U.S. Route 1/9

U.S. Route 1/9 is a concurrency of two major U.S. Highways that runs for approximately 13 miles through the northeastern part of New Jersey, primarily within Hudson County and Essex County. The route serves as a critical arterial corridor connecting the Holland Tunnel and New York City with the New Jersey Turnpike and points south and west. It traverses heavily urbanized and industrial landscapes, including parts of Jersey City, Newark, and Elizabeth, and is notable for its complex interchanges and elevated sections.

Route description

Beginning at the toll plaza for the Holland Tunnel in Jersey City, U.S. Route 1/9 heads west on a depressed roadway before ascending onto the Pulaski Skyway, a landmark cantilever bridge spanning the Hackensack River and Passaic River into Kearny. South of the skyway, the route descends to ground level, running concurrently with U.S. Route 1/9 Truck through the industrial districts of Kearny and Newark. It passes near Newark Liberty International Airport and the sprawling Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal complex before the highways split in Elizabeth, with U.S. Route 1 heading toward Trenton and U.S. Route 9 turning toward the Jersey Shore.

History

The alignment originated from early 20th-century auto trails, including the Lincoln Highway and the New York to Florida Route. The concurrent U.S. Route 1/9 designation was established with the creation of the U.S. Highway System in 1926. A major engineering project, the construction of the Pulaski Skyway between 1929 and 1932, created a high-speed bypass of Jersey City street traffic and was named for Casimir Pulaski. Throughout the mid-20th century, the route was repeatedly realigned and upgraded, particularly with the construction of the New Jersey Turnpike and the Interstate 78 extension, which absorbed much of its through traffic. The skyway was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 2020.

Major intersections

Key junctions along U.S. Route 1/9 include the western terminus of the Holland Tunnel (connecting to New York State Route 9A in Manhattan), interchanges with Interstate 78 and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) in Newark, and a complex confluence with U.S. Route 22 in Elizabeth. The southern terminus of the concurrency is a directional interchange where U.S. Route 1/9 splits near the Goethals Bridge approach, with U.S. Route 1 meeting New Jersey Route 440 and U.S. Route 9 connecting to New Jersey Route 35.

Special routes and suffixed routes

The primary auxiliary route is U.S. Route 1/9 Truck, which follows the original surface street alignment of the highways beneath the Pulaski Skyway through Kearny, Newark, and Elizabeth. Historically, there was also a U.S. Route 1/9 Alternate that provided a connection through Bayonne to the Bayonne Bridge. Several state highways, including New Jersey Route 139 and New Jersey Route 185, also provide key connections to and from the U.S. Route 1/9 corridor.

In popular culture

The most iconic feature of the highway, the Pulaski Skyway, has been featured in numerous films and television series, often as a symbol of New Jersey's industrial landscape. It appears in the opening credits of the HBO series The Sopranos and in films such as *War of the Worlds* and *Joker*. The road's gritty, urban aesthetic has also made it a subject in the works of photographer George Tice and has been referenced in the music of Bruce Springsteen.

Category:U.S. Highways in New Jersey Category:Transportation in Hudson County, New Jersey Category:Transportation in Essex County, New Jersey