Essex CR 609 (Eisenhower Parkway)

 

Essex CR 609, Eisenhower Parkway, is only part of what it was planned to be. 

This road was supposed to extend southwards from CR 510 into Morris County, intersect NJ 24 and NJ 124, and be known as Triborough Road at least in Morris County. Why Triborough Road? This road was supposed to connect these three boroughs: Chatham, Roseland, and West Caldwell (now a township). But the southern extension into Morris County was never built because of environmental concerns regarding swamps on the banks of the Passaic River. I do not know what designation this would have received because CR 609 in Morris County is occupied, as of now, the lowest numbers available are CR 626, CR 627, and CR 629.

This road was also supposed to extend north of I-280 to reach CR 506 and CR 614 in West Caldwell. The right-of-way is still owned by Essex County and could be built into a northern extension of Eisenhower Parkway, but current traffic doesn't seem to warrant it.

However, Eisenhower Parkway still has local importance. This road is a north-south truck bypass of Livingston, because large trucks over 4 tons are not allowed on most streets in Livingston. Routes that this could be considered a bypass of? Probably CR 527.

Eisenhower Parkway (Essex CR 609):

Essex CR 609 starts at CR 510.

The most major intersection on CR 609 between CR 510 and I-280 is this: The Livingston Circle with NJ 10 and CR 508. CR 609 cuts through the circle, in reality an ellipse, but NJ 10 has the longer arcs of the ellipse, so both NJ 10 and CR 609 function as through routes here.

A faded I-280 shield!

CR 609 intersects CR 611 (Eagle Rock Avenue), which connects CR 609 to Roseland and via CR 527, the Caldwells. The Caldwells are considered a control city for this road, as well as the parallel CR 649 (JFK Parkway). However, there is another connection between CR 609 and CR 527 to reach the Caldwells, and that is I-280.

CR 609 intersects I-280, the last road that goes anywhere. CR 609 goes nowhere except an office park and a U-turn, and that leads to the abandoned northern stub.

CR 609 runs out of length and all traffic is required to turn either into the office park or make a U-turn. This could have continued straight to West Caldwell, but it doesn't.

Triborough Road (unbuilt, designation unknown / possible Morris CR 6XX?)

As seen from NJ 24, Triborough Road. This road does not exist. This is a remnant of a failed attempt to extend the current Eisenhower Parkway in Essex County south to Morris County. A cloverleaf interchange is fully graded and the overpass was built, but that's about it for a road that was never built. 

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