for the Garden State Parkway date back to 1942, where it would have connected to the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Fort Lee.{{cite map |map-url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-gsp-194/77187995/ |map = The Proposed Garden State Parkway in New Jersey |title = The Central New Jersey Home News |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |date = January 29, 1942 |page = 8 |access-date = May 7, 2021 |via = Newspapers.com }} Following World War II, traffic increased substantially on highways along the New Jersey coast. Due to the high traffic volume and presence of numerous traffic lights, it took motorists over three hours to travel between Paterson and Atlantic City. In 1946, plans were changed to construct a high-speed parkway to provide a bypass of Route 4, which, prior to 1953, ran from Cape May north to the George Washington Bridge by way of Paterson, largely following present-day U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 9, and Route 35.State of New Jersey, Laws of 1946, Chapter 117.{{cite map |author = State of New Jersey |year = 1927 |url = http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |title = 1927 New Jersey Road Map |publisher = State of New Jersey |access-date = October 8, 2008 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160313112746/http://jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |archive-date = March 13, 2016 }} This highway would be constructed using state funds and be known as the Route 4 Parkway. Construction began in 1947, and the first section to open ran from Route 27 north to Cranford and opened on June 29, 1950.{{cite news |date = June 29, 1950 |title = Route 4 Parkway Section Now Open |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-route-4-parkway-section-now-o/139267706/ |access-date = January 21, 2024 |work = The Record |page = 2 }}

The landscape architect and engineer in charge of the newly named Garden State Parkway was Gilmore David Clarke of the engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, who had worked with Robert Moses on the parkway systems around New York City. Clarke's design prototypes for the parkway combined the example of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a model of efficiency with parallels in the German autobahn routes of the 1930s, with the Merritt Parkway model that stressed a planted "green belt" for beauty. Both design models featured wide planted medians to prevent head-on collisions and mask the glare of oncoming headlights. The Garden State Parkway was designed to have a natural feel. Many trees were planted, and the only signs were those for exits—there were no distracting billboards. Most of the signs were constructed from wood, or a dark-brown metal, instead of the chrome bars used on most other highways. The guardrails were also made from wood and dark metal. Most early overpasses were stone, but were later changed to concrete, with green rails and retro etchings, popular around the 1950s and 1960s. The parkway was designed to curve gently throughout its length so that drivers would remain alert and not fall asleep at the wheel.

The highway was extended south to New Brunswick Avenue in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, on November 1 that year,{{cite news |date = November 2, 1950 |title = Last Link of New Parkway Opened Yesterday A. M. |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register-last-link-of-new-park/139285563/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Daily Register |pages = 2 }} In Cape May County, a {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in|adj=on}} bypass of Cape May Court House opened on July 29, 1951, from exit 12 to the point where the parkway directly parallels U.S. Route 9 north of Burleigh.{{cite news |date = June 29, 1951 |title = First Section Of Freeway Opens Today |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-first-section-of/139290279/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |pages = 15 }}{{cite map |author1 = United States Geological Survey |title = Stone Harbor, NJ |url = https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ht-bin/tv_browse.pl?id=ab5826e75075d2b9d28f2b1ef94ef69c |date = 1957 |scale = 1:24000 }} However, due to a lack of funds, construction of the Route 4 Parkway stalled. The only segment to open was 1952, only the bypass of Toms River was opened on July 3.{{cite news |date = July 3, 1952 |title = Toms River Bypass To Open Today |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-toms-river-bypass-to-open-t/139291472/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Courier-Post |pages = 2 }} The solution was for the state to establish the New Jersey Highway Authority (NJHA) in April 1952 to oversee construction and operation of the remainder of the parkway as a self-liquidating toll road from Cape May to the New York state line.{{cite encyclopedia |last1 = Laurie |first1 = Maxine N. |last2 = Mappen |first2 = Marc |encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of New Jersey |publisher = Rutgers University Press |year = 2004–2005 |page = 305 |title = Garden State Parkway }}{{cite book |author = New Jersey Highway Authority |date = January 30, 1952 |title = First Annual Report |url = https://dspace.njstatelib.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a349ea0d-df30-4a6e-8adb-3d91ecb7ad26/content |location = Trenton |publisher = New Jersey Highway Authority |access-date = August 14, 2024 |via = New Jersey State Library }}{{page needed|date=August 2024}} The parkway was extended north to Union Township on July 16, 1953.{{cite news |date = July 16, 1953 |title = Cranford–Union Section of Parkway Opens Today |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-cranford-union-section-o/139287814/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Herald-News |page = 1 |via = Newspapers.com }} On September 16, 1953, pedestrians were banned from the parkway in order to increase safety on the segment with at-grade intersections.{{cite news |title = Pedestrians Ruled Off New Parkway |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-pedestrians-ruled-off-ne/127913779/ |newspaper = The Herald-News |location = Passaic, New Jersey |date = September 16, 1953 |page = 16 |access-date = July 9, 2023 |via = Newspapers.com }}

File:2021-05-27 12 22 23 View south along U.S. Route 9 and New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) from the overpass for Ocean County Route 527 (Lakehurst Road) in Toms River Township, Ocean County, New Jersey.jpg

Sections opened in quick succession in 1954; these were the first to be tolled. The first tolled segment was opened on January 13, 1954, from U.S. Route 22 to Mill Road. Due to poor weather conditions, tolls were not collected until January 15.{{cite news |date = January 15, 1954 |title = First Tolls Being Taken on Parkway |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-first-tolls-being-taken/139309056/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Herald-News |pages = 14 }} The Toms River bypass was extended south to Manahawkin on July 15,{{cite news |date = July 15, 1954 |title = Parkway Opens In Ocean County |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register-parkway-opens-in-ocea/139309362/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Daily Register |pages = 17 }} and north to the Eatontown Spur (now Route 36) on July 30, 1954.{{cite news |date = July 29, 1954 |title = 42-Mile Shore Parkway Link Opens Tomorrow |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-42-mile-shore-parkway/139310757/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Asbury Park Press |pages = 1 }} The bridge carrying the parkway over the Raritan River was also opened to northbound traffic on this day,{{cite news |title = New Garden State Link. Raritan Bridge Is Opened for Northbound Traffic |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1954/07/31/archives/new-garden-state-link-raritan-bridge-is-opened-for-northbound.html |quote = The New Jersey Highway Authority today opened a new link in the Garden State Parkway -- the high-level bridge over the Raritan River for northbound traffic. |agency = Associated Press |work = The New York Times |date = July 31, 1954 |access-date = March 18, 2009 }} extending the highway south to U.S. Route 9 in Sayreville.{{cite news |date = July 29, 1954 |title = Raritan River Bridge On Parkway to Open |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bayonne-times-raritan-river-bridge-o/139309977/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Bayonne Times |pages = 13 }} The southbound lanes were opened on the bridge south to Eatontown on August 4, and an extension to New Gretna opened the day after.{{cite news |date = August 5, 1954 |title = State Parkway Link Opened |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-state-parkway-link-open/139312099/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Courier-News |pages = 3 }} Closing the northbound gap from Eatontown to Sayreville on August 7 provided for 90 miles of unbroken highway.{{cite news |date = August 8, 1954 |title = Parkway Open to New Gretna |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-parkway-open-to-n/139310064/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |page = 1 }} Within Atlantic County, a large section from Tilton Road in Egg Harbor Township to the south bank of the Mullica River opened on August 11, though north of the White Horse Pike the road initially operated as a temporary super two on the southbound lanes{{cite news |date = August 12, 1954 |title = Atlantic Co. Section Of Parkway Opens |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-atlantic-co-sect/139312759/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |pages = 1 }} until August 21.{{cite news |date = August 21, 1954 |title = Pike–Mullica G.S. Parkway Section Open |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-pike-mullica-gs/139507927/ |access-date = January 25, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |pages = 13 }} This was extended south to Somers Point on August 27 (again as a super-two before the northbound lanes opened on September 22{{cite news |date = September 23, 1954 |title = New Parkway Stretch Opens |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-new-parkway-stretch-ope/139319154/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Courier-News |pages = 15 }}), then connected across the Mullica River to the existing section on August 28 over a temporary super-two,{{cite news |date = August 27, 1954 |title = Garden State Parkway Links 113 Unbroken Miles Tomorrow |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-journal-garden-state-parkway-l/139317635/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Daily Journal |pages = 1 }} with the other lanes opened a few weeks later. The Cape May section of highway was also extended north to Route 50 at Seaville that day,{{cite news |date = August 26, 1954 |title = Parkway Open To Wildwood By Labor Day |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-parkway-open-to-w/139315119/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |pages = 1 }} which then was extended south to Route 47 on September 4,{{cite news |date = September 4, 1954 |title = Cape Parkway Strip Opened |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-cape-parkway-stri/139314097/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |pages = 1 }} and north to Beesley's Point Bridge on October 6. The entire highway south of Irvington was declared finished on October 9, 1954. The lone exception was across the Great Egg Harbor; the parkway temporarily detoured onto U.S. Route 9 and over the Beesley's Point Bridge at this point.{{cite news |date = October 11, 1954 |title = Parkway Now Links Irvington, Cape May |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-parkway-now-links/139320203/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |pages = 10 }}{{cite news |last1 = Higgins |first1 = Columb |title = Last of Beesleys Point Bridge blasted |url = https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/last-of-beesleys-point-bridge-blasted/article_7960a920-c3f2-5e7f-9e44-c24d8177d14c.html |access-date = July 22, 2019 |agency = Gazette of Upper Township |newspaper = The Press of Atlantic City |date = November 18, 2016 }} Literature from the time suggested that the parkway would become toll-free once bonds used for its construction were paid off. However, this speculation never became a reality.

File:GSP NB from NJ 27 overpass.jpeg

Segments north of Irvington began opening in the months thereafter. The section from Irvington to Central Avenue in East Orange was scheduled to open on November 26, but complaints about the road's safety from Irvington officials stalled opening until December 9, after the erection of temporary fences along the road's length.{{cite news |date = December 9, 1954 |title = Controversial Section Of Parkway Opens |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-controversial-sec/139322805/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |pages = 2 }} An extension north also proved tumultuous: though scheduled to open on January 4, the extension to North Arlington Avenue opened a day earlier than scheduled. Mayor William McConnell ordered a blockade on this section of the highway on January 4, stating that North Arlington Avenue would be unable to handle traffic coming from the parkway. It was only when the southbound section was opened to exit 148 on January 8 that the blockade was lifted on the southbound section.{{cite news |date = January 10, 1955 |title = Parkway Opens Contested Lane |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-parkway-opens-con/139324750/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |pages = 11 }} At this point, Bloomfield mayor Donald E. Scott prevented the opening of the northbound lanes until the completion of a new bridge carrying Bloomfield Avenue over Second River needed to carry exiting traffic. Though this bridge was not completed for some time, the highway opened fully to U.S. Route 46 on January 19, negating this prerequisite.{{cite news |date = January 19, 1955 |title = Parkway Opens Without Ceremony |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-parkway-opens-without-ce/139325761/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Herald-News |pages = 1 }} However, Mayor Scott still barred all entrances and exits except for the southbound entrance from Bloomfield Avenue, until an inspection proved the highway safe; the exits were finally opened on January 21.{{cite news |date = January 21, 1955 |title = Parkway Barriers To Be Removed |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-parkway-barriers-to-be-r/139326549/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Herald-News |pages = 1 }} During this conflict, the section from Route 3 to Hazel Street in Clifton opened on January 4. A similar blockade was threatened to be placed, but the announcement of speedy construction of fencing prevented this.{{cite news |date = January 4, 1955 |title = Garden State Parkway Opens Clifton Stretch |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-garden-state-parkway-ope/139323417/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Herald-News |pages = 1 }} On May 10, 1955, legislation was passed that made it legal for emergency vehicles to not pay tolls when on duty.{{cite news |title = Parkway Issued Rules Booklet |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-hh-laws/25506683/ |newspaper = The Central New Jersey Home News |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |date = May 10, 1955 |page = 9 |access-date = November 18, 2018 |via = Newspapers.com }} The bridge over the Passaic River opened on May 26, 1955. This extended the parkway's northern terminus to U.S. Route 46 in present-day Elmwood Park. On July 1 of that year, the portion of the highway from U.S. Route 46 to Route 17 in Paramus opened. In spring 1955, a widening project began between U.S. Route 22 and the Raritan River bridge; this would expand the roadway from four to six lanes. It was completed on July 9 of that year.{{cite book |author = New Jersey Highway Authority |url = http://archive.org/details/firstfiveyearsof00newj |title = The First Five Years of the Garden State Parkway, 1954–1959 |date = 1959 |location = Red Bank |publisher = New Jersey Highway Authority |page = [https://archive.org/details/firstfiveyearsof00newj/page/12/mode/2up 12] |via = Internet Archive }} In late 1955, construction of a northbound roadway began in Cape May. The new roadbed was opened north of Seaville by October 17, south of Cape May Court House by October 25, and fully by October 28.{{cite news |date = November 3, 1955 |title = Garden State Parkway Now Completely Divided Highway |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/ridgewood-herald-news-garden-state-parkw/139321193/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Ridgewood Herald-News |page = 10 |via = Newspapers.com }} On April 16, 1956, the parkway's trailblazer was posted.{{cite report |title = Garden State Parkway: 1956 Annual Report |publisher = New Jersey Highway Authority |date = 1956 |url = https://dspace.njstatelib.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/b1f8c359-73cc-4767-9b3c-5631388a19da/content |access-date = July 2, 2024 |via = New Jersey State Library }} The final stretch of permanent roadway was opened alongside the Great Egg Harbor Bridge,{{cite news |date = June 16, 1956 |title = New Great Egg Harbor Bay Bridge To Be Dedicated By Parkway With Pageant Today |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-new-great-egg-har/139327101/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |pages = 1 }} completing the parkway as outlined in original plans.

Soon after the parkway's opening, congestion on Route 17 increased substantially, prompting an extension of the parkway to Montvale, connecting to the newly built New York State Thruway. By November 30, 1955, it had been determined that this extension was financially feasible. On January 18, 1956, the NJHA entered into an agreement with the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) for the prompt, and coordinated plans for extension. The agreement was formally signed on February 1 by NJHA Chairwoman Katharine E. White and NYSTA Chairman Bertram D. Tallamy. Groundbreaking for the road began on May 1 of that year. Unlike previous segments of the roadway, this one uses prestressed concrete for overpasses; this made correcting errors during construction or future demolition easier.{{cite news |title = Cement Feature Eliminates Steel |work = The Record |location = Hackensack, NJ |date = August 29, 1957 |page = 44 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-cement-feature-eliminates-ste/139328320/ |access-date = July 4, 2024 }} It was originally proposed as part of a northern extension of the unbuilt Route 101, a highway that was intended to run from Kearny to Hackensack. The extension, Route S101, would have continued northward from Hackensack to the state line via Paramus.State of New Jersey, Laws of 1929, Chapter 105, Page 386, Section 1. Approximately {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}} in length, the extension was planned to run north through the Bergen County municipalities of Paramus, Washington Township, Hillsdale, Woodcliff Lake, and Montvale to the state line, where the parkway would meet with a connecting spur from the mainline of the New York State Thruway. Part of the extension to Chestnut Ridge opened on July 3, 1957,{{cite news |date = July 3, 1957 |title = Parkway Road Open for Use |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-parkway-road-open-for-use/139327791/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Record |pages = 6 }} and the Thruway's Garden State Parkway Connector opened on August 29 that year.{{cite news |date = August 29, 1957 |title = New Thruway Link Ready For Travel |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-new-thruway-link-ready-for-tr/139328064/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |work = The Record |pages = 43 }} In only 36 hours, the extension reported 8,000 drivers.{{cite news |title = Drivers Crowd Parkway Link |work = Bergen Evening Record |date = July 5, 1957 |page = 1 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/54673629/ |access-date = June 19, 2024 }}

On February 7, 1958, U-turning was banned in order to increase safety. This was enforced at both the toll plazas and on the main roadway, and was considered a violation even if done to correct error.{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1958/02/08/archives/no-uturns-allowed-garden-state-parkway-bars-them-even-to-rectify.html |title = No U-Turns Allowed: Garden State Parkway Bars Them, Even to Rectify Error |work = The New York Times |date = February 8, 1958 }}

File:2020-07-16 08 58 36 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 154 (U.S. Route 46 WEST, Clifton) in Clifton, Passaic County, New Jersey.jpg

By the time the parkway had been extended to the New York State Thruway, the need for a full interchange at the exit 154 was noted. Following the recommendation of a survey to do so, D. Louis Tonti, the executive director of the New Jersey Highway Authority, announced plans in December 1957 to construct two new overpasses at exit 154 in Clifton. These overpasses would connect drivers from U.S. Route 46 eastbound to the parkway northbound, and from the parkway southbound to U.S. Route 46 westbound. In May 1958, a bid of the project went to Thomas Nichol Company, Inc. of Farmingdale, and construction began immediately.{{cite news |title = Work Begins on Clifton Interchange of Parkway |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34661766/exit_154_may_2_1958/ |access-date = August 7, 2019 |work = The Herald-News |date = May 2, 1958 |location = Passaic, New Jersey |pages = 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34661790/parkway_exit_158_may_2_1958/ 2] |via = Newspapers.com }} By August 1958, the piers for the new viaduct from U.S. Route 46 eastbound to the parkway northbound were finishing up.{{cite news |title = Parkway-Rt. 46 Job Proceeds in Clifton |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34662067/parkway_exit_154_august_5_1958/ |access-date = August 7, 2019 |work = The Paterson Evening News |date = August 5, 1958 |page = 1 |via = Newspapers.com }} In September, the completed piers had roadway construction on top of them.{{cite news |title = Early A.M. Detour Tomorrow in Clifton at Parkway, Rt. 46 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34662716/route_46_viaduct_september_11_1958/ |access-date = August 7, 2019 |work = The Herald-News |date = September 11, 1958 |location = Passaic, New Jersey |page = 2 |via = Newspapers.com }} The new ramps opened on January 1, and the toll booths on the ramps opened the in February,{{cite news |title = Clifton's New Parkway Ramps Open Tuesday |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34662944/exit_154_december_26_1958/ |access-date = August 7, 2019 |work = The Herald-News |date = December 25, 1958 |location = Passaic, New Jersey |page = 24 |via = Newspapers.com }} replacing the toll booths on the grounded ramps, which were later demolished.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-plan-program-for-parkw/149548468/ |title = Plan Program For Parkway Interchange |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = January 13, 1959 |page = 5 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} The total cost of the project was $2.25 million,{{cite news |title = Parkway Work to Expand Interchange at Route 46 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34661345/exit_154_may_29_1958/ |access-date = August 7, 2019 |work = The Herald-News |date = May 29, 1958 |location = Passaic, New Jersey |pages = 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34661397/parkway_154_may_29_1958_part_2/ 10] |via = Newspapers.com }} which was half a million higher than the original estimate.{{cite news |title = Parkway to Build 2 New Rt. 46 Ramps in Spring |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34660834/exit_154_december_12_1957/ |access-date = August 7, 2019 |work = The Herald-News |date = December 12, 1957 |location = Passaic, New Jersey |page = 2 |via = Newspapers.com }} Dedication of the overpasses occurred on January 15, 1959, when the Highway Authority and several city officials attended a ceremony and a luncheon.{{cite news |title = Officials Dedicate Parkway Interchange With Route 46 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34660520/exit_154_january_16_1959/ |access-date = August 7, 2019 |work = The Herald-News |date = January 16, 1959 |location = Passaic, New Jersey |page = 2 |via = Newspapers.com }} During 1959, traffic counts noted 1.5 million cars used the ramps.{{cite news |title = 1,500,000 Cars Have Used New Parkway-Route 46 Links |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34660496/exit_154_february_29_1960/ |access-date = August 7, 2019 |work = The Herald-News |date = February 29, 1960 |location = Passaic, New Jersey |page = 38 |via = Newspapers.com }}

In June 1958, the southbound road between the exit 117 and the Asbury Park Toll Plaza was widened from two lanes to three lanes. Additionally, that same summer, the Highway authority began enforcing the speed limit through use of radar.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-nj-turnpike-radar-sign/43021856/ |title = Here's How Radar Operates |newspaper = The Herald-News |location = Passaic, New Jersey |date = June 4, 1958 |page = 20 |access-date = January 26, 2020 |via = Newspapers.com }} On June 19, 1959, the northbound roadway equivalent was widened, completing the project.

On December 30, 1959, exit 139B was opened. The ramp, which served the missing movements both exit 139 and exit 140 lacked, had cost $108,487 in state funds to construct.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-exit-139b-december-30/27170527/ |title = New Parkway Ramp Opened |newspaper = The Courier-News |location = Plainfield, New Jersey |date = December 30, 1959 |page = 19 |via = Newspapers.com }}

On February 1, 1961, the state banned motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles from the entire road. This ban was approved by the highway department's safety committee and state attorney for the toll-free segments and NJHA's safety committee for the tolled ones. This followed a year involving 20 motorcycle accidents that resulted in two fatalities. Motorists who were caught using these modes of transportation on the parkway faced either a fine of $200 or 30-day jail sentence.{{cite news |title = Garden State Parkway to Ban Motorcycles on 1st |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37049881/gsp_motorcycle_january_6_1961/ |access-date = October 11, 2019 |work = The Daily Record |date = January 6, 1961 |location = Long Branch, New Jersey |page = 3 |via = Newspapers.com }}

On December 5, 1962, a new ramp from exit 120 onto the northbound lanes opened to traffic, serving direct access to them without traveling through Cheesequake State Park.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-exit-12/27170550/ |title = New Parkway Ramp Opened |newspaper = The Central New Jersey Home News |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |date = December 5, 1962 |page = 52 |via = Newspapers.com }}

File:2020-07-11 15 05 59 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 114 (Holmdel, Middletown) in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg

In March 1961, the Highway Authority announced that plans were being made to construct a new interchange at either Red Hill Road or Nutswamp Road.{{cite news |title=New Interchange Set for Middletown |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34686240/bell_114_march_31_1961/ |accessdate=August 8, 2019 |work=The Daily Record |date=March 31, 1961 |location=Long Branch, New Jersey |page=1|via=Newspapers.com}} By June, the Highway Authority announced that the interchange would be built at Red Hill Road.{{cite news |title = Road Costs Told for Bell Project |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34686217/bell_114_june_23_1961/ |access-date = August 8, 2019 |work = The Daily Register |date = June 23, 1961 |location = Red Bank, New Jersey |pages = 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34686195/bell_114_june_23_1961_part_2/ 2] |via = Newspapers.com }} In November, it was announced the exit would replace the free exit 116, though rather than being demolished, it would simply be restricted to emergency traffic.{{cite news |title = New Parkway Interchange at Red Hill Road Approved |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28122762/red_hill_interchange_november_28_1961/ |access-date = August 8, 2019 |work = The Daily Register |date = November 28, 1961 |location = Red Bank, New Jersey |pages = 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34689667/red_hill_november_28_1961_part_2/ 3] |via = Newspapers.com }} Exit 114 would help relieve local congestion that traveled to the new Bell Labs Holmdel Complex and other industrial parks operating in the area.{{cite news |title = New Interchange Set for Middletown |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34686240/bell_114_march_31_1961/ |access-date = August 8, 2019 |work = The Daily Record |date = March 31, 1961 |location = Long Branch, New Jersey |page = 1 |via = Newspapers.com }} On December 14, the Highway Authority made an appropriation of $50,000 for the engineering work on the interchange.{{cite news |title = OK $50,000 for Parkway Ramp Plans |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34690011/exit_114_december_15_1961/ |access-date = August 8, 2019 |work = The Asbury Park Evening Press |date = December 15, 1961 |page = 2 |via = Newspapers.com }} Construction began on the exit 114 ramps on July 30, 1962, when construction equipment was taken to the site.{{cite news |title = Issue Still Alive |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34727838/exit_114_july_31_1962/ |access-date = August 9, 2019 |work = The Daily Register |date = July 30, 1962 |location = Red Bank, New Jersey |pages = 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34727849/exit_114_july_31_1962_part_2/ 2] |via = Newspapers.com }} The exit was opened to traffic on December 20, 1962.{{cite news |title = Parkway Opens Interchange in Monmouth |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34728692/exit_114_december_20_1962/ |access-date = August 9, 2019 |work = The Paterson Evening News |date = December 20, 1962 |page = 24 |via = Newspapers.com }} with two toll facilities also being constructed. Exit 116 was closed as planned; this was received negatively by locals.{{cite news |title = County Planners Protest Closing |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34721983/exit_116_may_29_1962/ |access-date = August 9, 2019 |work = The Daily Register |date = May 29, 1962 |location = Red Bank, New Jersey |pages = 1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34721994/exit_116_may_29_1962/ 2] |via = Newspapers.com }}

On June 18, 1963, a meeting was held between NJHA officials, Senator Charles W. Sandman Jr., and the Cape May County Board of Freeholders. They discussed safety issues found at exit 12's exit ramp. A northbound-only ramp that traveled at-grade across the southbound lanes; it had been described as a "serious hazard" by the NJHA's safety committee. After an agreement was settled on and approval came from the State Highway department, it was announced to the public on June 26 that the northbound ramp would close permanently. When this occurred on July 2, all northbound traffic that previously utilized the ramp was advised to use exit 13, only {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} to the north, instead. The entrance onto the northbound lanes from U.S. Route 9 was left unaltered.{{cite news |date = June 27, 1963 |title = N.J. Closing Exit 12 Of Cape Parkway For Safety Reasons |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-nj-closing-exit/139492539/ |access-date = January 24, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |pages = 3 |via = Newspapers.com }}

On July 31, 1964, a project to construct exit 38 was completed. The cloverleaf interchange, which cost approximately $800,000,{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register-exit-38-july-30-196/34633490/ |title = Interchange 38 to Open |newspaper = The Daily Register |location = Red Bank, New Jersey |date = July 30, 1964 |at = § 2, p. 1 |via = Newspapers.com }} was built to serve as a link to the newly constructed Atlantic City Expressway.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-millville-daily-exit-38-july-30-1/27493871/ |title = Exit 38, July 30, 1964 |newspaper = The Millville Daily |date = July 30, 1964 |page = 1 |via = Newspapers.com }}

In May 1962, plans were announced to widen the segment from exit 154 to just near exit 158 from two lanes to three lanes.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-parkway-154-158-159-m/19544742/ |title = Outline Plans for Parkway Improvement |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = May 3, 1962 |page = 9 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} As part of this project, the Passaic River Bridge was to be reconstructed with a wider superstructure and piers. The Bergen Toll Plaza also was rebuilt to give each direction dedicated toll canopies instead of all traffic merging into a single canopy, as then existed. This part of project was completed in December 1963. A two-mile segment of roadway from the Passaic County line to exit 154 also was repaved, to add a one-inch overlay of asphalt. This project also included lengthening and widening northbound acceleration lanes to exit 153A, exit 153B, and the grounded ramp at exit 154. This part of the project began on August 1 and was completed by October 31.{{cite news |title = Parkway Exit 158 Southbound Closing Permanently in Week: To Be Replaced by Larger One in Bergen; Bloomfield–Clifton Stretch to Be Repaved |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-exit-158-june-21-1963/32745698/ |newspaper = The Herald-News |location = Passaic, New Jersey |date = June 21, 1963 |page = 2 |access-date = June 11, 2019 |via = Newspapers.com }} Construction also began on a new exit 159. This interchange would serve Interstate 80 with direct connections and Midland Avenue with indirect connections. In preparation for this construction, the northbound exit and southbound entrance of exit 158 were closed permanently on March 16, 1963,{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-exit-158-closed-march/19545549/ |title = 'Jungle of Wires': Power Lines Called Blemish on Parkway |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = March 8, 1963 |page = 21 |access-date = April 25, 2018 |via = Newspapers.com }} with the remaining connections closed on June 22. On December 23 of that year, the ramps onto Midland Avenue from exit 159 were opened to traffic. Tolling of the interchange began immediately. However, the ramps to and from I-80 would not open until October 20, 1964. The project cost a total of $4,500,000.{{cite news |date = October 20, 1964 |title = First Section Of Expressway Open From Bridge To Parkway |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-first-section-of-expressway-o/138881703/ |access-date = January 16, 2024 |work = The Record |pages = 4 }} In November of that year, the northbound exit and southbound entrance at exit 157 were permanently closed, to encourage use of exit 159.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-exit-157-october-27-19/32745992/ |title = Parkway to Close Two Links with Route 46 in a Month |newspaper = The Herald-News |location = Passaic, New Jersey |date = October 27, 1964 |page = 13 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }}

On March 8, 1965, a project began to improve the segment between the Cape May Toll Plaza and exit 30. It involved a major reconstruction of exit 29, replacing the at-grade intersection with a new grade-separated northbound exit and southbound entrance. Exit 30 also had its northbound entrance and southbound exit closed and a toll plaza constructed. Additionally, the Great Egg Toll Plaza was replaced by a new, wider plaza north of the old one, and the Cape May toll plazas had two extra collection lanes constructed. While initially planned for competition by July 1,{{cite news |title = Parkway Interchange to be Closed |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27444884/exit_30_hafl_closed_march_4_1965/ |access-date = January 21, 2019 |work = The Courier-Post |date = March 4, 1965 |location = Camden, New Jersey |page = 6 |via = Newspapers.com }} competition was delayed to July 15.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/147718906/ |title = Parkway Toll Irks Visitors, Worries Mayors |page = 4 |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 |url-access = subscription }}

In the mid-1960s, a project to reconstruct interchanges in Essex County was undertaken. On January 1, 1966, a project was completed that constructed longer deceleration lanes and widened the exit and entrance ramps of exits 148 and 144.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-exit-146-december-11-1965/29982374/ |title = 'Super-Safety Structures' for Garden State Parkway |newspaper = The News |location = Paterson, New Jersey |date = December 11, 1965 |page = 23 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} On January 10, tolling began on exit 148.{{cite news |title = Tolls Start Jan. 12 on New Parkway Interchanges |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29982103/exit_145146_december_29_1965/ |access-date = March 27, 2019 |work = The Paterson Daily News |date = December 29, 1965 |page = 20 |via = Newspapers.com }} In December 1965, a related project began to reconstruct exit 143. It would contain a collector-distributor roadway. The project was completed on April 12, 1966, exit 142 was then renumbered as exit 143 . Additionally, in December 1965, plans were announced to replace exits 145. Unlike the old ramps, this new one would provide access to I-280. Also as part of this project, exit 146 would be demolished, and an overpass would be built to replace part of the depressed roadway. The exits 146 and 145 were permanently closed to traffic in late 1965. On January 12, 1966, the replacement exit 145 were opened to traffic, though the ramps onto I-280 at the latter remained barricaded off while the highway was still under construction. On October 13, 1967, the I-280 segment and its ramps were partially opened, completing the project.{{cite news |title = Parkway Link Opens Tuesday |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19429382/exit_145_october_14_1967/ |access-date = April 21, 2018 |work = The Asbury Park Press |date = October 14, 1967 |page = 20 |via = Newspapers.com }} These projects were carried out to reduce congestion, which had previously run rampant due to its interchanges being largely free of tolls.{{cite news |title = Paramus, Highway Authority Agree to Joint Road Construction Program |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-exit-165166-may-4-196/34633981/ |newspaper = The Herald-News |location = Passaic, New Jersey |date = May 4, 1966 |page = 65 |access-date = August 6, 2019 |via = Newspapers.com }}

The Highway Authority rebuilt exit 4 into a full interchange, with new ramps being built and old ones being reconstructed to provide full connections.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-funsunatwildwoodnjthe/108110534/ |title = Fun, Sun at Wildwood, NJ |newspaper = The Baltimore Sun |date = May 12, 1969 |page = 6M |access-date = August 22, 2022 |via = Newspapers.com }} The project, completed on May 24, 1968, also involved the construction of two new toll facilities. In March of that year, construction also began on a new access road to the Garden State Arts Center at exit 116. It was completed in June of that year,{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1968/03/31/archives/jersey-parkways-tolls-pave-a-road-to-the-arts.html |title = Jersey Parkway's Tolls Pave a Road to the Arts |first = Walter H. |last = Waggoner |date = March 31, 1968 |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} and on August 8, exit 116 was reopened with a new exit number.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-exit-116-august-8-1968/34732666/ |title = Parkway Exit 116 for Those Going to Arts Center |newspaper = The News |location = Patterson, New Jersey |date = August 8, 1968 |page = 3 |via = Newspapers.com }}

File:2024-10-08 15 18 01 View north along U.S. Route 9 and New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) just north of Exit 25 in Upper Township, Cape May County, New Jersey.jpg

In May 1966, the borough of Paramus and the New Jersey Highway Authority announced plans to replace exit 165, as well as widening of the segment to three lanes. It would have involved construction of new overpasses and demolition of the old ones, including a new pedestrian overpass to serve a nearby school. Costing $3.7 million (equivalent to ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|3700000|1966}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}}), Construction on the new complete interchange began almost immediately, with the new southbound ramps opening on November 30, 1966,{{cite news |date = November 30, 1966 |title = Garden State Parkway Opens Entrance Ramps |page = 59 |work = The Herald-News |location = Passaic, New Jersey |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34634444/exit_165_sb_november_30_1966/ |access-date = August 6, 2019 |via = Newspapers.com }} On December 29, the dual ramps on the northbound direction opened. On February 13, tolls went into effect on the Ridgewood Avenue intersection.{{cite news |date = February 10, 1967 |title = Use of Interchange to Cost Dime Soon |page = 8 |work = The Bergen Record |location = Hackensack, New Jersey |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34634522/exit_165_january_12_1967/ |access-date = August 6, 2019 |via = Newspapers.com }} On January 6, 1967, exit 166 was closed to prevent traffic from traveling through them. The reasoning for this was that traffic heading onto them congested many of the local roads.{{cite news |date = December 29, 1966 |title = Parkway Ramps to Go Into Use |page = 27 |work = The Paterson Morning Call |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34633945/parkway_165_december_29_1966/ |access-date = August 6, 2019 |via = Newspapers.com }} By September, it had been forcibly reopened after a gag order was secured to prevent local authorities from affecting parkway operations.{{cite news |title = Court Bars Barricades; Interchange 166 Opens |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34633788/exit_166_september_23_1967/ |access-date = August 7, 2019 |work = The Paterson Daily News |date = September 23, 1967 |page = 23 |via = Newspapers.com }} In early 1967, the parkway was widened from four lanes to six lanes between the Bergen Toll Plaza and exit 161 in Paramus. In 1968, the road was widened from four lanes to six lanes between exit 163 and exit 165. In early 1969, the roadway was widened between exit 163 and exit 161. These widenings made the entire {{Convert|80|mi|km|abbr=|adj=on}} stretch from Ocean County to Paramus at least six lanes wide.{{cite news |title = Paramus, Highway Authority Agree to Joint Road Construction Program |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34633981/exit_165166_may_4_1966/ |access-date = August 6, 2019 |work = The Herald-News |date = May 4, 1966 |location = Passaic, New Jersey |page = 65 |via = Newspapers.com }} When the parkway was opened through Clifton in 1955, a spur was supposed to open south of its exit to Broad Street at exit 155P.{{cite news |date = February 21, 1955 |title = Directories at Toll Plazas to Guide Parkway Motorists |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-exit-numbers-february-2/34576869/ |access-date = June 16, 2024 |work = The Herald-News |pages = 53 }} However, by 1965, no other construction had occurred, and the parkway's spur had been canceled. Because of this, in 1967, work began on a project to construct the remaining ramps at exit 155P (now exit 155A); instead of serving as a spur of the parkway, they would serve Route 20 (now Route 19) instead.{{cite news |date = September 8, 1967 |title = Peripheral Highway |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-peripheral-highway/149420864/ |access-date = June 16, 2024 |work = The News |pages = 36 }} The ramps were opened to traffic on October 20, 1969.{{cite news |date = October 21, 1969 |title = Route 20 Link Is Opened |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-route-20-link-is-opened/149421474/ |access-date = June 16, 2024 |work = The Morning Call |pages = 19 }}

File:America's Highways 1776–1976 - page 168.jpg

In 1972, the dualization of the Great Egg Harbor Bridge eliminated the final two-lane segment of the parkway.{{cite web |title = The Garden State Parkway Crossing the Great Egg Harbor Bay |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |url = http://www.njta.com/media/3387/great-egg-harbor-history.pdf |access-date = March 6, 2018 }} On September 18, 1969, a new exit 129 were opened,{{cite news |date = September 18, 1969 |title = Pike Linked To Parkway |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-pike-linked-to-parkway/139420001/ |access-date = January 24, 2024 |work = The Courier-News |pages = 15 |via = Newspapers.com }} the remaining ramps were opened to traffic by early 1970. This replaced the existing interchange, and made it so that the turnpike had direct connections to both directions and vice versa. On November 24, 1970, southbound parkway traffic from there south to the Raritan River was redirected onto a new roadway that lied in the median of the old one, the old were not demolished however, but rather became an exit onto U.S. Route 9, effectively creating a collector-distributor road.{{cite news |date = November 26, 1970 |title = New Routes Cause P'way Confusion |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-new-routes-cause/139455499/ |access-date = January 24, 2024 |work = Press of Atlantic City |page = 24 |via = Newspapers.com }} This bypass effectively eliminated the two former exits, while these still exist, they are now Route 9 exits.{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/18/archives/jersey-parkway-eliminates-two-southbound-exits.html |title = Jersey Parkway Eliminates Two Southbound Exits |work = The New York Times |date = November 18, 1970 }} On August 17, 1971, the same switch occurred to the northbound roadway, the old one also became a collector-distributor road, though it rather served as a U.S. Route 9 ramp to connect to the northbound GSP as well as the New Jersey Turnpike.{{cite news |date = August 15, 1971 |title = Parkway Traffic to Change Lanes Tuesday |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-parkway-traffic-to-cha/139418754/ |access-date = January 24, 2024 |work = Asbury Park Press |page = 11 |via = Newspapers.com }}

An expansion of the Driscoll Bridge across the Raritan River was completed on September 2, 1971.{{cite news |date = September 3, 1971 |title = Open Second Parkway Span at Raritan River |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register-open-second-parkway-s/139415354/ |access-date = January 24, 2024 |work = The Daily Register |page = 2 |via = Newspapers.com }} Work then began on widening the Sayerville side and repairing and widening the existing part of the bridge deck, work was completed by beginning of 1972.{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/06/archives/parkway-widening-to-ease-drives-to-shore.html |title = Parkway Widening to Ease Drives to Shore |date = February 6, 1972 |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} On January 17, 1973, exit 127 was opened to Route 440 south.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-part-of/139386844/ |title = Part of Parkway Link Open to 287 traffic |newspaper = The Central New Jersey Home News |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |date = January 18, 1973 |page = 12 |via = Newspapers.com }} By June, the link to Route 440 north had opened.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-parkway/139343795/ |title = Parkway's link with Route 440 opens Thursday |newspaper = The Central New Jersey Home News |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |date = June 26, 1973 |page = 7 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} In May 1973, exit 98 was opened to northbound traffic. On July 3, 1973, the southbound exit 98 opened, completing the project. this exit replaced the preexisting exits 96, 97, and 97A, with the new exit featuring a right hand collector-distributor roadway combining the cloverleafs at exits 97 and 97A as well as the left-hand ramp at exits 97,{{cite news |title = Parkway Improvement Program to Take Toll |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19478936/exits_9697_june_29_1973/ |access-date = April 22, 2018 |work = The Asbury Park Press |date = June 29, 1973 |page = 7 |via = Newspapers.com }}{{cite news |title = Parkway Changes |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32745776/exits_9697a_july_3_1974/ |access-date = June 10, 2019 |work = The Montclair Times |date = July 3, 1974 |page = 28 |via = Newspapers.com }} which had its southbound ramp closed on July 1, 1973.{{cite news |title = Parkway Plans to Shut Exits |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-parkway-exits-96-and-9/22212741/ |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = June 28, 1974 |page = C8 |access-date = July 26, 2018 |via = Newspapers.com }}

The speed limit was raised from {{convert|50|to|55|mph|km/h}} on January 3, 1974.{{cite news |title = Coats of Rain Add to Driver's Woes |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-national-speed-limit/98738996/ |newspaper = The Record |location = Hackensack, New Jersey |date = January 3, 1974 |page = A3 |access-date = March 31, 2022 |via = Newspapers.com }} Additionally, on February 21 of that year, a project to rebuild exit 91 to increase safety was completed, as part of this project, the at-grae intersection as toll plazas were constructed.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-exit-117a-february-21/36992831/ |title = Exit 117A, February 21, 1974 |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = February 21, 1974 |page = 2 |via = Newspapers.com }} On February 27, 1974, exit 117A (now exit 118) opened to the public; a temporary northbound ramp was opened while exit 117 was reconstructed into a right side exit. This was completed later that year, the new exit 117 as well as the southbound exit 117A were tolled, unlike their original equivalents. On July 2, 1973, southbound traffic heading onto exit 105 was redirected onto a new right hand ramp, and the left-hand ramp was permanently closed. In mid 1974, construction began on new express roadways in the median thorough Monmouth County; it was two lanes wide in each direction, and had much fewer exits than the local roadway. The segment from Sayerville to Keyport was opened on July 3.{{cite news |date = August 5, 1974 |title = Parkway express lane section open |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register-parkway-express-lane/139479247/ |access-date = January 24, 2024 |work = The Daily Register |page = 5 |via = Newspapers.com }} Alongside this project came new ramps onto exit 105. The segment of roadway from Keyport to the Tinton Falls toll plaza was opened on August 2 of that year. Alongside this segment came new ramps at exit 117.

On November 1, 1975, motorcycles were relegalized after over 14 years of protest from motorcyclists; all of the other restrictions remained.{{cite news |last1 = Karey |first1 = Gerald |title = Cyclists Back on Parkway at Midnight After 14 Years |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37050107/gsp_october_31_1975/ |access-date = October 11, 2019 |work = The Asbury Park Press |date = October 31, 1975 |page = 45 |via = Newspapers.com }}{{cite news |title = Forbes Takes Cycle Ban Fight to Washington |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37050267/malcolm_forbes_gsp_september_8_1973/ |access-date = October 11, 2019 |work = The Courier-News |date = September 8, 1973 |location = Plainfield, New Jersey |page = 3 |via = Newspapers.com }} Particular pushback was made by Malcolm Forbes,{{cite book |first = Melissa Holbrook |last = Pierson |title = The Perfect Vehicle: What It Is About Motorcycles |location = New York |publisher = W. W. Norton & Company |year = 1998 |isbn = 0-393-31809-5 |oclc = 39520883 |page = 82 }} who filed two lawsuits to stop this ban.{{citation needed|date= August 2024}} On April 14, 1976, exits 142 was opened to traffic.{{cite news |first = John O. |last = Davies |date = April 14, 1976 |title = Another link to Rt. 78, but . . . |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-another-link-to-rt-78/139207060/ |access-date = January 21, 2024 |work = The Courier-News |location = Bridgewater, New Jersey |page = 3 |via = Newspapers.com }} This interchange constructed by the highway department was first proposed in 1966.{{cite news |title = Parkway Reserves Future Exit Number |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-exits-1/19465777/ |newspaper = The Central New Jersey Home News |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |date = May 1, 1966 |page = 15 |access-date = April 22, 2018 |via = Newspapers.com }} The parkway was planned to have an interchange with Route 55 constructed at milepost 19. This was canceled in 1975 after the conclusion that the highway ran through too many wetland areas.{{cite news |last = Mansnerus |first = Laura |access-date = September 12, 2019 |title = Road and Rail; Seeking a Line in the Sand |newspaper = The New York Times |date = May 7, 2000 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/07/nyregion/road-and-rail-seeking-a-line-in-the-sand.html?scp=1&sq=new%20jersey%20%22route%2055%22&st=cse }} The idea has since been revisited after frequent traffic jams on Route 47.{{cite news |title = Hugin: Extend Route 55 in South Jersey |url = https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/hugin-extend-route-55-south-jersey/ |access-date = January 14, 2020 |work = Insider NJ |date = October 2, 2018 }}{{cite news |last1 = Barlow |first1 = Bill |title = Safety Cited in Push for Route 55 Extension |url = https://www.capemaycountyherald.com/news/article_3875386e-0779-11e8-b98a-6fac06a38d9b.html |access-date = January 14, 2020 |work = Cape May County Herald |date = February 1, 2018 }} The parkway was also planned to be the southern terminus of the unbuilt Driscoll Expressway, a {{convert|38|mi|km|adj=on}} toll road that was planned in the early 1970s to run from Toms River to the New Jersey Turnpike in South Brunswick; this plan was abandoned in 1977.{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1977/02/20/archives/new-jersey-weekly-turnpike-drops-crossstate-road-turnpike-drops.html |title = Turnpike Drops Cross-State Road |last = Sullivan |first = Ronald |date = February 20, 1977 |work = The New York Times |access-date = June 30, 2019 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }}

In 1979, proposals for an exit at milepost 124 were proposed; in 1980 construction of this interchange became a priority.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-exit-12/34731422/ |title = Old Bridge Glum about Road Signs |newspaper = The Central New Jersey Home News |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |date = February 27, 1980 |page = 7 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} In March of that year, Hardroads Inc., a firm located in East Brunswick, was hired to construct this new interchange.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-exit-124-april-23-19/34731367/ |title = State Hires Company to Build Interchange |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = April 23, 1982 |page = C16 |access-date = August 9, 2019 |via = Newspapers.com }} They quickly acquired land for the interchage, and construction began shortly after.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-exit-12/34731373/ |title = New Garden State Parkway Exit Planned for Sayreville |newspaper = The Central New Jersey Home News |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |date = March 26, 1982 |page = 27 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} On October 25, 1982, this exit was partially opened to traffic.{{cite news |title = Parkway Ramp Debuts Monday |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19429368/exit_124_opens_october_23_1982/ |access-date = April 21, 2018 |work = The Central Jersey Home News |date = October 23, 1982 |page = 3 |via = Newspapers.com }} Later, on November 19, the final part of the ramp was completed.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-exit-124-november-19/34731339/ |title = Parkway Interchange Opening in Sayreville |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = November 19, 1982 |page = 42 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} In 1980, plans was proposed to construct exit 84, which would have consisted of a southbound exit and northbound entrance onto Indian Head Road.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-parkway-interchange-84/37066914/ |title = Alternate Parkway Plan Unveiled |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = February 1, 1980 |page = 8 |access-date = October 12, 2019 |via = Newspapers.com }} They also would have widened the New Gretna Toll Plaza.{{cite news |last = Simmons |first = Fred |date = January 22, 1980 |title = Environmental Agency Fights Parkway Proposal |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-parkway-exit-84-janua/37066798/ |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |page = 2 |access-date = October 12, 2019 |via = Newspapers.com }} However, it was declared unbeneficial after a study deemed it to likely discourage use of public transit, and despite a replanning of the interchange, it was later shelved indefinitely. Additionally, in 1983, plans were made to reopen exit 116 as a tolled interchange. However, they ended up unsuccessful after protest from Homdel officials.{{cite news |first = Dan |last = Breen |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register-exit-116-toll-june-1/40045290/ |title = Homdel to fight exit at center |date = June 15, 1983 |newspaper = The Daily Register |location = Red Bank, New Jersey |pages = B1 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }}

In 1980, plans were made to construct exit 171, which would serve the boom of office complexes replacing farmland across Chestnut Ridge road. In March 1985, the entrance leading onto the southbound parkway was opened, with the exit ramp opening on July 25 of that year.{{cite news |last1 = Brackett |first1 = Georgia |title = Parkway Exit Finally Opens |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33615918/exit_171_july_26_1985/ |access-date = July 7, 2019 |work = The Bergen Record |date = July 26, 1985 |location = Hackensack, New Jersey |page = 3 |via = Newspapers.com }} In 1973, plans were made to widen a {{convert|3.1|mi|km|adj=on}} segment in Toms River. While this widening was planned to be completed by 1975,{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/01/archives/parkway-is-seeking-to-end-bottleneck.html |title = Parkway Is Seeking to End Bottleneck |work = The New York Times |date = May 1, 1973 }} however, its competition was delayed to 1978.{{cite magazine |last = Hofmann |first = F. J. |date = March 1978 |title = Highway Widening Proceeds Behind Semi-Permanent Median Barrier |url = https://trid.trb.org/Results?txtKeywords=HIGHWAY%20WIDENING%20PROCEEDS%20BEHIND%20SEMI-PERMANENT%20MEDIAN%20BARRIER&txtTitle=&txtSerial=&ddlSubject=&txtReportNum=&ddlTrisfile=&txtIndex=&specificTerms=&txtAgency=&sourceagency=&txtAuthor=&ddlResultType=&chkFulltextOnly=&abstractsOnly=&recordLanguage=&subjectLogic=or&termsLogic=or&dateStart=&dateEnd=&rangeType=emptyrange&sortBy=published&sortOrder=DESC&rpp=25#/View/73622 |magazine = Civil Engineering |volume = 48 |issue = 3 |pages = 92–94 |issn = 0885-7024 }} By 1979, work on the Toms River segment was completed, at this point the project transitioned to widening the segment between the Asbury Park toll plaza and exit 100 from two to four lanes, as well reconstructing exits 102, and widening the segment in Lakewood from two lanes to three lanes.{{cite web |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1978/02/28/archives/widening-jersey-parkway-stretch-is-bigger-job-than-original-road.html |title = Widening Jersey Parkway Stretch Is Bigger Job Than Original Road |date = February 28, 1978 |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} On November 17, 1980,{{cite news |title = Few Motorists Use Car Pool Lane |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press/127654533/ |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = November 18, 1980 |page = 32 |access-date = July 5, 2023 |via = Newspapers.com }} the road was widened from three to four lanes between exits 129 and exits 141.{{cite web |url = https://www.nj.gov/transportation/about/50thanniversary/njdot1980s.shtm |title = Through the Years: 1980s, NJDOT 50th Anniversary |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} These new lanes were HOV lanes that were restricted to vehicles with three or more occupants, though this was later lowered to two or more occupants in June 1981. They were converted into general use lanes in 1982 after almost universal criticism.{{cite book |url = https://trid.trb.org/View/196605 |isbn = 978-0-309-03520-0 |title = Garden State Parkway HOV Lane (Abridgment) |date = 1983 |publisher = National Academy of Sciences }} In late 1983, a project to widen the segment of roadway near the Raritan Toll Plaza from five to six lanes began. The entire project was completed by 1984.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/148496427/ |title = Uncorking Parkway Bottlenecks |date = October 23, 1983 |page = 60 |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 |url-access = subscription }} Work on the rest of the project was completed at the end of 1985. Also as part of this project the Asbury Park and Union toll plaza were reconstructed with dedicated canopies in each direction.{{cite book |author = New Jersey Highway Authority |year = 1985 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=7pcq-Fu4nJUC&q=work |title = Annual Report: New Jersey Highway Authority, Garden State Parkway, Garden State Arts Center |publisher = New Jersey Highway Authority |via = Google Books |access-date = August 10, 2024 }} This project made it so that the entire segment between Woodbridge and East Orange was at least four lanes wide.{{cite book |author = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |year = 2009 |title = 2009 Annual Report |url = https://www.njta.com/media/1694/fin_ann_rpt_2009.pdf |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority }}{{page needed|date=August 2024}}

On November 19, 1986, exit 131B was opened to traffic. The interchange, which was constructed as part of a related upgrade to Metropark station, cost $4.4 million to construct.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press/125914424/ |title = New Parkway Interchange Open at Woodbridge Station |date = November 20, 1986 |page = 15 |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} In 1987, the NJHA purchased the {{convert|19|mi|km}} of road that had been constructed by what is now the New Jersey Department of Transportation. These state-maintained segments were located in Cape May County between exits 6 and exits 12, in Ocean County between exit 80 and exit 83, and between exit 129 and exit 140. NJDOT sold the sections for one dollar with the requirement that tolls were never to be charged on them.{{cite news |date = February 21, 1999 |title = Parkway Has 'Free' Sections, but You Would Never Know It |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post/21466159/ |access-date = June 15, 2024 |work = Courier-Post |pages = 11 }} That same year, the roadway between mileposts 99.5 and 83.5 was restriped from two lanes with a shoulder to three lanes with no shoulder.{{cite web |url = https://www.nj.com/news/2012/08/parkway_widening_project_desig.html |title = Parkway's most dangerous stretch gains lane-widening project contract |date = August 15, 2012 }} In December 1986, a new right hand ramp at exit 100 was opened, the existing the left-hand one was then closed permanently.{{cite news |date = December 24, 1986 |title = Parkway Opens New Exit |page = 21 |work = The Asbury Park Press |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27494517/exit_100a_december_24_1986/ |access-date = January 21, 2019 |via = Newspapers.com }} Work also began in March 1987, to construct new overpasses, implode the existing ones, replacing lighting and signage, reconstructing the unaltered exits to meet with the new overpasses, and widening the parkway in the area from four lanes to six lanes. Work on the project was fully complete by December 1987.{{cite web |url = https://ghcci.com/projects/garden-state-parkway-contract-101a-691-interchange-100/ |title = Garden State Parkway Contract #101A-691, Interchange 100 |publisher = George Harms Construction Company }} In 1988, the northbound exit 105 ramp was reconstructed, a new new loop ramp was built to feed onto NJ route 18 northbound was built, and the existing deceleration lane was replaced by a new one. In addition, an on-ramp was built that allows southbound Route 18 traffic to enter the southbound local roadway.{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000018__-.pdf |title = Route 18 Straight Line Diagram |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |year = 2006 |access-date = May 16, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060322204547/http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000018__-.pdf |archive-date = March 22, 2006 }}

In 1994, a third lane was added to the segment between mileposts 81 and 82. The Highway Authority rebuilt exit 74. In addition to the construction of toll plazas in both directions, other alterations were made, such as demolishing the southbound entrance and exit ramps and constructing new ones to turn around at where the southbound entrance once was, thus eliminating the traffic signal that existed prior. This was completed on November 20, 1996, though at the cost of $4.4 million.{{cite news |title = No Free Ride |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-gsp-exit-74-tolls-1996/83309063/ |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = November 21, 1996 |page = 1 |access-date = September 2, 2021 |via = Newspapers.com }} In April 1997, plans to construct an jughandle overpass from southbound exits 159 onto eastbound I-80 were made. Also as part of this, new traffic signals would be installed at the Midland avenue ramps, and its overpass crossing the parkway would be reconstructed to be wider.{{cite press release |first = Jim |last = Berzok |date = April 1, 1997 |url = https://www.nj.gov/transportation/about/press/1997/040197a.shtm |title = Media Advisory |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} Work on this project began immediately, and the ramp was opened to traffic in January 1998, six months ahead of schedule. Despite the fact it was not designed with it in mind, the overpass carrying I-80 traffic was not rebuilt, instead, a retaining wall was constructed instead{{cite web |title = Merit Award: Short Span - Garden State Parkway Interchange 159 - Bergen County, New Jersey |publisher = American Institute of Steel Construction |url = https://www.aisc.org/globalassets/modern-steel/archives/2000/07/2000v07_garden_state.pdf |access-date = July 2, 2024 }}

On April 1, 1998, a project to construct a new northbound ramp to Lomell lane at exit 83 was completed. Later that year, a traffic signal was installed at exit 81, in addition to other safety improvements.{{cite news |first = Jean |last = Mikle |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-exit-83-january-9-19/34633767/ |title = New Parkway Ramp to Open 4 Months Early |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = January 9, 1998 |page = 3 |via = Newspapers.com }} Later that year, large portions of the roadway had their speed limit increased to {{convert|65|mph|km/h}}.{{cite web |last = Koch |first = Jeff |date = September 23, 2018 |title = Garden State Parkway |url = https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/garden-state-parkway |access-date = June 13, 2024 |website = Hemmings }} In June 1999, a project to expand the Barnegat toll plaza was completed and with it eliminated the final single canopied mainline plaza. Also included in this project was new fencing, new electrical work, increased landscaping, and a toll re-coordinating shed.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-barnegat-toll-plaza-19/83142041/ |title = Toll Plaza Expansion on Road to Completion |type = Photo |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = March 30, 1999 |page = 2 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} E-ZPass was first installed at the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza in December 1999,{{cite book |type = Report |last1 = Currie |first1 = Janet |last2 = Walker |first2 = Reed |title = Traffic Congestion and Infant Health: Evidence from E-ZPass |date = October 2009 |page = 11 |url = http://econ.ucsb.edu/~doug/245a/Papers/Traffic%20and%20Infant%20Health.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170813014422/http://econ.ucsb.edu/~doug/245a/Papers/Traffic%20and%20Infant%20Health.pdf |archive-date = August 13, 2017 |access-date = February 2, 2020 }}{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/ezpass/ezpass.pdf |date = July 11, 2002 |title = E-ZPass: A plan that works for NJ |pages = 9–10 |access-date = June 22, 2009 }} with the Raritan Toll plaza following in April 2000.{{cite news |title = E-ZPass Lanes Open a Busy Plaza |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-raritan/83309445/ |newspaper = The Central New Jersey Home News |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |date = April 1, 2000 |page = 1 |access-date = September 2, 2021 |via = Newspapers.com }} By August, installation of the system had been fully completed.

In April 2001, a project to replace the Dover Road overpass to allow for improvements to said road was completed.{{cite news |title = Berkeley parkway exchange under way |work = Asbury Park Press |date = June 24, 2001 |page = 27 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-berkeley-parkway-excha/139499611/ |access-date = July 5, 2024 }} Later that year, a law was also passed that required tolls to be kept as long as there are construction projects occurring,{{cite web |url = https://catcountry1073.com/why-there-will-always-be-construction-on-the-parkway/ |title = Why There Will Always be Construction on the Parkway |date = April 20, 2018 }} effectively shooting down any proposals to de-toll the tolled segments.

On July 9, 2003, Governor Jim McGreevey's plan to disband the New Jersey Highway Authority and give control of the parkway to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) was completed.{{cite web |title = Request for Bid |url = https://www.njta.com/media/3626/r-137627.pdf |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date = May 23, 2023 }} Additionally, in November of that year, construction was completed on the $16.23 million exit 89, a new southbound exit and northbound entrance in Lakewood. This new exit featured a toll facility, and was located in the same general area as exit 88. Due to featuring collector-distributor lanes, the Cedar Bridge Road bridge had to be demolished and a replacement with a wider superstructure built in its place.{{cite web |url = https://ghcci.com/projects/interchange-89-improvements/ |title = Garden State Parkway Interchange #89 improvements }}

In 2005, the entrance and exit at exit 123 were both widened from one lane to two lanes, a southbound entrance was constructed at exit 131, and missing links were constructed at exit 114 as well as exit 13.{{cite book |title = FY 2003-05 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program |url = https://www.nj.gov/transportation/capital/stip/Section5/authorities.PDF |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |date = October 8, 2002 |access-date = June 20, 2024 }}

In 2006, exit 77, an entirely new interchange, was opened to traffic. The interchange, which had the northbound and southbound ramps constructed {{convert|1/2|mi|km}} away from each other to avoid demolition of the nearby Double Trouble State Park, contains one toll facility in each direction.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Later that year, a project was also completed that rebuilt the overpass carrying NJ 138 eastbound over the Parkway.{{cite web |title = Garden State Parkway |website = NYCRoads |url = http://www.nycroads.com/roads/garden-state/ |access-date = May 27, 2024 }} This allowed the roadway underneath it to be widened from three to four lanes, as well as eliminating a curve the old overpass contained.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In March 2007, a project to reconstruct exit 69 was completed. New ramps were built, and the existing ones were demolished. Unlike them, the new ramps had full connections; the new ones were also tolled, with two plazas being built on each side. This also came with replacement of the overpass carrying traffic over the parkway with a longer one.{{cite web |url = https://ghcci.com/projects/interchange-69-ramptoll-improvements/ |title = Interchange #69 Ramp/Toll Improvements |publisher = George Harms Construction }}

In September 2006, construction began on improvements to exit 145.{{cite press release |url = http://www.nj.gov/transportation/about/press/2006/091506.shtm |title = NJDOT to begin reconstruction of Route I-280/Garden State Parkway Interchange 145 |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |date = September 15, 2006 |access-date = June 14, 2007 }} This project, which replaced the ramps with longer and wider ones as well as building new EZ-Pass lanes at the ramps toll plaza, was completed in November 2007 at the price of $11 million, and was completed three years ahead of schedule.

In October 2007, a project to improve exit 135 began. It was completed circa May 2008.{{cite web |title = Clark Circle |publisher = Union County Bureau of Traffic Safety & Maintenance |date = October 8, 2007 |url = http://www.ucnj.org/traffic/projects/clark/clark_circle.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071015075600/http://www.ucnj.org/traffic/projects/clark/clark_circle.htm |archive-date = October 15, 2007 |access-date = August 8, 2008 }}

In 2001, plans to reconstruct exit 63 and add missing connections were announced.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-berkeley-parkway-excha/139499611/ |title = Berkeley parkway exchange under way |newspaper = Asbury Park Press |date = June 24, 2001 |page = 27 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = June 20, 2024 }} This project was completed in late 2008. That same year, the speed limit was reverted to {{convert|55|mph|km/h}} between mileposts 80 and 100 in order to reduce accidents.

File:Driscoll-vieser-edison bridges 2002.jpg

On September 25, 2002, construction began on a new span of the Driscoll Bridge just west of the original spans, consisting of seven lanes and emergency shoulders. On May 3, 2006, all traffic was shifted onto the new span, and the original was closed for superstructure replacement.{{cite web |title = Driscoll Bridge |url = https://structurae.net/en/structures/driscoll-bridge-2006 |website = Structurae |access-date = January 15, 2020 }} On May 20, 2009, all northbound traffic was shifted back onto the original spans, and the new one was made exclusively for southbound traffic.{{cite news |last1 = Yurasko |first1 = William |title = Garden State Parkway's Driscoll Bridge now 15 lanes |url = https://www.yurasko.net/wfy/2009/05/garden-state-parkways-driscoll-bridge-now-15-lanes.html |access-date = September 11, 2019 |date = May 21, 2009 }}

File:Garden State Parkway Toll booth.jpg

To reduce congestion, 10 of the 11 toll plazas on the roadway were converted into one-way plazas between 2004 and 2010. The Cape May (in Upper Township), Great Egg (in Somers Point), New Gretna (in Bass River Township), Barnegat (in Barnegat Township), Asbury Park (in Tinton Falls), Raritan (in Sayreville), Union (in Hillside), Essex (in Bloomfield), Bergen (in Saddle Brook), and Pascack Valley (in Washington Township) toll plazas were among these.{{cite book |last1 = Yang |first1 = Hong |title = Effect of Removing Freeway Mainline Barrier Toll Plazas on Safety |date = 2013 |url = https://rits.rutgers.edu/files/trb2013-5001.pdf }} The tolls at these plazas were doubled upon conversion. The Toms River Toll Plaza (in Toms River) is the only location on the parkway mainline where a toll is still collected in both directions.

File:2020-07-11 16 27 41 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 142C (Maplewood) in Hillside Township, Union County, New Jersey.jpg

In April 2008, a $150 million project began to construct new overpasses at exit 142. In its 1976 configuration, the parkway northbound did not have a ramp to I-78 westbound, and the parkway southbound did not have an exit to I-78 eastbound. The lack of connections was due to the cancellation of the extension of Interstate 278 (which would have connected northbound parkway traffic with I-78 westbound) and Route 75 (which would have connected southbound parkway traffic with I-78 eastbound via I-280) in the early 1980s.{{cite news |last = Rispoli |first = Michael |access-date = January 13, 2010 |title = Garden State Parkway, Route 78 connection to end commuter merry-go-round |newspaper = The Star-Ledger |date = September 16, 2009 |url = http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/garden_state_parkway_route_78.html }} The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) awarded the project contract to the engineering firm Gannett Fleming for the design, and to Union Paving & Construction Company for building the ramps.{{cite press release |title = NJDOT announces completion of project fully linking I-78 and the Garden State Parkway |url = https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2011/092111a.shtm |access-date = September 13, 2019 |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |date = September 21, 2011 }} The ramp connecting the parkway northbound with I-78 westbound opened on September 16, 2009, with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by Governor Jon Corzine.{{cite news |last1 = Santiago |first1 = Katherine |title = New link at Garden State Parkway, Route 78 to save commuters 10 minutes daily |url = https://www.nj.com/news/2009/09/commuters_may_save_about_10_mi.html |access-date = September 13, 2019 |work = The Star-Ledger |date = September 17, 2009 }} The ramp connecting the parkway southbound with I-78 eastbound opened on December 10, 2010.

In April 2011, New Jersey Transportation Commissioner James Simpson announced the NJTA was considering allowing trucks on the northern portion of the Garden State Parkway.{{cite news |access-date = April 19, 2011 |title = N.J. to consider allowing trucks on Garden State Parkway north of exit 105 |agency = Associated Press |work = The Star-Ledger |date = April 18, 2011 |url = http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/nj_to_consider_allowing_truck.html }} However, the idea was quickly abandoned after the agency found the road had engineering concerns that would not accommodate trucks on this segment.{{cite news |access-date = April 19, 2011 |title = N.J. won't allow trucks on Garden State Parkway north of exit 105 |agency = Associated Press |work = The Star-Ledger |date = April 18, 2011 |url = http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/nj_wont_allow_trucks_on_garden.html }}

A project that rebuilt the Watchung Avenue overpass at exit 151 in order to add shoulders to the segment underneath and increased safety by being wider and more friendly to pedestrians{{cite web |url = https://boswellengineering.com/projects-c-transportation-garden-state-parkway-interchange-151/ |title = Garden State Parkway Interchange 151 |publisher = Boswell Engineering |access-date = August 16, 2024 }} was completed in 2013. Additionally, both existing ramps were widened from two lanes to three lanes, and both of the entrance ramps onto the Parkway were entirely rebuilt.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

On July 22, 2014, the NJTA filed a federal lawsuit against Jersey Boardwalk Pizza, a pizza chain in Florida, for using a logo too similar to the Garden State Parkway's trailblazer.{{cite web |title = New Jersey Sues Florida Pizza Shop |agency = Associated Press |publisher = WCAU-TV |location = Philadelphia |date = July 24, 2014 |url = http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/New-Jersey-Sues-Florida-Pizza-Shop-268413632.html |access-date = July 24, 2014 }} Federal Judge William Martini dismissed the suit on March 26, 2015.{{cite web |title = New Jersey Turnpike suit over Florida pizza shop logo tossed |url = http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/03/27/new-jersey-suit-over-florida-pizza-shop-logos-likeness-to-gsp-logo-tossed/ |website = CBS New York |publisher = WCBS-TV |location = New York |agency = Associated Press |date = March 27, 2015 }}{{cite court |litigants = New Jersey Tpk. Auth. v. Jersey Boardwalk Franchising Co. |vol = |reporter = No. |opinion = 2:14-cv-04589 |pinpoint = 2015 WL 1403767 |court = D.N.J. |date = March 26, 2015 |url = https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5832401/22/new-jersey-turnpike-authority-v-jersey-boardwalk-franchising-co-inc/ |access-date = November 11, 2021 |quote = }}

File:GSP NB at Shellbay Avenue.JPG

As originally built, in Cape May County, the parkway had three at-grade intersections (at exits 9, 10, and 11), but a project to eliminate began in early 2013, when construction began on three overpasses in Cape May Court House.{{cite news |last1 = Russell |first1 = Mike |title = Project to eliminate traffic lights on New Jersey's Parkway nears halfway mark |url = https://whyy.org/articles/project-to-eliminate-traffic-lights-on-new-jerseys-parkway-nears-halfway-mark/ |access-date = July 22, 2019 |publisher = WHYY |date = August 20, 2014 }} The plan was delayed because it had not been approved by the federal government. The $125 million project was largely complete by September 2015, with the Mechanic Street interchange also being closed around this time.{{cite web |title = Advisory: Mechanic Street Exit from Garden State Parkway to Close Permanently |url = https://middletownship.com/advisory-mechanic-street-exit-from-garden-state-parkway-to-close-permanently/ |website = Middle Township New Jersey |publisher = Middle Township Municipality |access-date = January 31, 2020 |archive-date = October 23, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201023063035/https://middletownship.com/advisory-mechanic-street-exit-from-garden-state-parkway-to-close-permanently/ |url-status = dead }}

On September 5, 2016, a project to rebuild exit 0 was completed. It involved constructing a new ramp from NJ 109 southbound onto the parkway northbound, relocating the ramp itself onto a new, shorter alignment, and reconfiguring the traffic signal with pedestrian crosswalks and other safety features.{{cite web |url = https://pressofatlanticcity.com/exit-0-cape-may-garden-state-parkway-map-jpg/image_053348a4-ed5b-11e5-bfb3-2b582d34c00b.html |title = Exit 0 Cape May Garden State Parkway map.jpg |date = March 18, 2016 |website = Press of Atlantic City }}

In 2012, a project to reconstruct the roadway between mileposts 83 and 100 in order to add shoulders was started.{{cite book |title = FY 2014–2023 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program: Transportation Authorities Project Descriptions |url = https://www.nj.gov/transportation/capital/stip1423/sec8/pdf/ap_njta.pdf |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date = August 10, 2024 }} On November 9, 2014, exit 88 was permanently closed.{{cite web |url = https://patch.com/new-jersey/brick/parkway-exit-88-may-be-gone-89-takes-you-where-you-went-brick-0 |title = Parkway Exit 88 May Be Gone, But 89 Takes You Where You Went Before In Brick |date = November 13, 2014 |website = Brick, NJ Patch }} On June 11, 2015, the northbound replacement exit 89 were opened to traffic.{{cite web |url = https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/new-exit-opens-on-garden-state-parkway-in-ocean-county/1993519/ |title = New Exit Opens on Garden State Parkway in Ocean County |date = June 11, 2015 }} It was completed in May 2017, when the reconstruction of exits 91 into a full interchange was completed,{{cite web |url = https://www.app.com/story/news/traffic/commuting/2017/08/07/garden-state-parkway-exit-91-improvements-construction/541306001/ |title = Exit 91: New Garden State Parkway ramps in Brick opening |first = Mike |last = Davis |website = Asbury Park Press }} ten months behind schedule{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/capital/stip0710/pdf/authorities.pdf |title = NJDOT's 2007–2010 Road Improvements }} {{small|(1.53 MB)}} because the legislature failed to raise the state's gas tax.{{cite web |url = http://brick.shorebeat.com/2016/07/parkway-exit-91-project-now-shut-down-brick-officials-in-the-dark/ |title = Parkway Exit 91 Project Now Shut Down, Brick Officials in the Dark |last1 = Nee |first1 = Daniel |work = Brick Shorebeat |date = July 13, 2016 |access-date = September 3, 2016 }}

File:2020-07-11 17 33 35 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 163 (New Jersey State Route 17 NORTH, Mahwah) in Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey.jpg

In April 2014, a $68 million project to eliminate the left-hand ramps at exit 163 began. Due to this, a half mile stretch of the GSP mainline was shifted towards the median, with the existing ramps retained but now passing under the Parkway and joining it from the right. This major project was completed in September 2017, with minor work continuing into mid-October.{{cite news |first = Larry |last = Higgs |date = September 12, 2017 |url = https://www.nj.com/traffic/2017/09/big_parkway_exit_headache_in_north_jersey_in_final_weeks_state_says.html |title = Big Parkway exit headache in North Jersey in final weeks, state says |work = NJ.com |access-date = August 10, 2024 }}

In 2012, the improvement of exit 105 southbound at the intersection with NJ route 36 on the local lanes was proposed.{{cite book |title = Garden State Parkway Interchange 105 Improvements: Boroughs of Tinton Falls and Eatontown, Monmouth County |url = https://www.njta.com/media/1545/gsp105_publichearingflyer.pdf |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240122215136/https://www.njta.com/media/1545/gsp105_publichearingflyer.pdf |archive-date = January 22, 2024 |url-status = live }} It involved replacing the single-lane ramp which provided access to Route 36 with a new one. This ramp would have two lanes and a wider shoulder, and would also provide access to Route 18 via Wayside road. Additionally, the northbound ramp onto route 36 would be constructed, as opposed to locating traffic onto route 36, it would instead carry traffic into an intersection with Wayside Road .{{cite web |title = New Jersey to spend million for new Parkway Exit 105 in Tinton Falls |work = NewJerseyNewsroom.com |url = https://gloribee.com/new-jersey-to-spend-million-for-new-parkway-exit-105-in-tinton-falls-state-newjerseynewsroomcom-your-state-your-news/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |language = en-US }} Also, in both directions, the deceleration lanes were increased in length and widened to two lanes in addition to lighting improvements and replacing the underhead signage southbound with new overhead ones, and replacing the sign heads northbound. Construction began in 2013, and was completed by the end of 2017.{{cite news |first = Larry |last = Higgs |date = January 28, 2018 |url = https://www.nj.com/traffic/2018/01/what_are_2018s_big_projects_on_the_nj_turnpike_and.html |title = The biggest Turnpike and Parkway projects this year |work = NJ.com |access-date = August 10, 2024 }}

In May 2005, Governor Richard Codey announced plans for a widening of the parkway between exit 63 in Stafford Township and exit 80 in the borough of South Toms River from two to three lanes in both directions. However, the NJTA later made plans to widen the parkway from exit 80 all the way south to exit 30 in Somers Point. In 2008, planning began on a project to construct a southbound entrance and northbound exit at exit 67. By March 27, it was revealed that the new ramps would not be tolled. Construction began in the summer of 2008. While initially planned for completion on May 20, 2009,{{cite news |url = http://www.app.com/article/20090519/NEWS/905190346/1070/NEWS02 |title = Barnegat's interchange to open Wednesday |date = May 20, 2009 |work = Ashbury Park Press }}{{dead link|date=June 2024}} it was ultimately completed in October 2010.{{cite news |last1 = Spahr |first1 = Rob |title = New Garden State Parkway exit at Barnegat opens to traffic in Ocean County |url = https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-garden-state-parkway-exit-at-barnegat-opens-to-traffic/article_6419fd66-db93-11df-9cab-001cc4c002e0.html |access-date = September 16, 2019 |newspaper = The Press of Atlantic City |date = October 19, 2010 }} The project was divided into three phases. The first of these, the one from exits 80 to 63, was completed in May 2011.{{cite news |url = https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/parkway-widening-project-in-ocean-county-to-be-ready-for/article_877b7a56-87bd-11e0-836d-001cc4c03286.html |title = Parkway widening project in Ocean County to be ready for motorists today |last = Weaver |first = Donna |date = May 26, 2011 |work = The Press of Atlantic City |access-date = September 12, 2019 }} In November 2014, a widening project was completed between exits 63 and 48.{{cite web |title = Garden State Parkway Widening (Phase 2) |url = https://www.atkinsglobal.com/en-GB/projects/garden-state-parkway-widening-phase2 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160716224901/https://www.atkinsglobal.com/en-GB/projects/garden-state-parkway-widening-phase2 |archive-date = July 16, 2016 |access-date = September 12, 2019 |publisher = Atkins Global |language = en-GB }} Exit 41 was opened on March 13, 2015.{{cite web |url = https://www.nj.com/traffic/2015/03/what_exit_parkway_exit_numbers_officially_change_today_as_new_exit_opens.html |title = What exit? New Parkway exit opens today as numbers change on others next week |first = Larry |last = Higgs |date = March 13, 2015 |website = NJ.com |publisher = NJ Advance Media }} Previously, drivers who wanted to go to Jimmie Leeds Road had to cut through the parking lot of the Atlantic City Service area, though they still can, however the traffic light that previously existed was eliminated.{{google maps |SV = yes |url = https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4741508,-74.5269648,3a,75y,313.73h,69.85t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saiskwe7c7P2THjobcwWP3g!2e0!5s20120501T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu |title = NJ-444, Galloway, New Jersey |date = May 2012 }} In August 2015, a project which constructed missing movements at exits 44 was completed.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} In June 2017, three projects to improve exits 36, 37, and 38 were completed.{{cite web |url = https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/expressway-exit-7s-at-garden-state-parkway-to-open-extra-lane-by-weekend/article_68fb324e-1a5a-5dda-ba64-de3ebfdd837b.html |title = Expressway Exit 7S at Garden State Parkway to open extra lane by weekend |first = Diane |last = D'Amico Staff |date = June 29, 2017 |website = Press of Atlantic City }} A new ramp was built at exit 38 order to reduce unsafe weaving, exit 37 had its deceleration lane reconstructed to be longer, and exit 36 was rebuilt to eliminate its stop-and-go pattern.{{cite web |url = https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/garden-state-parkway-construction-project-focuses-on-new-exits/article_7bfd4d8a-3187-11e5-9deb-3ff061500a54.html |title = Garden State Parkway construction project focuses on new exits |first = Donald |last = Wittkowski |date = July 23, 2015 |website = Press of Atlantic City }} In 2018, a widening from exits 48 to milepost 30 was completed, it included reconstruction of overpasses, and the opening of new bridges across the Mullica River from Port Republic to Bass River, after which point the older ones had their superstructures replaced.{{cite web |url = https://www.nj.com/traffic/2018/01/what_are_2018s_big_projects_on_the_nj_turnpike_and.html |title = The biggest Turnpike and Parkway projects this year |last = Higgs |first = Larry |date = January 28, 2018 |website = NJ.com |publisher = NJ Advance Media |language = en-US |access-date = September 12, 2019 }}

The southbound bridge over the Great Egg Harbor Bay was replaced with a wider span parallel to the older span as part of a $79.3 million project. Construction began in 2013. The new bridge was opened in 2016, the old one was then permanently closed. While the northbound bridge was kept open briefly, all traffic was moved onto it in 2017 so the old bridge could be demolished and the northbound span could undergo strengthening and a superstructure replacement. Work on the project was considered mostly complete by October 2019.{{cite news |last1 = Auble |first1 = Amanda |title = Garden State Parkway bridge construction nearing a close |url = https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/garden-state-parkway-bridge-construction-nearing-a-close/article_cfd734c7-5be1-5f7f-a52c-c77d6526f709.html |access-date = September 16, 2019 |work = The Press of Atlantic City |date = February 18, 2019 }}

In April 2016, a project to reconstruct exits 125 into a full interchange commenced. A new southbound exit would be tolled and made exclusively for E-ZPass users; no toll would be added to the new northbound entrance. Also involved in this project was the replacement of the overpasses that carried the parkway over Chevalier Avenue with wider structures, adding a alternate ramp onto Main Street, and constructing a new southbound entrance ramp and demolishing the existing one–this would provide greater access to a new shopping mall in the vicinity that is yet to be completed.{{cite web |url = https://www.njta.com/newsroom/2017/july/ezpass-only-exit#:~:text=in+April+2016,+and+construction,until+the+fall+of+2019. |title = EZPass only exit |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority }} It was completed in February 2020.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In 2018, planning began for an improvement project at the northbound ramps at exits 109.{{cite web |last = Zimmer |first = Russ |title = Garden State Parkway: Exit 109 construction timeline |url = https://www.app.com/story/news/traffic/commuting/2018/01/26/garden-state-parkway-exit-109-construction-middletown-nj/1064806001/ |access-date = January 22, 2024 |website = Asbury Park Press |language = en-US }} The project involved partly winding the ramp and constructing a new ramp to directly allow access to the Lincroft park and ride from the parkway and to allow easier access to Newman Spring Road eastbound. Improvements were also made to the ramps onto the parkway from County Route 520. These include a ramp and overpass being built on Newman Spring Road eastbound, the addition of a traffic light at Schulz Dr, the removal of the U-turn ramp to Half Mile Road and the addition of a left turn signal at the junction to compassionate. Bidding for the project was completed in July 2018, and construction began shortly after. It was completed in May 2020.{{cite web |first = E. Scott |last = Wingerter |date = May 4, 2020 |title = Red Bank GSP 109: Traffic Lights On, the 'Mousetrap" Expected to Open |url = https://www.tapinto.net/towns/red-bank/sections/government/articles/red-bank-gsp-109-traffic-lights-on-the-mousetrap-expected-to-open |work = TAPinto Red Bank |access-date = August 11, 2024 }}

In June 2018, an improvement project began at the interchange with I-280 and CR 508 (Central Avenue). The project involved widening the entrance ramp to the parkway southbound from one to two lanes and adding a second deceleration lane on the parkway northbound. Due to the addition of the deceleration lane to South Grove St, the northbound toll plaza on the exit was completely removed starting on July 26, 2018, at 10 pm.{{cite press release |title = Tolls for drivers leaving the northbound lanes on the Parkway at Exit 145 in The Oranges will be eliminated on July 26, 2018 at 10 pm while drivers enter the southbound lanes on the Parkway will be charged $1.00 |url = http://www.njta.com/newsroom/2017/2018-1/one-way-tolling |access-date = July 17, 2018 |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |date = July 17, 2018 }} To accommodate the wider roadway, the overpass carrying Central Avenue over the parkway was also rebuilt. Five nearby bridges were also rehabilitated as part of the project. The project cost approximately $63 million and was completed in August 2022.{{cite news |last1 = Higgs |first1 = Larry |title = This frustrating Parkway bottleneck is going to be fixed. It will cost $63M |url = https://www.nj.com/traffic/2018/03/63_million_will_buy_relief_from_this_frustrating_p.html |access-date = January 11, 2020 |publisher = NJ Advance Media |work = NJ.com |date = March 27, 2018 }}{{cite web |title = Project Overview |url = http://www.gspexit145.com/project-overview/ |website = Garden State Parkway Exit 145 |access-date = January 11, 2020 }}

On March 24, 2020, the NJTA temporarily suspended cash toll collection due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drivers without E-ZPass transponders had their license plates photographed at the toll plazas and were sent bills in the mail. Cash collection resumed on May 19 of that year.{{cite news |title = Coronavirus News: Cash Tolls Returning to NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway |url = https://www.abc7ny.com/amp/coronavirus-nj-reopen-new-jersey-update-news/6188286 |access-date = December 21, 2020 |publisher = WABC-TV |location = New York |date = May 16, 2020 |archive-date = January 14, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210114215356/https://abc7ny.com/amp/coronavirus-nj-reopen-new-jersey-update-news/6188286/ |url-status = dead }} Also around this time, a new high speed toll gantry was completed at the New Gretna Toll Plaza.

In March 2022, exit 105 was closed in multiple stages so that five of the overpasses, of which some date back to 1954 and others to 1974, could be replaced.{{cite press release |url = https://www.njta.com/newsroom/ramp-closure-at-interchange-105 |title = Ramp closure at Interchange 105 |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority }} The project was completed in late 2023.{{cite web |url = https://www.gspexit105.com/ |title = Garden State Parkway Interchange 105 is complete |access-date = May 27, 2024 }} Additionally a temporary crossover was built at mile marker 108.5 that lasted from March 2023 to February 2024.

In 2020, a project that involved making multiple improvements between mileposts 140 and 143 was commenced. It involves repaving the road, adding new lighting, and constructing a median barrier. It also systematically replaces multiple bridges in between the mile markers, including two that carry traffic over U.S. Route 22 and one that carries traffic over NJ 82.{{cite web |title = GSP Roadway and Interchange 145 Toll Plaza |url = https://www.gsp140to143.com/project-overview-garden-state-parkway-from-milepost-140-to-143 |access-date = January 24, 2024 |website = gsp140to143 |language = en-US }} It is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2024.

On February 23, 2023, the overpass carrying exit 156 was temporarily closed to traffic{{cite tweet |user = 511njgsp |title = Long term road construction and Roadwork, roadwork on Garden State Parkway northbound Exit 156 - US 46 (Clifton) exit ramp closed to traffic until further notice 511nj.org/event/ORI12374… |number = 1761249584133685381 |url = https://x.com/511njgsp/status/1761249584133685381 |date = February 23, 2024 |access-date = July 3, 2024 }} this was because the ramp was in the way of construction on the Passaic River Bridge and needed a retaining wall to be constructed in order to minimize disruption to local communities. This was completed on July 15, and is part of a greater project to reconstruct the Passaic River Bridge, the current superstructure considered functionally obsolete and structurally deficient, in addition to not meeting the greater standards of the New Jersey turnpike Authority. Work on that part of the project is scheduled for competition in fall 2025.{{cite news |last = Comstock |first = Lori |title = Parkway exit has been closed for months. When will it reopen for North Jersey drivers? |work = Newton New Jersey Herald |date = July 2, 2024 |url = https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/transportation/2024/07/02/closed-garden-state-parkway-exit-156-to-reopen/74247432007/ |access-date = July 3, 2024 }}

There are currently plans to rebuild the segment of road between exits 80 and 83. This segment of road lacks shoulders and other safety features, and only exit 82 is a full interchange.{{cite web |url = https://www.njta.com/media/7395/gsp-80-83-pic_transcript.pdf |title = Proposed Operational Improvements Garden State Parkway, Milepost 80 to 83 |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date = May 27, 2024 }}

File:2020-07-16 14 18 40 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 30 (Somers Point, Ocean City) in Somers Point, Atlantic County, New Jersey.jpg

In 2020, the NJTA announced plans to reconstruct exit 29 into a full interchange because Exit 30, which carries traffic onto the residential street West Laurel Drive, sees chronic congestion during the summer tourist season as it connects to New Jersey Route 52 via an intersection with U.S. Route 9. If this plan where fulfilled, then the exit 30 would have been demolished, meaning that summer traffic would have had to travel to CR 559 via U.S. Route 9 to reach the road. This proposition was heavily criticized by officials and residents in Somers Point and Ocean City, fearing that traffic congestion would simply be relocated rather than eliminated,{{cite news |last = Brunetti Post |first = Michelle |title = In Somers Point, one neighborhood's parkway-traffic solution is another's headache |work = The Press of Atlantic City |date = July 22, 2020 |url = https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/in-somers-point-one-neighborhoods-parkway-traffic-solution-is-anothers-headache/article_715e9a71-e7f4-562f-992e-27bfb45c1b08.html |access-date = July 24, 2020 }} as well as reduceing business that relies on the interchange.{{cite news |url = https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/watch-now-concerns-over-garden-state-parkway-exit-project-grow/article_9778e75a-d7f6-5949-bbbf-b475044b6400.html |title = Concerns over Garden State Parkway Exit Project Grow |work = The Press of Atlantic City |date = July 20, 2020 |url-access = subscription }} They also announced plans to improve other interchanges, such as exits 6, 13, 17, 20, 40, 123, 124, 147, 153, and 168. These upgrades were suggested either to provide full connections or to improve safety by eliminating obsolete designs such as left hand exits or short deacceleration lanes, as well as to increase future capacity.{{cite web|title=Proposed 2020 Capital Improvement Program|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|url=https://www.njta.com/media/5179/proposed-2020-capital-improvement-program.pdf|access-date=March 14, 2022}} The turnpike authority also has long-term plans to widen the parkway between exit 98 and exit 125, as well as between exit 142{{cite web |url = https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/new-jersey-turnpike-garden-state-parkway-widening-projects/ |title = New Jersey Turnpike & Garden State Parkway widening projects |date = September 7, 2022 }} and exit 163, and exit 129 and 142. However, opponents to this project have proposed instead to construct light rail in between the median.{{cite news |url = https://www.nj.com/news/2020/09/monorail-in-the-median-a-possible-alternative-to-widening-the-parkway-officials-say.html |title = Monorail in the median a possible alternative to widening the Parkway, officials say |first = Larry |last = Higgs |publisher = NJ Advance Media |website = NJ.com |date = September 17, 2020 |access-date = August 21, 2024 }}{{cite web |url = https://www.rtands.com/rail-news/new-jerseys-garden-state-parkway-could-have-ultra-light-rail/ |title = New Jersey's Garden State Parkway could have ultra-light rail |website = Railway Track and Structures |date = September 18, 2020 |access-date = August 21, 2024 }}

File:2021-05-27 08 30 41 View south along U.S. Route 9 and New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) from the overpass for U.S. Route 9 (New Road) in Somers Point, Atlantic County, New Jersey.jpg

File:Paramus Toll Plaza SB.jpg

The Garden State Parkway uses an open system of tolling in which flat-rate tolls are collected at numerous toll plazas placed along the mainline and at certain interchanges. This contrasts with the New Jersey Turnpike, which uses a closed system in which a motorist receives a ticket with the toll rates at the highway's entrance, and turns in the ticket along with the toll upon exiting at toll gates. Tolls can be paid by using cash or the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system.

As of January 1, 2025, the standard car toll is $1.15 for cash and $1.09 for E-ZPass on the main road at two-way toll plazas and $2.30 for cash and $2.17 for E-ZPass at one-way toll plazas. Some entrances and exits require a toll of either $0.85, $1.15, $1.65, or $2.30 for cash and $0.76, $1.09, $1.51, or $2.17 for E-ZPass.{{cite web |title = 2024 Toll Rates Garden State Parkway - Cash |url = https://www.njta.com/media/8072/2024_toll-schedule_gsp_cash.pdf |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date = April 1, 2023 }}{{cite web |title = 2024 Toll Rates - Garden State Parkway / E-ZPass |url = https://www.njta.com/media/8073/2024_toll-schedule_gsp_ezpass.pdf |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date = April 1, 2023 }} Additional E-ZPass discounts are available for off-peak travel, senior citizens, drivers of green vehicles, and trailers.{{cite web |url = https://www.njta.com/toll-calculator |title = Toll Calculator |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date = April 17, 2019 }}

There are three different lane types at the toll plazas. However, not all plazas have every type of lane at all times.

The first type is full-service lanes. These lanes are staffed and toll collectors can provide change and receipts to drivers.{{cite web |url = https://patch.com/new-jersey/pointpleasant/garden-state-parkway-will-lose-exact-change-lanes |title = Garden State Parkway Will Lose Exact Change Lanes At Tolls |date = September 13, 2018 |website = Point Pleasant, NJ Patch |language = en |access-date = October 3, 2019 }}

The second type is exact-change lanes. In these lanes, motorists deposit coins in a toll basket and each coin is mechanically counted; historically, these lanes also accepted tokens. Payment of tolls in exact-change lanes has been enforced by photo since 2011.{{cite news |title = Video cameras now enforcing exact change tolls on GSP |url = http://newjersey.news12.com/story/34875732/video-cameras-now-enforcing-exact-change-tolls-on-gsp |access-date = January 14, 2020 |work = News 12 New Jersey |date = October 17, 2011 }} The Union Toll Plaza was the first to use an automated toll-collection machine; a plaque commemorating this event includes the first quarter collected at its toll booths.{{cite web |title = Union Watersphere |publisher = lostinjersey.wordpress.com |date = March 19, 2009 |url = http://lostinjersey.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/the-union-watersphere/ |access-date = February 23, 2012 }} As of 2018, exact-change lanes are only used for exit and entrance ramp toll plazas.{{cite news |url = http://newjersey.news12.com/story/39403735/turnpike-authority-removes-exact-change-lanes-on-garden-state-parkway |title = Turnpike Authority removes exact change lanes on Garden State Parkway |date = November 1, 2018 |work = News 12 New Jersey |access-date = July 22, 2019 }}

The third type of lane is dedicated for vehicles with E-ZPass tags. Some plazas also feature Express E-ZPass lanes, allowing drivers to bypass the toll plaza at highway speeds.{{cite web |url = https://www.nj.com/traffic/2016/02/why_cant_older_parkway_toll_plazas_get_express_e-zpass.html |title = Why can't older Parkway toll plazas get express E-ZPass? |last = Higgs |first = Larry |date = February 18, 2016 |website = nj.com |language = en |access-date = October 3, 2019 }} E-ZPass is also accepted in full-service lanes.{{cite news |url = https://www.njta.com/media/4053/acm-faq-final.pdf |title = ACM FAQ final.pub |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date = October 3, 2019 }} Express E-ZPass lanes operate at the Pascack Valley, Raritan, Asbury Park, Toms River, Barnegat, New Gretna and Cape May Toll Plazas.

File:gsptoken.jpg

Tokens, available for purchase at full-service toll plaza lanes, were introduced in 1981 at a price of $10 for a roll of 40 tokens; as the toll was $0.25 at the time, most drivers continued to use quarters. However, when the toll was increased to $0.35 in 1989, rolls were priced at 30 tokens for $10; between the slight discount and the convenience of using a single coin, tokens gained in popularity.{{cite news |first = Robert |last = Strauss |title = Soon, Token Non Grata on the Garden State |date = July 20, 2008 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/20tokensnj.html |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = March 18, 2010 }} Additionally, in August of that year, the highway authority installed token only lanes, though it was quickly realized this did not reduce congestion.{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/223430279/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjIyMzQzMDI3OSwiaWF0IjoxNzIzOTA1MDk3LCJleHAiOjE3MjM5OTE0OTd9.60hVCOSFmI4Uyfmrw1jr6g9iYzXj4oAnie5IynNcJ_A |title=Safety: New Parkway Lanes Take Toll |date = Jul 2, 1989 |page = A4 |newspaper = The Courier-News |location = Bridgewater, New Jersey |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = August 17, 2024 }}{{full citation needed|date=August 2024}} There were also larger bus tokens, primarily for use by Atlantic City-bound buses.{{cite web |title = New Jersey Officials Recycle Transit Tokens |url = https://www.americancityandcounty.com/2008/09/09/for-new-jersey-officials-recycling-project-was-no-token-gesture/ |website = American City & County |access-date = January 31, 2020 }} As E-ZPass became more widespread, tokens were phased out. Token sales were discontinued on January 1, 2002, and they were no longer accepted effective January 1, 2009.{{cite news |url = https://www.capemaycountyherald.com/news/government/article_8a92bb27-fa90-5e46-98c2-fd6316ead063.html |title = Funding Failed, Tolls Imposed to Pay for Garden State Parkway |first = Bob |last = Ahlers |newspaper = Cape May County Herald |date = July 19, 2011 |access-date = September 14, 2018 }}

On September 27, 2022, the NJTA awarded a $914 million contract to TransCore to convert the parkway into an all-electronic toll road, eliminating the toll booths in the process. Although the agreement has been made, the Turnpike Authority has no set date on when the conversion will be completed.{{cite news |last = Higgs |first = Larry |title = Garden State Parkway to go all E-ZPass, while paying cash may remain an option on the N.J. Turnpike |url = https://www.nj.com/news/2022/09/garden-state-parkway-to-go-all-e-zpass-while-paying-cash-may-remain-an-option-on-the-nj-turnpike.html |work = NJ.com |publisher = Advance Media |date = September 27, 2022 }}

File:2020-07-11 14 02 18 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at the Forked River Service Area in Lacey Township, Ocean County, New Jersey.jpg

All service areas are located in the center median, unless otherwise noted.

File:2020-07-11 12 43 07 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at the Ocean View Service Area in Dennis Township, Cape May County, New Jersey.jpg

In the 1950s, four petroleum companies were hired to provide gasoline and vehicular necessities—Esso, Texaco, Atlantic, and Cities Service. The Cities Service company was the petroleum provider at Monmouth, Forked River, Atlantic City (Absecon at the time) and Ocean View (Seaville at the time) and offered a service where female employees were hired for those service area showrooms, wore uniforms and were known as the Park-ettes. Their duties included providing directions and other information to motorists as well as rendering odd bits of service such as sewing a missing button on a patron's coat.{{cite book |title = The First Five Years of the Garden State Parkway |publisher = New Jersey Highway Authority |page = 29 }}

On July 27, 2021, the NJTA unanimously voted in favor of renaming the service areas along the Garden State Parkway after New Jerseyans who were inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.{{cite press release |title = On National New Jersey Day, Governor Murphy Announces New Jersey Turnpike Authority to Rename Nine Garden State Parkway Service Areas after New Jersey Icons and Hall of Fame Inductees |publisher = Office of the Governor of New Jersey |location = Trenton |date = July 27, 2021 |url = https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562021/approved/20210727b.shtml |access-date = July 28, 2021 }}{{cite news |title = 9 Garden State Parkway Service Areas to Be Renamed After NJ Icons, Hall of Famers |publisher = WNBC-TV |location = New York |date = July 27, 2021 |url = https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/9-garden-state-parkway-service-areas-to-be-renamed-after-nj-icons-hall-of-famers/3179128/ |access-date = July 27, 2021 }} The Ocean View service area was originally slated to be named after Toni Morrison, but the NJTA never received written consents and releases; this prompted the New Jersey Hall of Fame to request the service area be named after Bruce Willis instead.{{cite news |last = Walker |first = Tamara |title = 'Die Hard' star gets Jersey tribute: Bruce Willis rest stop coming soon |work = Asbury Park Press |date = March 8, 2024 |url = https://www.app.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/2024/03/08/garden-state-parkway-rest-area-bruce-willis-cape-may-county/72893544007/ |access-date = April 5, 2024 }}

On January 2, 2022, two service areas that were operated by McDonald's in Brookdale and Union were closed after their contract expired in 2021. These services areas were replaced by 2023.{{cite press release |title = McDonald's restaurants at the Vauxhall and Brookdale South service areas on the Garden State Parkway are being replaced |url = https://www.njta.com/newsroom/brookdale-south-and-vauxhall |date = January 3, 2022 |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority }}

File:John B Townsend Shoemaker Holly Picnic Area.jpg

One of the objectives of the parkway was to become a state park its entire length, and its users would enjoy park-like aesthetics with minimal intrusion of urban scenery. Along the ride, users were permitted to stop and picnic along the roadway to further enjoy the relaxation qualities the parkway had to offer. All picnic areas had tall trees that provided shade and visual isolation from the roadway. Grills, benches, running water, and restrooms were provided. Over time as the parkway transformed into a road of commerce, the picnic areas were closed for a variety of reasons. Their ramp terminals became insufficient to accommodate the high-speed mainline traffic and in addition to the decreasing number of users, the picnic areas were becoming more effective as maintenance yards and were converted as such or closed altogether.{{cite news |last1 = Higgs |first1 = Larry |title = Skip the ShakeShack. We can still have an old-fashioned picnic on the Garden State Parkway. |url = https://www.nj.com/traffic/2019/08/skip-the-shakeshack-we-can-still-have-an-old-fashioned-picnic-on-the-garden-state-parkway.html |access-date = August 13, 2019 |work = NJ.com |date = August 4, 2019 }}

The one remaining picnic area, John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly in Upper Township, is closed from dusk to dawn. Posted signs within the picnic area prohibit fires and camping.

{{Clear}}

There were ten operational picnic areas:

On the Garden State Parkway, the emergency assistance number is #GSP, which is #477 in number form. Towing and roadside assistance are provided from authorized garages. The New Jersey State Police is the primary police agency that handles calls for service on the parkway. New Jersey State Police Troop D serves the Garden State Parkway, with stations in Galloway, Holmdel, and Bloomfield.{{cite web |title = Troop D Road Stations |publisher = New Jersey State Police |url = https://www.nj.gov/njsp/division/operations/troop-d.shtml |access-date = May 20, 2024 }} Other emergency services such as fire and first aid are usually handled by the jurisdictions in which that section of the parkway passes.{{cite web |url = https://www.njta.com/travel-resources/roadside-assistance-gsp |title = Roadside Assistance Garden State Parkway |publisher = New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date = September 13, 2019 }}

The parkway was the first highway in the United States to use mileage-based exit numbers.{{cite web |last1 = Coleman |first1 = Chris |title = 17 Things You Likely Don't Know About the Garden State Parkway |url = https://catcountry1073.com/17-things-you-likely-dont-know-about-the-garden-state-parkway/ |website = Cat Country 107.3 |date = March 11, 2023 }} Historically, the exit numbers on the northbound and southbound roadways were not symmetrical. The New Jersey Highway Authority considered each as a separate road and as a result, many exits had non-matching numbers.

{{jcttop|old|state=NJ|length_ref=|notes_ref={{cite web |url = http://www.maikoff.net/gsp.html |title = Garden State Parkway Exits (Milemarkers) |website = www.maikoff.net }}

{{NJint|old

|county=Cape May

|cspan=14

|location=Lower Township

|lspan=2

|mile=0.00

|exit=0

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|109|dir1=south|city1=Cape May}}

|notes=Southern terminus; at-grade intersection

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=0.1

|type=incomplete

|exit=1

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|109|dir1=north|US|9|to2=to|city1=North Cape May}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; to Cape May–Lewes Ferry

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Middle Township

|lspan=8

|mile=3.90

|exit=4

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|47|city1=Wildwood|city2=Wildwood Crest|city3=Rio Grande}}

|notes=Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance; signed as exits 4A (south) and 4B (north) southbound; signed for The Wildwoods northbound, Wildwood/Wildwood Crest southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=6.54

|exit=6

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|147|city1=North Wildwood|city2=Whitesboro}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=8.40

|exit=9

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|road|Shell Bay Avenue}}

|notes=

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=9.90

|exit=10

|road=Cape May Court House, Stone Harbor

|notes=Access via CR 657

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=11.04

|exit=11

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|to2=to|road|Crest Haven Road|name1=CR 609|US|9}}

|notes=No northbound entrance; serves Cape May County Park & Zoo

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=11.80

|mspan=2

|exit=12

|espan=2

|ospan=2

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|road|Crest Haven Road|name1=CR 609}}

|notes=Northbound entrance only

}}

{{NJint

|mile=none

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9}}

|notes=Southbound entrance only

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=13.60

|exit=13

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|to1=to|city1=Swainton|city2=Avalon}}

|notes=Access via CR 601; southbound left entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Dennis Township

|mile=17.50

|exit=17

|type=incomplete

|road=Sea Isle City, Dennis Township

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 625

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Upper Township

|lspan=3

|mile=19.38

|type=toll

|place=Cape May Toll Plaza (northbound)

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=20.25

|exit=20

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|NJ|50|dir2=north|city1=Upper Township}}

|notes=Northbound left exit and southbound entrance; southern terminus of Route 50

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=25.34

|exit=25

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|dir1=south|name1=CR 623|city1=Ocean City}}

|notes=Southern end of US 9 concurrency; serves Corson's Inlet State Park

}}

{{jctbridge|old

|river=Great Egg Harbor Bay

|mile=27.77

|bridge=Great Egg Harbor Bridge

}}

{{NJint|old

|county=Atlantic

|type=toll

|cspan=11

|location=Somers Point

|lspan=3

|mile=28.78

|place=Great Egg Toll Plaza (southbound)

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=28.90

|exit=29

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|dir1=north|city1=Somers Point|city2=Ocean City}}

|notes=Northern end of US 9 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=30.00

|exit=30

|type=toll

|road=Somers Point, Ocean City

|notes=Southbound exit (tolled) and northbound entrance; access via West Laurel Drive

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Egg Harbor Township

|lspan=4

|mile=35.82

|exit=36

|espan=2

|ospan=2

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|40|US|322|city1=Northfield|city2=Pleasantville}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 563/CR 651

}}

{{NJint

|mile=36.08

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|563|city1=Northfield|city2=Margate City}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=36.59

|exit=37

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|to1=to|US|40|US|322|city1=Pleasantville}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 608; to CR 563

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=37.23

|exit=38

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|ACE2||city1=Atlantic City|city2=Camden}}

|notes=Signed as exits 38A (east) and 38B (west); exits 7S-N on A.C. Expressway

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Galloway Township

|lspan=3

|mile=40.04

|exit=40

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|30|dir1=east|city1=Absecon|city2=Atlantic City}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=41.70

|exit=41

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|561|location1=Galloway|city2=Pomona}}

|notes=Serves Stockton University; Pomona not signed southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=43.98

|exit=44

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|575|CR-Alt|561|city1=Port Republic|city2=Smithville|countydab2=Atlantic|city3=Pomona}}

|notes=Serves Stockton University; signed for Port Republic/Smithville northbound, Pomona southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Port Republic

|mile=48.29

|exit=48

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|dir1=south|city1=Port Republic|city2=Smithville|countydab2=Atlantic}}

|notes=Southern end of US 9 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|county=Burlington

|cspan=3

|location=Bass River Township

|lspan=3

|mile=50.67

|exit=50

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|dir1=north|city1=New Gretna|city2=Tuckerton}}

|notes=Northern end of US 9 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=52.70

|exit=52

|type=incomplete

|road=New Gretna

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 654

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=53.54

|type=toll

|place=New Gretna Toll Plaza (northbound)

}}

{{NJint|old

|county=Ocean

|cspan=16

|location=Little Egg Harbor Township

|mile=58.69

|exit=58

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|539|location1=Little Egg Harbor|city2=Whiting|city3=Tuckerton}}

|notes=Signed for Whiting northbound, Tuckerton southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Stafford Township

|mile=64.11

|exit=63

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|72|location1=Long Beach Island|location2=Pemberton}}

|notes=Signed as exits 63A (east) and 63B (west) northbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Barnegat Township

|lspan=2

|mile=67.81

|exit=67

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|554|location1=Barnegat|location2=Pemberton}}

|notes=Signed as exits 67A (east) and 67B (west) southbound; Pemberton not signed northbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|type=toll

|mile=68.61

|place=Barnegat Toll Plaza (southbound)

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Ocean Township

|ctdab=Ocean

|mile=70.45

|exit=69

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|532|city1=Waretown}}

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Lacey Township

|mile=75.34

|exit=74

|type=toll

|road=Forked River

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 614

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Berkeley Township

|mile=77.40

|exit=77

|type=toll

|road=Berkeley

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 618/CR 619

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=South Toms River

|mile=80.85

|exit=80

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|dir1=south|CR|530|CR|619|county3=Ocean|dir3=south|city1=Beachwood|city2=South Toms River}}

|notes=Southern end of US 9 concurrency; northern terminus of CR 619; southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Toms River

|lspan=4

|mile=81.85

|exit=81

|road={{jct|state=NJ|road|Lakehurst Road|name1=CR 527|city1=Toms River}}

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=82.35

|exit=82

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|37|city1=Seaside Heights|city2=Lakehurst}}

|notes=Signed as exits 82 (east) and 82A (west); serves Island Beach State Park

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=84.10

|exit=83

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|dir1=north|NJ|166|CR|571|dir2=south|location1=Lakewood}}

|notes=Northern end of US 9 concurrency; northern terminus of Route 166; no southbound exit

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=84.72

|type=toll

|place=Toms River Toll Plaza}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Lakewood Township

|lspan=2

|mile=89.36

|old=88

|ospan=2

|exit=89A

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|70|city1=Lakehurst|location2=Brick|city3=Point Pleasant}}

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 89A (east) and 89B (west) southbound

}}

{{NJint|exit

|mile=90.18

|exit=89B (NB)
89C (SB)

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|528|location1=Lakewood}}

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Brick Township

|lspan=2

|mile=91.10

|exit=90

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|549|dir1=south|location1=Brick}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=92.62

|exit=91

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|549|location1=Lakewood|location2=Brick|location3=Herbertsville|city4=Point Pleasant}}

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 91B (south) and 91A (north) southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|county=Monmouth

|cspan=13

|location=Wall Township

|mile=98.23

|exit=98

|old=96-97A

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|195|NJ|138|dir2=east|dir1=west|NJ|34|city1=Belmar|city2=Trenton}}

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; eastern terminus of I-195; western terminus and exits 35A-36 on Route 138

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Tinton Falls

|lspan=7

|mile=101.24

|old=100

|exit=100A

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|33|dir1=east|city1=Ocean Grove|city2=Bradley Beach}}

|notes=Bradley Beach not signed southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=101.49

|old=100A

|exit=100B

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|66|dir1=east|city1=Asbury Park}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=101.74

|exit=100B (SB)
100C (NB)

|old=100A (SB)
100B (NB)

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|33|dir1=west|location1=Freehold}}

|notes=

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=103.15

|exit=102

|type=incomplete

|road=Neptune, Asbury Park

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 16

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=103.96

|type=toll

|place=Asbury Park Toll Plaza (northbound)

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=104.20

|place=Southern terminus of local–express lanes

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=106.12

|mile2=106.39

|exit=105

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|18|NJ|36|dir2=east|city1=New Brunswick|city2=Eatontown|city3=Long Branch|city4=Tinton Falls}}

|notes=Tolled northbound entrance; southbound exit and northbound entrance from express lanes; no northbound access to Route 18 south; no southbound access to Route 18 from express lanes; all trucks must exit; signed for New Brunswick northbound, Tinton Falls southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Middletown Township

|mile=110.14

|exit=109

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|520|city1=Red Bank|city2=Lincroft}}

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|township1=Middletown

|township2=Holmdel

|mile=113.88

|exit=114

|type=toll

|road=Holmdel, Middletown

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 52

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Holmdel Township

|mile=115.85

|exit=116

|road=PNC Bank Arts Center

|notes=Exit number only signed at gore; to New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Hazlet

|mile=118.50

|exit=117

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|35|NJ|36|dir2=south|city1=Hazlet|city2=Keyport}}

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; southbound exit and northbound entrance from express lanes; northern terminus of Route 36

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Aberdeen Township

|mile=118.79

|old=117A

|exit=118

|type=incomplete

|road=Aberdeen

|notes=Access via CR 3; southbound exit (tolled) and entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|county=Middlesex

|cspan=13

|location=Old Bridge Township

|mile=121.13

|exit=120

|road=Laurence Harbor, Matawan

|notes=Access via CR 626; to Cheesequake State Park

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Sayreville

|lspan=5

|mile=124.64

|exit=123

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|dir1=south|city1=Sayreville|location2=Old Bridge}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=124.99

|exit=124

|type=incomplete

|road=Main Street (CR 670)

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=125.28

|place=Northern terminus of local–express lanes

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=125.68

|type=toll

|place=Raritan Toll Plaza (southbound)

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=126.36

|exit=125

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|NJ|35|dir1=south|city1=Sayreville|city2=South Amboy|road|Chevalier Avenue}}

|notes=E-ZPass-only toll on southbound exit;{{cite news |last1 = Alexander |first1 = Dan |title = Garden State Parkway gets new Exit 125, but not all cars are allowed to use it |url = https://nj1015.com/garden-state-parkway-gets-new-exit-but-not-all-cars-allowed-to-use-it/ |access-date = September 13, 2019 |work = New Jersey 101.5 |date = July 7, 2017 }} signed for U.S. Route 9/Route 35/Sayreville/South Amboy northbound, Chevalier Avenue southbound

}}

{{jctbridge|old

|location_special=Raritan River

|mile=127.33

|line=yes

|bridge=Driscoll Bridge

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Woodbridge Township

|lspan=6

|mile=128.22

|old=127A{{cite news |title = Widening Work on Parkway Constricts Traffic |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32745758/exit_127a_october_14_1970/ |access-date = October 15, 2019 |work = The Daily Register |date = October 14, 1970 |location = Red Bank, New Jersey |page = 14 |via = Newspapers.com }}

|exit=127

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|dir1=north|NJ|440|to3=to|I|287|dir3=north|location1=Woodbridge|location2=Staten Island}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=129.50

|exit=129

|old=128

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|I-Toll|95|NJTP2|location1=New York City|city2=Trenton|location3=Philadelphia}}
{{jct|state=NJ|to1=yes|US|9|NJ|440|I|287|dir3=north|location1=Woodbridge|city2=Perth Amboy}}

|notes=Exit 11 on I-95 / Turnpike;{{cite news |title = Toll Highway Link Opens Tomorrow |url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/144256415/ |access-date = April 23, 2018 |work = The Asbury Park Press |date = September 17, 1969 |pages = 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19499998/exit_129_september_17_1969_part_2/ 7] |via = Newspapers.com }} no southbound access to US 9/Route 440/I-287; signed for Trenton northbound, Philadelphia southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=130.63

|exit=130

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|1|city1=Trenton|city2=Newark}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 130A (north) and 130B (south)

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=131.33

|exit=131A

|road=Wood Avenue South (CR 649 north)

|notes=Signed as exit 131 southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=131.83

|exit=131B

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|extra=rail}} Metropark

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 657

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=131.97

|old=131{{cite news |title = What Exit? New Jersey Question Gets a Bit Trickier |publisher = WCAU-TV |location = Philadelphia |date = March 13, 2015 |url = http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/What-Exit-New-Jersey-Question-Gets-a-Bit-Trickier-296276181.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_PHBrand |access-date = November 4, 2015 }}

|exit=132

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|27|city1=Iselin|city2=Metuchen}}

}}

{{NJint|old

|county=Union

|cspan=11

|location=Clark

|mile=136.22

|exit=135

|road=Clark, Westfield

|notes=Access via CR 613

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Cranford

|lspan=2

|mile=137.59

|exit=136

|road=Linden, Roselle

|notes=Access via CR 607/CR 615

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=138.74

|exit=137

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|28|city1=Roselle Park|city2=Elizabeth|city3=Cranford}}

|notes=Signed for Roselle Park southbound, Elizabeth northbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Kenilworth

|mile=140.34

|exit=138

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|509|city1=Kenilworth}}

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Union Township

|ctdab=Union

|lspan=4

|mile=141.10

|exit=139

|type=incomplete

|road=Roselle Park, Union

|notes=No southbound exit; signed as exits 139A (Roselle Park) and 139B (Union); access via CR 619

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=141.70

|mspan=2

|exit=140

|espan=2

|ospan=2

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|22|NJ|82|dir1=east|dir2=east|city1=Hillside}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance

|type=incomplete

}}

{{NJint

|mile=none

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|22|dir1=west|NJ|82|city1=Elizabeth|city2=Somerville|location3=Union}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 140A (Route 82 west) and 140B (US 22/Route 82 east)

|type=incomplete

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=142.10

|exit=141

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|22|dir1=east|road|Vauxhall Road|name2=CR 630}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; US 22 not signed

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Hillside

|lspan=3

|mile=142.66

|type=toll

|place=Union Toll Plaza (northbound)

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=142.80

|mile2=142.90

|exit=142

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|78|to2=to|NJTP2||name2=I-95 Toll|location1=Springfield Township|location2=Newark Airport|city3=Newark|extra=airport}}

|notes=Tolled northbound entrance; signed as exits 142A (east) and 142B (west); exit 52 on I-78; to Holland Tunnel

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=143.00

|exit=142C

|old=142
142A{{cite news |title = Parkway Reserves Future Exit Number |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19465777/exits_142143b_may_11_1966/ |access-date = January 20, 2019 |work = The Central New Jersey Home News |date = May 11, 1966 |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |page = 15 |via = Newspapers.com }}

|type=incomplete

|road=Maplewood

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via North Union Avenue

}}

{{NJint|old

|county=Essex

|cspan=10

|location=Irvington

|lspan=2

|mile=144.00

|exit=143

|road={{jct|state=NJ|to1=to|NJ|124|dir1=west|city1=Irvington|city2=Maplewood|city3=Hillside}}

|notes=Access via CR 602/CR 603; signed as exits 143A (Hillside), 143B (Maplewood), and 143C (Route 124) southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=145.98

|exit=144

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|510|name1=South Orange Avenue}}

|notes=Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=East Orange

|lspan=3

|mile=146.93

|mile2=147.15

|exit=145

|old=145–145A

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|280|CR|508|CR|509|city1=Newark|location2=The Oranges}}

|notes=Tolled southbound entrance; exit 12B on I-280; no southbound access to CR 509; CR 509 not signed}}

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=

|old=146

|type=closed

|road={{jct|state=NJ|road|Springdale Avenue|city1=East Orange|location2=Newark Area}}

|notes=Former northbound exit and southbound entrance; closed January 12, 1966

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=148.44

|exit=147

|type=incomplete

|road=East Orange

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via Springdale Avenue

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Bloomfield

|lspan=5

|mile=149.20

|exit=148

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR-Spur|506|CR|509|city1=Bloomfield|city2=Glen Ridge}}

|notes=Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance; Glen Ridge not signed southbound

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=150.22

|exit=149

|old=148A{{cite news |title = Parkway Exit Changes Noted |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29982733/exits_june_1_1967/ |access-date = March 27, 2019 |work = The Montclair Times |date = June 1, 1967 |page = 9 |via = Newspapers.com }}

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|506|city1=Glen Ridge|city2=Belleville}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=150.66

|type=toll

|place=Essex Toll Plaza (southbound)

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=151.11

|exit=150

|old=149A

|type=incomplete

|road=Hoover Avenue (CR 651)

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=152.40

|exit=151

|type=toll

|road=Montclair, Nutley

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 655

}}

{{NJint|old

|county=Passaic

|cspan=6

|location=Clifton

|lspan=6

|mile=154.06

|mile2=154.45

|exit=153

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|3|to2=to|US|46|dir2=west|city1=Secaucus|city2=Wayne}}

|notes=Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 153A (east) and 153B (west) northbound; no southbound access to Route 3 west; to Meadowlands Complex and Lincoln Tunnel

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=155.91

|mile2=156.40

|exit=154

|mspan=3

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|46|dir1=east|city1=Clifton}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance{{cite news |title = To Open New Ramps at Rt. 46 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19465350/exit_154_opens_december_26_1958/ |access-date = April 22, 2018 |work = The Daily Home News |date = December 26, 1958 |page = 16 |via = Newspapers.com }}

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=none

|old=155P

|exit=155A

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|19|dir1=north|to2=to|I|80|dir2=west|city1=Paterson}}

|notes=Northbound left exit and southbound entrance; southern terminus of Route 19

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=none

|exit=154

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|46|dir1=west|city1=Clifton}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=156.68

|exit=155B

|old=155

|type=incomplete

|road=Passaic

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 702

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=158.19

|exit=156

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|20|dir1=north|city1=Elmwood Park}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via US 46 east; southern terminus of Route 20

}}

{{NJint|old

|county=Bergen

|cspan=14

|location=Elmwood Park

|lspan=2

|mile=158.87

|mspan=2

|exit=157

|espan=2

|ospan=2

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|46|dir1=east|city1=Garfield}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance

}}

{{NJint

|mile=none

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|46|dir1=west|to2=to|NJ|20|dir2=north|city1=Garfield}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Saddle Brook

|lspan=2

|mile=160.00

|mile2=160.35

|old=158

|exit=159

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|80|city1=Saddle Brook|location3=George Washington Bridge|city2=Paterson}}

|notes=Tolled northbound exit; no northbound access to I-80 west; access to Saddle Brook via CR 67; signed for Paterson southbound, George Washington Bridge northbound; exit 62A on I-80{{cite news |title = Garden State Parkway Projects Near Finished |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27360677/exit_158159_december_12_1963/ |access-date = January 18, 2018 |work = The Daily Record |date = December 12, 1963 |location = Long Branch, New Jersey |page = 27 |via = Newspapers.com }}

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=160.46

|type=toll

|place=Bergen Toll Plaza (northbound)

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Paramus

|lspan=5

|mile=161.53

|exit=160

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|to1=to|NJ|208|dir1=north|city1=Fair Lawn|city2=Hackensack}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 62

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=161.88

|exit=161

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|4|dir1=east|city1=Paramus}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=163.06

|mile2=163.29

|exit=163

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|17|city1=Mahwah|to2=to|NJ|4|city2=Paramus|location3=George Washington Bridge}}

|notes=Same-directional access only; to Meadowlands Sports Complex

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=164.94

|exit=165

|type=toll

|road=Ridgewood, Oradell

|notes=Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 80;{{cite news |title = Parkway's Link-Up with Thruway Near |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19429409/parkway_northern_extension_june_30/ |access-date = April 21, 2018 |work = The Asbury Park Sunday Press |date = June 30, 1957 |page = 6 |via = Newspapers.com }} signed as exits 165A (Oradell) and 165B (Ridgewood)

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=165.93

|exit=166

|type=incomplete

|road=Washington, Westwood

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 110

}}

{{jctbridge|old|state=NJ

|location=Washington Township

|ctdab=Bergen

|lspan=2

|mile=166.25

|type=toll

|bridge=Pascack Valley Toll Plaza (southbound)

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=167.46

|exit=168

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|502|location1=Washington|city2=Westwood}}

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Woodcliff Lake

|mile=170.15

|exit=171

|type=incomplete

|road=Woodcliff Lake, Saddle River

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR S73

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Montvale

|lspan=2

|mile=171.52

|exit=172

|type=incomplete

|road=Montvale, Park Ridge

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 94

}}

{{NYint|old

|location=

|lspan=2

|mile=172.40

|exit=173

|road={{jct|state=NY|to1=to|I|87|I|287|NYST||location1=New York City|city2=Albany}}

|notes=Northern terminus; New York state line; access via G.S. Parkway Connector

}}

{{jctbtm|col=8|keys=concur,incomplete,toll,closed}}

{{notelist}}

• {{Portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}
• {{Portal-inline|New Jersey}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Garden State Parkway}}

{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}

• [http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/ New Jersey Turnpike Authority & Garden State Parkway Official Website]
• {{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000444__-.pdf |title = NJ Route 444 }} {{small|(2.82 MB)}} Straight Line Diagram
• [http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/gsp/ Photos of the Garden State Parkway]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120819001733/http://www.njfreeways.com/ New Jersey Expressways and Tollways]
• [http://www.greaternyroads.info/roads/njpark/nj444 Garden State Parkway (NJ 444) (Greater New York Roads)]

{{New Jersey Turnpike Authority}}

{{Authority control}}

Garden State Parkway

Category:Limited-access roads in New Jersey

Category:Parkways in the United States

Category:State highways in New Jersey

Category:Toll roads in New Jersey

Category:Transportation in Atlantic County, New Jersey

Category:Transportation in Bergen County, New Jersey

Category:Transportation in Burlington County, New Jersey

Category:Transportation in Cape May County, New Jersey

Category:Transportation in Essex County, New Jersey

Category:Transportation in Middlesex County, New Jersey

Category:Transportation in Monmouth County, New Jersey

Category:Transportation in Passaic County, New Jersey

Category:Transportation in the Pine Barrens (New Jersey)

Category:Transportation in Union County, New Jersey

Category:Transportation in Ocean County, New Jersey

Category:U.S. Route 9