AN EARLY INTERSTATE PROPOSAL: In the 1930's, the existing NJ 23 - known locally as Newark-Pompton Turnpike - was built as a four-lane undivided arterial to connect to US 46. The postwar influx of suburban development, and later, the construction of I-80 through the area, overwhelmed the road. Subsequently, accidents along the four-lane arterial increased.

In its 1955 "Yellow Book," the Federal Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) proposed an Interstate highway link from the proposed I-80 in Wayne to I-287 in Pompton Plains. The eight-mile-long route was to be routed along the present day NJ 23, and was to link to the southeast to NJ 3 (also planned as a preliminary Interstate route). By the time the New Jersey State Highway Department finalized plans for its Interstate highway network one year later, the NJ 23 Freeway link had been dropped from the Interstate system.

DOWNSCALING FREEWAY PLANS: After a number of abortive attempts to construct a freeway along the entire NJ 23 corridor, the NJDOT returned to the drawing board in the late 1970's. The state developed the following plan for the eight miles between I-80 and I-287:

• FREEWAY IN WAYNE: For two miles from I-80 north to Alps Road, the NJDOT was to reconstruct the existing four-lane undivided NJ 23 as a six-lane, controlled access freeway. For the first time along the route, concrete median ("Jersey") barriers were to separate opposing traffic flows, and to separate express and local traffic. Right-of-way was to be acquired along the existing route for flanking two-lane service (collector-distributor) roads, which were to serve existing businesses. Part of the NJ 23 Freeway required construction on new alignment, and construction of a new railroad bridge. (Approximately 0.3 mile of this section is multiplexed with US 202.)
  

WAYNE TO PORT JERVIS: In the early 1960's, both the New Jersey State Highway Department and the Tri-State Transportation Commission proposed a 47-mile-long freeway to connect I-80 (at EXIT 53) in Wayne, Passaic County with I-84 in Port Jervis, New York, at the junction of the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania borders. Along its southern stretches, the NJ 23 Freeway was to relieve congestion. Further north, the freeway was to provide improved access to the recreational areas in northwest New Jersey and beyond.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the Tri-State Transportation Commission described the purpose for the proposed NJ 23 Freeway as follows:

The existing land service road between Wayne and the New York-New Jersey border at Port Jervis has sub-standard horizontal curvature and very poor grades. These engineering features, coupled with residential and commercial development along the right-of-way, make it impractical to improve the existing roadway. Therefore, it is proposed to build a freeway parallel to the existing NJ 23.

The NJ 23 Freeway will fill a large gap in the regional highway grid. It will serve large areas of potential development in Passaic and Sussex counties.

The proposed four-to-six lane, 47-mile-long freeway was estimated to cost $120 million. It was proposed as a Federal-aid project, with the Federal and state governments evenly dividing the cost of the freeway. By the early 1970's, concerns about rising construction costs and potential environmental damage killed the NJ 23 Freeway project.

In the early 1980's, the NJDOT discussed briefly the possibility of constructing a section of the NJ 23 Freeway to bypass the Franklin-Hamburg area. The new freeway was to be constructed to the east of the existing alignment. However, after strong opposition from merchants along the existing two-lane route, the NJDOT said that it would be a long time before such a plan would be reconsidered.

"SUPER 23" SOUTH TO PISCATAWAY? In 1966, the Tri-State Transportation Commission recommended extending the NJ 23 Freeway further south to Piscataway, Middlesex County. The proposed 35-mile southern extension, which was to roughly parallel the Garden State Parkway, was to have interchanges with I-280, the NJ 24 Freeway, I-78, and terminate at the intersection of I-287 and the unbuilt I-95. (Conceptually, it was to have been a northern extension of the unbuilt I-95.)

The Commission described the purpose and benefits of the NJ 23 Freeway Extension as follows:

The NJ 23 Freeway Extension, a north-south route through Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Essex and Passaic counties, will fill a major gap in the highway grid with a route through the area between the Garden State Parkway and I-287. It will serve traffic perpendicular to radial routes, relieve congested arterials, provide a truck alternate to the Garden State Parkway, and tie together fast growing suburbs.

In 1969, the NJDOT added the NJ 23 Freeway Extension proposal, but it was shown on planning maps as "Route 807." This southerly route, which would have gone through more developed areas, was estimated by the NJDOT to cost $300 million. It was also dead by the early 1970's.

The NJDOT should reconsider long-range plans for extending the NJ 23 Freeway from I-80 in Wayne north to I-84 in Port Jervis. Currently, there is enough volume to justify its construction - ideally, as a six-lane facility - from Wayne north to Stockholm. Initially, freeway construction efforts should be focused on this 22-mile stretch of NJ 23. If traffic volume builds on northern stretches of NJ 23, the freeway should be extended north as a four-lane facility to I-84.

The NJ 23 Freeway would accommodate the traffic needs of established areas in Passaic County and developing areas in Sussex County. It would also serve as a viable alternate route to I-380 between New York City and Pocono resort areas.

SOURCES: Regional Highways: Status Report, Tri-State Transportation Commission (1962); Transportation 1985: A Regional Plan, Tri-State Transportation Commission (1966); "Improvement of Route 23: Public Hearing," New Jersey Department of Transportation (3/14/1968); New Jersey Highway Facts, New Jersey Department of Transportation (1969); "Interstate 80-84 Links Opposed," The New York Times (11/27/1972); "Route 23: Administrative Action Final Environmental Impact Statement and Section 4(f) Statement," Federal Highway Administration and New Jersey Department of Transportation (1978); Adam Froehlig; George Kowal; Raymond C. Martin; Christopher G. Mason; Dan Moraseski; William F. Yurasko.

• NJ 23 shield by Ralph Herman.
  
• Lightpost by Millerbernd Manufacturing Company.
  

NJ 23 FREEWAY LINKS:

• NJ 23 (route log and photos) (Steve Alpert)
  
• NJ 23 (Chris Mason)
  
• NJ 23 Freeway (Douglas Kerr)
  
• NJ 23 Freeway (Raymond C. Martin)
  
• NJ 23 Straight Line Diagram (New Jersey Department of Transportation)
  
• "Butler Upset Over Plans To Widen Route 23" (Gregory Rummo)
  
• Interstate Plans (1955 "Yellow Book" map) (Adam Froehlig)
  
• Expressway Plans (1964 map) (Regional Plan Association)
  

OFF-SITE EXIT LISTINGS:

• NJ 23 exit and intersection list by Ray Martin.
  

CURRENT METRO COMMUTE ROAD CONDITIONS:

• Construction and Accident Delays
  
• Live Traffic Cams
  

VIEW OR SUBMIT YOUR RATING TO RATETHEROADS.COM:

• NJ 23 Freeway
  

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