NJ 20 effectively serves as a northern extension of NJ 21, connecting US 46 with Hawthorne and northern Paterson at CR 504. The NJ 21 - US 46 - NJ 20 transition is seamless.
However, NJ 20 was supposed to be much more.
NJ 20 was supposed to begin in East Rutherford and was built there along the Paterson Plank Road. That section became NJ 120 when it was clear that the bypass of the Paterson Plank Road between NJ 20 in East Rutherford and NJ 20 / US 46 in Clifton would not be fully built, especially passing through the dense areas of Carlstadt and Wallington. NJ 21 is a realization for the part of the originally planned NJ 20 routing from Passaic (Exits 11A-B) to US 46.
NJ 20 was also supposed to connect with NJ 19 and follow the Passaic River. NJ 19 was supposed to link to NJ 20 and form the Paterson Peripheral highway. In fact, NJ 20 was the original designation of NJ 19. However, the Great Falls were in the way, and the Peripheral was never finished.
And this leads to my question: NJ 20 is north-south as it is. However, if NJ 20 was fully built, would NJ 20 have been east-west? This is especially because the Paterson Peripheral corridor is basically a horseshoe with the top of the inverted U being north, meaning NJ 20 would have a section that is signed north but runs geographically south if NJ 20 was north-south.
So, what would I do about NJ 20 today? Just turn NJ 20 into NJ 21, and include a short overlap with US 46. That way, NJ 20 can finally be of age - no drinking and driving, please! - and be a more streamlined route.
Enough of that, let's hit the road.
NJ 20 starts at US 46, which has a seamless transition into NJ 21.
NJ 20 has a tight interchange with I-80 thanks to the Cedar Lawn Cemetery. Definitely would rather build over a river than graves.
More from the tight interchange.
NJ 4 (Broadway) ends at NJ 20. This is an old sign.
A BGS covered in tarp. This is very likely for the Broadway junction.
NJ 20 splits into a one-way pair, and ends at CR 504's end.
No comments:
Post a Comment