NJ 21

 

NJ 21 is a highway running along the Passaic River that connects Newark to Paterson. In Newark, the highway is mostly a multilane surface road. After downtown Newark, NJ 21 upgrades to a freeway, where it ends at US 46 near NJ 20 and I-80 heading towards Paterson.

McCarter Highway / NJ 21 in downtown Newark.

CR 508 has an unsigned concurrency with NJ 21.

NJ 21 has a large junction with I-280.

Clay Street is the eastern terminus of CR 506 Spur, but you cannot make a left from NJ 21 NB to CR 506 Spur WB. Instead, you are routed onto Clark Street as an effective jughandle to reach Clay Street. The problem is this: This sign reads CR 506 WB, Bloomfield. That is CR 506 Spur, not CR 506. CR 506 is in Belleville.

The start of the NJ 21 freeway.

This northbound sign for Chester Avenue and Riverside Avenue used to be for Exit 4, which has been closed for a while.

Portions of the McCarter Highway were built as a double-decked roadway because there wasn't enough right-of-way between the Passaic River in the east and dense developments in the west.

The Exit 4 northbound offramp towards Chester Avenue and Riverside Avenue was here. The ramp was closed because of safety issues. Additionally, it's funny how Exit 4 was a left exit with the tab in the corresponding orientation, but the overhead gantry is on the right because of the double-decker highway. Just another reason why Exit 4 was so confusing and hazardous.

This is the exit to take for CR 506 as well. Also, it's interesting how the gantry for a right-hand exit is on the left side of the road. I guess it's because there isn't enough space northbound because of the Passaic River.

NJ 21 is old signs and button copy galore.

Right there is the only NJ 21 ground mounted sign I've seen, at least NB.

NJ 21 has nowhere else to go from here! After this exit, NJ 21 is over and merges into US 46 EB, which connects to NJ 20 NB. NJ 20 finishes the route along the Passaic River to connect to Paterson. At least also sign TO US 46, NJ 20, I-80.

The end of NJ 21 as it merges onto US 46 EB. The transition from NJ 21 to US 46 to NJ 20 is seamless, so why not redesignate NJ 20 as an extension of NJ 21?

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