CR 509

 

CR 509 passes through three counties. It also used to enter Middlesex County, but it no longer does, de facto and de jure*.

*Some NJDOT SLDs still indicate a stub section of CR 509 from CR 531 to the Union County line, and this used to connect to the mainline. However, that section is not even signed as CR 509 anymore and is signed as Middlesex CR 602. This section may not even exist in the Middlesex County database or current NJDOT databases.

Union County:

Starting at NJ 28, where CR 509 begins*. While the actual CR 509 doesn't begin* until the north side of the railroad, the configuration of the roundabout effectively starts CR 509 here at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Circle.

This sign directs traffic to take the correct exit of the roundabout so they can use the correct lane to stay on CR 509.

No. CR 509 ends* here and that is for CR 653 south. CR 509 used to extend along Union CR 653 towards South Plainfield, but the route no longer does that.

The official start* of CR 509 in Westfield. This is the first CR 509 reassurance shield. Notice the left / right arrow turned 90 degrees to form a straight arrow.

There used to be a CR 509 reassurance field above this, but it has since gone away. Probably because CR 509 in downtown is actually town maintained.

CR 509 serves as the main street, known as Broad Street, in wealthy Westfield.

CR 509 junctions CR 577 in the north of Westfield. CR 577 used to be CR 509 Spur per NJDOT, but Union County always recognized it as CR 577. Now both NJDOT and Union County agree: the road is CR 577.

CR 509 after intersecting CR 577, former CR 509 Spur.

CR 509 is the main street in Kenilworth. It is called Boulevard. Did you even try with that name?

Essex County:

CR 509 in Bloomfield, near the Newark border. 

What is this?! This is CR 509 NB, not WB.

CR 509 passes through downtown Bloomfield. CR 509 leaves Franklin Street to usurp CR 663, the southernmost portion of Broad Street. CR 663 is another connection between CR 506 Spur and CR 509.

CR 509 around the historic Bloomfield Green.

CR 509 in the Brookdale section of Bloomfield.

The final scene of the Sopranos was shot here in Holsten's.

Passaic County:

CR 509 crosses into Clifton.

CR 509 along Broad Street in Clifton.

CR 509 at the southern terminus of NJ 19.

The southern end of NJ 19 along CR 509. NJ 19 mileage begins at Colfax Avenue, close to the US 46 junction.

Look at that sign. Proof CR 509 runs along NJ 19, but NJ 19 is treated as the main route.

Once again is CR 509 made into a footnote. This is where CR 509 finally departs from NJ 19. Note the large ground-mounted sign references Broad Street and NJ 19, but CR 509 has a smaller sign at the gore. 

CR 509 in downtown Paterson. The city has many architectural gems, but it's in an unfortunately dismal state thanks to the downfall of heavy industry in the city. Hopefully Paterson will experience a revival just like Newark and Jersey City did.

At this point, signage for CR 509 ranges from inconsistent to nonexistent. From 2014 to 2021, Passaic County has finally signed its CRs in Paterson, giving us one (and unfortunately only one) long-awaited CR 509 shield in Paterson, but signage is still inconsistent. A section of CR 509 in Paterson from Lackawanna Plaza to NJ 19 / Ward Street is incorrectly signed as CR 601. There are no CR 509 SB shields along Main Street, only CR 601 shields. 

See this? This is what I mean. It's as if CR 509 SB doesn't exist in Paterson.

CR 509 SB is signed as CR 673 when it crosses the Passaic River on a one-way pair of streets.

What you've been waiting for. The final CR 509 reassurance shield. The only CR 509 reassurance shield in Paterson. Only for CR 509 NB. This is just after the intersection with Market Street in downtown. Beyond here, CR 509 signage disappears completely. In fact, CR 509 northbound and southbound take different routings to cross the Passaic River. The northbound direction simply continues on Main Street (one-way northbound) to Presidential Boulevard, where CR 509 turns (unsigned) onto Presidential Boulevard.

 The southbound direction follows one of two possible routings across the Passaic because Main Street is one-way northbound from Broadway to Memorial Drive:

1: Continue on Presidential Boulevard, Broadway, and Main Street

2: Turn on Main Street, Memorial Drive, Broadway to Main Street

Here is a map of the CR 509 alignments.

- Blue is CR 509 NB

- Yellow is my described alignment 1 of CR 509 SB

- Red is my described alignment 2 of CR 509 SB

Across the Passaic River. The unceremonious northern end of CR 509 (Holsman Street) at CR 504 / CR 650 (Haledon Avenue). Unsigned CR 509 follows Presidential Boulevard and makes a poorly indicated left turn onto Holsman Street because Presidential is only one-way NB after Holsman Street. Holsman Street from Presidential Boulevard to CR 504 is in absolutely abysmal condition, with no striping and barely any maintenance that I could tell.

CR 504 eastbound is straight ahead, CR 504 westbound is to the left, and CR 650 eastbound is to the right. Even with new signage, Passaic County has not signed END CR 509 here, nor have they signed CR 504 here from CR 509. The only Passaic CR sign here is for CR 650. And neither is CR 509 signed from CR 504.

What a way to end a 500-series county route. Not with anything big, just a whimper.

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