Dyl's Roads & Travels: CR 519

CR 519 is the longest county route in New Jersey, stretching just over 88 miles from Stockton to the New York state line. Interestingly, this route passes through only three counties and has many rural stretches where you can drive and not hit a single traffic light for many miles.

Hunterdon County:

The start of CR 519 at NJ 29 in Delaware Township, just right after Wickecheoke Creek and the Stockton town line. Surprisingly, neither CR 523 nor CR 519 extend to the Centre Bridge–Stockton Bridge to end at the Pennsylvania line and PA 263, leaving Bridge Street in Stockton undesignated. If I had to decide on a route to extend to Pennsylvania, I would select CR 519. CR 519 already has its northern terminus at the New York line, so why not give CR 519 a southern terminus at the Pennsylvania state line, and actually make CR 519 reach Stockton.

The first reassurance shield for CR 519.

CR 519 in Rosemont.

A large portion of CR 519 passes through rolling farmlands. This is why there are many stretches of CR 519 where you can drive for miles and not encounter a single traffic light.

This truss bridge in Kingwood looks like a historic bridge, but replaced a truly historic steel truss bridge that was over 100 years old. That bridge collapsed because an overweight crane drove across the bridge and caused it to buckle.

CR 519 intersects CR 513 in Everritstown.

CR 519 enters Milford. CR 619 serves as a continuation of NJ 29 from Frenchtown towards Milford and Phillipsburg. Ideally, NJ 29 would extend along CR 619 and CR 519 to at least Phillipsburg, because CR 619, as well as CR 519 from CR 619 to Phillipsburg used to be a state highway.

While downtown Milford isn't along CR 519, these are at the CR 519 and Bridge Street intersection in Milford. The top is a bridge over Hakihokake Creek that carries Bridge Street from CR 519 to downtown Milford and ultimately, Pennsylvania. The bottom is the historic Presbyterian Church.

At the Musconetcong River, CR 519 crosses from Hunterdon to Warren County.

Warren County:

CR 519 in Warren Glen.

CR 519 in Alpha.

CR 519 has a short overlap with NJ 122.

CR 519 intersects busy US 22.

Thanks to warehouse development, CR 519 north of US 22 is briefly a truck route. The Phillipsburg area has a lot of industrial / warehouse developments that warrant this. Briefly a truck route, though, because trucks must turn into the development and CR 519 becomes highly unfriendly to trucks thanks to upcoming low clearances and weight-restricted bridges. It's probably for the better to keep big trucks off CR 519, as shown with Kingwood.

Just south of NJ 57, CR 519 passes under a railroad embankment that once was the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad, as well as the westernmost stretch of the Raritan Valley Line to Phillipsburg.

CR 519 turns to avoid Belvidere, the seat of Warren County. Belvidere is unique in that it is the only county seat in New Jersey that doesn't have an Interstate, US Highway, NJ State Route, or 500-series county route within its borders.

CR 519 comes to a junction with US 46.

That is the ugliest darn county route sign I have ever seen.

CR 519 meets the southern end of CR 521 in Hope.

Historic buildings in the heart of Hope.

What kind of nonstandard shields are these?

CR 519 bypasses Johnsonburg.

CR 519 passes under the Lackawanna Cut-Off.

Sussex County:

After the Lackawanna Cut-Off and just before a turn, CR 519 crosses into Sussex County.

CR 519 has a short overlap with NJ 94 in Newton. And no, this isn't a JCT. This is CR 519 SB departing from NJ 94 SB, as a route cannot junction with itself.

CR 519 passes through the town center of Newton, the county seat of Sussex County.

A curve sign with extra stripes on its border. Just like the MUTCD suggests if extra attention is needed for this curve.

CR 519 in the center of Branchville. Here, the route comes to a 5-way intersection with Mattison Avenue and Sussex CR 630 (former US 206). Following CR 519 through this intersection is confusing because the route continues through the intersection at an acute angle.