NJ 87

 (and)

NJ 87 is the only road in and out of Brigantine. CR 638 is the main road through Brigantine.

This (together with NJ 187) is the southern segment of former NJH S-4-A. NJH S-4-A was supposed to connect the northern portion of Atlantic City with Brigantine and Tuckerton. The Atlantic City to Brigantine section of S-4-A was built as NJ 87 / Brigantine Boulevard. A large chunk of the road was built in Tuckerton, present-day Great Bay Boulevard. However, the segment between Brigantine and the Ocean County line was never built. This segment was supposed to be built by Atlantic County, but would have likely been taken over by the state after construction. The road in Brigantine exists today and is Atlantic County Route 638. The southern segment of NJH S-4-A was redesignated NJH S56 (a spur of US 30 / NJH 56 instead of US 9 / NJH 4), then became NJ 87 in 1953. NJ 87 was originally unsigned and covered both Brigantine Boulevard and Huron Avenue. In the 1970s, NJ 87 was transferred onto Huron Avenue and NJ 187 was established, thus allowing NJ 87 to be coherently signed.

NJ 87:

Most photos are southbound because the more interesting signs are that direction.

The southern end of NJ 87, Huron Avenue, at US 30 and MLK Jr. Boulevard.

NJ 87 SB serves as the effective southbound direction of NJ 446X (from Brigantine to Atlantic City, complementary to the northbound NJ 446X towards Brigantine. Not Exit E towards US 30 / NJ 187). NJ 446X is the Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector.

Inconsistent signing standards. Why does US 30 EB get a black square background behind the US Highway shield, but US 30 WB doesn't? That's because the left BGS is up to (old) NJDOT standards, while the right BGS is up to SJTA standards, thus suggesting NJ 87 SB serves as an effective route for NJ 446X SB. Also, a quirk in Atlantic City signage is the use of different text background colors to indicate districts of Atlantic City.

To the right is NJ 87, and to the left is NJ 187, the old alignment of NJ 87. US 30 doesn't have much EB length left here, as after NJ 187 (and NJ 446X), US 30 ends at Virginia Avenue.

The only shield for NJ 87 NB, just after NJ 187.

SJTA standard signage suggests NJ 87 SB is the Brigantine Connector.

The Atlantic City - Brigantine Connector (NJ 446X) merges into NJ 87 NB.

The Brigantine Bridge. This is a crucial route providing the only road access to and from Brigantine Island.

After touching down on Brigantine Island and encountering a U-turn ramp, NJ 87 ends and becomes CR 638.

CR 638:

The start of CR 638.

CR 638 ends at a dead end where the development runs out of length. This is the start of the gap between Brigantine and Tuckerton that NJH S-4-A was supposed to fill.

Continue north through the North Brigantine Natural Area

Disregard the gap and continue on Great Bay Boulevard

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