NJ 208

NJ 208 is basically the northern extension of the Jersey freeway section of NJ 4, running northeast-southwest with the road heading more north than west. However, NJ 208 was supposed to run truly north-south after the US 202 junction in Oakland (which is now Exit 58 on I-287), connecting to Greenwood Lake and eventually, NY 208. NY 208 is the reason why NJ 208 has the number. The section from Oakland to Greenwood Lake and NY 208 was never built because it would have destroyed scenic mountains with minimal advantage (I-287 and I-87 still handle Morristown-bound traffic fairly well). 


The start of NJ 208 at NJ 4. NJ 4 forks onto Broadway to Paterson for historical reasons, as NJ 4 came first. For through traffic, NJ 208 is the more useful route.





Maple Avenue is CR 507, but signs don't show this for some reason. CR 507 is a north-south route, but here, NJ 208 runs more north-south while 507 runs east-west per the compass.







NJ 208 intersects CR 502, an east-west route. However, CR 502 runs north-south per the compass, and NJ 208 runs east-west per the compass. 



NJ 208 ends at I-287. Notice several things. The movement to I-287 NB is the ramp, while access to I-287 SB is the "mainline". Additionally, there is signage for I-87 from here because there is only one exit left in New Jersey, and I-287 immediately junctions I-87 after crossing the New York state line. Lastly, the reason why I-287 SB is the mainline is because part of I-287 (from Exit 58 / US 202 to Exit 59) was originally built as NJ 208. This is where NJ 208 should have continued north to Greenwood Lake and then NY 208.

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