Editing New Jersey Route 27

{{Short description|Highway in New Jersey}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|state=NJ
|type=NJ
|route=27
|maint=[[New Jersey Department of Transportation|NJDOT]] and [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]]
|length_mi=38.53
|length_ref=<ref name=SLD>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000027__-.pdf|title=Route&nbsp;27 straight line diagram|publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]|access-date=March 17, 2020}}</ref>
|tourist=[[File:MUTCD M10-1.svg|20px|alt=|link=]] [[Millstone Valley Scenic Byway]]
|map={{maplink-road}}
|map_custom=yes
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{jct|state=NJ|US|206}} in [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]]
|junction=
*{{jct|state=NJ|NJ|18}} in [[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]]
*{{jct|state=NJ|I|287}} in [[Edison, New Jersey|Edison]]
*{{jct|state=NJ|GSP}} in [[Woodbridge Township, New Jersey|Woodbridge Township]]
*{{jct|state=NJ|NJ|35}} in [[Rahway, New Jersey|Rahway]]
*{{jct|state=NJ|NJ|439}} in [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth]]
*{{jct|state=NJ|NJ|28}} in Elizabeth
*{{jct|state=NJ|US|22}} in [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]]
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|21}} in Newark
|established=1927
|counties=[[Mercer County, New Jersey|Mercer]], [[Somerset County, New Jersey|Somerset]], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex]], [[Union County, New Jersey|Union]], [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex]]
|previous_type=NJ
|previous_route=26
|next_type=NJ
|next_route=28
|browse={{nj browse|county=Middlesex|previous_type=CR|previous_route=625|route=CR&nbsp;644|next_type=CR|next_route=646}}
}}
'''Route&nbsp;27''' is a [[List of state highways in New Jersey|state highway]] in [[New Jersey]], United States. It runs {{convert|38.53|mi|km}} from [[U.S. Route 206]] (US&nbsp;206) in [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], Mercer County, northeast to an interchange with McCarter Highway ([[New Jersey Route 21|Route&nbsp;21]]) and Broad Street in [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], Essex County. The route passes through many communities along the way, including [[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]], [[Highland Park, New Jersey|Highland Park]], [[Edison, New Jersey|Edison]], [[Metuchen, New Jersey|Metuchen]], [[Rahway, New Jersey|Rahway]], and [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth]]. Route&nbsp;27 is a two- to four-lane undivided highway for most of its length, passing through a variety of urban and suburban environments. It intersects many roads along the way, including [[New Jersey Route 18|Route&nbsp;18]] in New Brunswick, [[Interstate 287]] (I-287) in [[Edison, New Jersey|Edison]], the [[Garden State Parkway]] in [[Woodbridge Township, New Jersey|Woodbridge Township]], [[New Jersey Route 35|Route&nbsp;35]] in Rahway, [[New Jersey Route 28|Route&nbsp;28]] in Elizabeth, and [[U.S. Route 22 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;22]] in Newark. Route&nbsp;27 crosses the [[Raritan River]] on the [[Albany Street Bridge]], which connects [[Highland Park, New Jersey|Highland Park]] on the east with [[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]] on the west.

Route&nbsp;27 was part of the alignment through New Jersey of the [[Lincoln Highway]], the United States' first transcontinental highway that was established in 1913. Route&nbsp;27 is still referred to as the Lincoln Highway in many municipalities, such as Edison. The Lincoln Highway became part of [[Pre-1927 Route 1 (New Jersey)|pre-1927 Route&nbsp;1]] between New Brunswick and Elizabeth in 1916 and '''pre-1927 Route&nbsp;13''' between [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]] and New Brunswick in 1917. In 1927, the Lincoln Highway was renumbered as Route&nbsp;27 between Trenton and Newark. [[U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;1]] was designated on this portion of the road until it was relocated by the 1940s. U&nbsp;206 followed the route from Trenton to Princeton until 1953, when the southern terminus of Route&nbsp;27 was cut back to Princeton to avoid the concurrency with US&nbsp;206.

==Route description==

===Mercer County===
[[File:2017-09-12 15 36 05 View north along New Jersey State Route&nbsp;27 (Nassau Street) at University Place and Bank Street in Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|left|Route&nbsp;27 on Nassau Street in Princeton]]
Route&nbsp;27 begins at a traffic light with [[U.S. Route 206|US&nbsp;206]] in Downtown [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], Mercer County. The route heads northeast along Nassau Street, the main street of Princeton that runs along the northern edge of [[Princeton University]] and is lined with numerous shops and restaurants.<ref name=gm>{{google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=RT-27+%26+Mercer+St,+Princeton,+Mercer,+New+Jersey&daddr=Route+27%2FRT-27+to:RT-27%2FSomerset+St+to:RT-27+to:RT-27%2FSt+George+Ave%2FE+St+Georges+Ave+to:40.688709,-74.20372+to:poinier+street+and+broad+street+newark,+nj&hl=en&geocode=%3BFSCxaAIdouiN-w%3BFbStaQIdvnWP-w%3BFXRGawIdMjaS-w%3BFShQbAIdWj-T-w%3B%3B&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=5&sz=12&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=40.67517,-74.199944&sspn=0.115349,0.219727&ie=UTF8&ll=40.551374,-74.437866&spn=0.462248,0.878906&t=h&z=10 |title=Overview of New Jersey Route&nbsp;27 |access-date=2008-12-14}}</ref> This portion of Route&nbsp;27 sees between 10,000 and 20,000&nbsp;cars a day.<ref name=SLD/> Just past the beginning of Route&nbsp;27, [[County Route 583 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;583]] heads to the southwest on Mercer Street. Route&nbsp;27 moves through downtown Princeton, passing by the main gates to Princeton University near [[Nassau Hall]], and intersecting with Washington Road ([[County Route 526 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;526]]/[[County Route 571 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;571]]). After leaving the downtown area, Route&nbsp;27 continues through residential areas and the route becomes unnamed. Route&nbsp;27 runs parallel to [[Lake Carnegie (New Jersey)|Carnegie Lake]], then crosses over the [[Millstone River]] just north of the historic [[Kingston Bridge (Kingston, New Jersey)|Kingston Bridge]].<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> The portion of the road from Princeton to Kingston is part of the [[King's Highway Historic District (New Jersey)|King's Highway Historic District]].<ref name=gm/>

===Middlesex–Somerset county line===
Upon crossing the Millstone River, Route&nbsp;27 runs along the border of [[Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey|Franklin Township]], Somerset County, to the west and [[South Brunswick, New Jersey|South Brunswick]], Middlesex County, to the east, passing through the historic community of [[Kingston, New Jersey|Kingston]]. It continues northeast through a mix of woodland and residences, intersecting with Promenade Boulevard, which heads east and becomes [[County Route 522 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;522]] after crossing [[U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;1]]. Route&nbsp;27 briefly runs entirely into Somerset County before resuming along the Middlesex–Somerset county line. The route continues north to an intersection of Gateway Boulevard ([[County Route 518 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;518]]), where it resumes its northeast direction and heads into [[Kendall Park, New Jersey|Kendall Park]] as a variable two- to four-lane road, entering denser suburban development. In Kendall Park, the road passes northwest of a [[park and ride]] lot located at a shopping center.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> Route&nbsp;27 then passes through [[Franklin Park, New Jersey|Franklin Park]], intersecting with Henderson Road ([[County Route 610 (Middlesex County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;610]]). Past that intersection, Route&nbsp;27 forms the border of Franklin Township to the west and [[North Brunswick, New Jersey|North Brunswick]] to the east, passing through suburban development with some areas of farmland, seeing about 38,487&nbsp;cars a day.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> The road forms the border of Franklin Township and [[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]] upon intersecting with How Lane ([[County Route 680 (Middlesex County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;680]]) becoming four-lane Somerset Street. Route&nbsp;27 follows Somerset Street northeast through residential and commercial areas, passing by the community of [[Somerset, New Jersey|Somerset]] on the west side of the road.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/>

===Middlesex County===
[[File:NJ 27 SB past NJ 18-CR&nbsp;514.jpg|right|thumb|Route&nbsp;27 southbound past Route&nbsp;18 and CR&nbsp;514 in New Brunswick]]
The route splits from Somerset Street and heads entirely into New Brunswick, Middlesex County, along French Street. At the intersection of Sandford Street, Route&nbsp;27 becomes a county-maintained road that is also signed as CR&nbsp;644. It then intersects with Jersey Avenue ([[County Route 693 (Middlesex County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;693]]), which heads to the southwest to become [[New Jersey Route 91|Route&nbsp;91]]. Past this intersection, the route becomes a two-lane street that heads into Downtown New Brunswick, south of the main campus of [[Rutgers University-New Brunswick|Rutgers University]]. Here, the route has a daily traffic count of approximately 11,559&nbsp;vehicles. It crosses under [[Amtrak]]'s [[Northeast Corridor]] rail line next to the [[New Brunswick station]] serving Amtrak and [[NJ Transit]]'s [[Northeast Corridor Line]].<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> The route turns into a four-lane [[Dual carriageway|divided highway]] and intersects with Easton Avenue ([[County Route 527 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;527]]). At this point, CR&nbsp;644 ends, and Route&nbsp;27 forms a brief [[Concurrency (road)|concurrency]] with CR&nbsp;527, heading east along Albany Street as a city-maintained street. About {{convert|200|yd|m}} later, the road crosses George Street, which heads to the north as [[County Route 672 (Middlesex County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;672]] and to the south as [[New Jersey Route 171|Route&nbsp;171]]. CR&nbsp;527 splits from Albany Street by heading south on Route&nbsp;171 while Route&nbsp;27 continues east. After another {{convert|0.2|mi|m}}, Route&nbsp;27 intersects Johnson Drive ([[County Route 514 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;514]]). Route&nbsp;27 continues along Albany Street as a concurrency with CR&nbsp;514. It immediately intersects [[New Jersey Route 18|Route&nbsp;18]]. At the interchange with Route&nbsp;18, Route&nbsp;27 becomes state-maintained again, crossing the [[Raritan River]] on the [[Albany Street Bridge]] into [[Highland Park, New Jersey|Highland Park]].<ref name=SLD/>

Upon entering Highland Park, Route&nbsp;27 becomes two-lane Raritan Avenue, intersecting with River Road ([[County Route 622 (Middlesex County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;622]]) and continuing through the downtown area of Highland Park. CR&nbsp;514 splits from Route&nbsp;27 by heading east on Woodbridge Avenue {{convert|0.7|mi|km|abbr=on}} later.<ref name=SLD/> Route&nbsp;27 resumes heading northeast past this intersection as a four-lane road that passes by homes, entering [[Edison, New Jersey|Edison]], where the name changes to [[Lincoln Highway]]. The route continues northeast, intersecting with Suttons Lane/Duclos Lane ([[County Route 676 (Middlesex County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;676]]) and Plainfield Avenue ([[County Route 529 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;529]]), then travels through a mix of residences and businesses, briefly becoming a divided highway before intersecting [[Interstate 287|I-287]] at a partial interchange with access to southbound I-287 and from northbound I-287.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> At this interchange, Route&nbsp;27 sees approximately 14,386&nbsp;cars a day.<ref name=SLD/> Beyond this interchange, Route&nbsp;27 crosses into [[Metuchen, New Jersey|Metuchen]] and becomes two-lane Essex Avenue, which turns to the east and heads through residential areas.<ref name=gm/> The route turns north onto Lake Avenue and intersects with Amboy Avenue ([[County Route 501 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;501]]). Route&nbsp;27 forms a concurrency with that route. It passes under the Northeast Corridor and comes to Middlesex Avenue, where CR&nbsp;501 turns to the left and Route&nbsp;27 turns to the right to resume its northeast direction.<ref name=SLD/>
[[File:2021-08-26 11 12 41 View north along New Jersey State Route&nbsp;27 (Lincoln Highway) from the overpass for Middlesex County Route 650 (New Dover Road) in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey.jpg|left|thumb|Route&nbsp;27 northbound at CR&nbsp;650 (New Dover Road) in Woodbridge Township, running parallel to the Northeast Corridor rail line]]
Route&nbsp;27 intersects with Main Street ([[County Route 531 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;531]]) after {{convert|0.2|mi|km}} and continues northeast on Middlesex Avenue, passing through a residential environment where the route carries about 22,414&nbsp;vehicles daily.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> The road comes to a bridge over [[Conrail Shared Assets Operations]]' (CSAO) [[Port Reading Secondary]] line. The route crosses back into Edison and becomes Lincoln Highway again, passing over the [[Rahway River]].<ref name=SLD/> It heads through business areas and passes near the [[Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum]], which is located on the site of [[Thomas Edison]]'s Menlo Park laboratory.<ref name=gm/> The route closely parallels the Northeast Corridor rail line and crosses into [[Woodbridge Township, New Jersey|Woodbridge Township]], widening to four lanes at this point. Route&nbsp;27 passes by the [[Metropark station]] serving Amtrak and NJ Transit trains and has an interchange with the [[Garden State Parkway]] near [[Iselin, New Jersey|Iselin]], where approximately 19,780&nbsp;vehicles travel on Route&nbsp;27 on a daily basis.<ref name=SLD/> Past the Garden State Parkway, Route&nbsp;27 narrows back to two lanes and continues northeast alongside the Northeast Corridor, passing through a mix of residential and commercial development as a three-lane road with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane.<ref name=gm/>

===Union and Essex counties===
Route&nbsp;27 crosses into [[Rahway, New Jersey|Rahway]], Union County, and intersects with the northern terminus of [[New Jersey Route 35|Route&nbsp;35]], where that route heads south on St. Georges Avenue. Route&nbsp;27 continues north using four-lane St. Georges Avenue.<ref name=SLD/> The route passes through Rahway, passing by residences and businesses.<ref name=gm/> In Rahway, the route sees about 25,022&nbsp;cars a day. It continues northeast, intersecting multiple streets, such as West Inman Avenue ([[County Route 602 (Union County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;602]]), West Hazelwood Avenue ([[County Route 621 (Union County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;621]]), West Milton Avenue ([[County Route 648 (Union County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;648]]), and Westfield Avenue/West Grand Avenue ([[County Route 613 (Union County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;613]]). The route crosses into [[Linden, New Jersey|Linden]] when passing the intersection of Stuart Place, where the route heads through a more commercial setting with businesses lining both sides of the road. In Linden, the road intersects with North Stiles Street ([[County Route  615 (Union County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;615]]). At the intersection of Wood Avenue ([[County Route 617 (Union County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;617]]), Route&nbsp;27 forms the border of [[Roselle, New Jersey|Roselle]] to the west and Linden to the east, and about 23,081&nbsp;vehicles use the road on a daily basis. The route crosses the inactive [[Rahway Valley Railroad]] line that is owned by the [[Staten Island Railway]]. It passes by Warinaco Park and forms the border between [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth]] to the west and Linden to the east before entirely entering Elizabeth at the intersection of Richford Terrace.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/>

[[File:NJ 27 in Newark.jpg|right|thumb|The first [[reassurance shield]] on Route&nbsp;27 in Newark]]
In Elizabeth, Route&nbsp;27 narrows to two lanes and becomes Rahway Avenue, crossing the intersection of South Elmora Avenue ([[New Jersey Route 439|Route&nbsp;439]]) and continuing to the northeast through residential and commercial areas. Route&nbsp;27 splits into a [[one-way pair]] with northbound Route&nbsp;27 following Rahway Avenue east and turning north onto Cherry Street and southbound Route&nbsp;27 following Westfield Avenue west and turning south onto Chilton Street.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> The southbound direction of Route&nbsp;27 intersects with the eastern terminus of [[New Jersey Route 28|Route&nbsp;28]], where that route continues west on Westfield Avenue.<ref name=27ZSLD>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000027Z_-.pdf|title=Route&nbsp;27 Z straight line diagram|publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]|access-date=2008-12-15}}</ref> Past the one-way pair, Route&nbsp;27 resumes east on four-lane Westfield Avenue, turning north onto Broad Street. The route heads into a more urbanized setting and continues northeast onto Newark Avenue, intersecting with the northern terminus of Route&nbsp;439, where that route heads west on North Avenue. Through Elizabeth, about 10,000 to 20,000&nbsp;vehicles travel on Route&nbsp;27 every day.<ref name=SLD/>

Route&nbsp;27 crosses into [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], Essex County, at the intersection of Virginia Street, where it becomes Frelinghuysen Avenue, a road that heads north through the [[Dayton, Newark, New Jersey|Dayton]] neighborhood of Newark, passing through urban areas and by [[Weequahic Park]].<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> Route&nbsp;27 interchanges with [[U.S. Route 22 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;22]] and immediately passes under [[Interstate 78 in New Jersey|I-78]]. Route&nbsp;27 continues north, passing under railroad tracks carrying CSAO's [[Lehigh Line (Conrail)|Lehigh Line]] and NJ Transit's [[Raritan Valley Line]] and crossing CSAO's Poinier Street Lead line/Irvington-Hillside Industrial Branch at-grade, before it comes to an intersection of Poinier Street, where the route heads east along that road to its northern terminus at an interchange with McCarter Highway ([[New Jersey Route 21|Route&nbsp;21]]) and Broad Street.<ref name=SLD/>

== History ==
[[File:Route 13 Indentation Bridge, Route 27 in Kingston.jpg|left|thumb|State bridge built in 1919 engraved with the former State Highway Route&nbsp;13 designation assigned in 1917]] 
The southern part of Route&nbsp;27 follows the [[Lenape]] [[Assunpink Trail]] that during the colonial era was known as the Old Dutch Trail, and later became the [[King's Highway (Charleston to Boston)|Kings Highway]].<ref name = hiking>{{cite book | last1 = de Conte | first1 = Paul | last2=Dupont | first2=Ronald Jr. | title = Hiking New Jersey A Guide to 50 of the Garden State's Greatest Hiking Trails | date = 2009 | publisher = Globe Pequot Press | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=BspCLoRq1vUC&q=Assunpink+Trail&pg=PA174 | isbn = 978-0-7627-1119-2 }}</ref> North of Rahway, the road was created as Queen Anne's Road, running from [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]] to [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabethtown Point]], with later extensions to Newark and Jersey City. This road would have several names over the following years: it was renamed the King's Highway when it was extended by King George to Jersey City, then to the Post Road during the Revolutionary War, then the Old Country Road after, then finally St. Georges Avenue when Rahway was incorporated as a city.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Yeats|first=Lauren Pancurak|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pN_gf0KQorIC&pg=PA29|title=Linden, New Jersey|date=2002|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-2365-1|language=en}}</ref>

Route&nbsp;27 follows portions of several 19th-century [[Toll road|turnpikes]], including the Essex and Middlesex Turnpike, which was chartered on March 3, 1806, to run from New Brunswick to Newark along what is today Route&nbsp;27, the Northeast Corridor rail line, and Broad Street in Newark, the [[Georgetown and Franklin Turnpike]], chartered on February 15, 1816, to run from [[Lambertville, New Jersey|Lambertville]] to New Brunswick along the present-day alignments of CR&nbsp;518 and Route&nbsp;27, the Newark and Elizabeth Plank Road, chartered on March 14, 1856, and the Princeton and Kingston Branch Turnpike, chartered on December 3, 1807, to run from [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]] to Kingston along current CR&nbsp;583 and Route&nbsp;27.<ref name="index">{{cite book |last= Murphy |first= John L. |access-date=2009-01-13|title= Index of Colonial and State Laws Between the Years 1663 and 1877 Inclusive |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LVY4AAAAIAAJ |year= 1877}}</ref> The route became a portion of the Lincoln Highway, the United States' first transcontinental highway that was established in 1913 to run from [[New York City]] to [[San Francisco]].<ref name="fhwa">{{Cite web|last=Weingroff |first = Richard F.|title=The Lincoln Highway |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]]|access-date=2008-12-15|url=https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/general-highway-history/lincoln-highway}}</ref> It is still known by that name in a few places along the route, particularly in Edison Township.<ref name="SLD" />

[[File:One-cent postcard of Nassau Street in Princeton, New Jersey.png|thumb|right|Route&nbsp;27 (Nassau Street) in Princeton in the 1910s]]
In 1916, the Lincoln Highway was legislated as part of [[Pre-1927 Route 1 (New Jersey)|pre-1927 Route&nbsp;1]] between New Brunswick and Elizabeth and as pre-1927 Route&nbsp;13 between Trenton and New Brunswick in 1917.<ref>{{cite book|title=Annual Report|publisher=New Jersey State Highway Department|year=1916}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Annual Report|publisher=New Jersey State Highway Department|year=1917}}</ref> In the [[1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering]], Route&nbsp;27 was designated to run from Trenton to the intersection of Frelinghuysen Avenue and Astor Street in Newark, replacing the portions of Routes&nbsp;1 and 13 that ran along the Lincoln Highway.<ref name=nj1927>State of New Jersey, Laws of 1927, Chapter 319.</ref><ref name="Map">{{cite map|url=http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif|title=1927 New Jersey Road Map|publisher=State of New Jersey |via=Jimmy and Sharon Williams |access-date=2008-10-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031111034/http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif|archive-date=2007-10-31}}</ref> With the creation of the [[United States Numbered Highways|U.S. Highway System]], US&nbsp;1 was designated along the length of Route&nbsp;27 from 1927 until sometime before the 1940s, when the US&nbsp;1 designation was moved to [[New Jersey Route 26|Route&nbsp;26]], [[New Jersey Route S26|Route&nbsp;S26]], and [[New Jersey Route 25|Route&nbsp;25]] between Trenton and Newark.<ref name=ttmap>{{cite map|url=http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/maps/1927tt2.jpg|title=Map of New Jersey|year=1927|publisher=Tydol Trails |via=Jimmy and Sharon Williams |access-date=February 9, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514153745/http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/maps/1927tt2.jpg|archive-date=May 14, 2011}}</ref><ref name="mwm">{{cite map|publisher=Mid-West Map Co.|title= Map of Pennsylvania and New Jersey |year=1941|author=[[H.M. Gousha]]|url=http://www.mapsofpa.com/roadcart/1941_1467m.jpg |via=Historical Maps of Pennsylvania |access-date=2009-03-29}}</ref> US&nbsp;206 was designated along the portion of route between Trenton and [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]] by the 1940s.<ref name="mwm"/> In the [[1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering]], the southern terminus of Route&nbsp;27 was cut back to Princeton to avoid the concurrency with US&nbsp;206.<ref name="nj1953">{{Cite web|title=1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering |via=Wikisource |url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1953_New_Jersey_state_highway_renumbering|publisher=New Jersey Department of Highways|access-date=July 31, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628183145/http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1953_New_Jersey_state_highway_renumbering|archive-date=June 28, 2011}}</ref>

==Major intersections==
{{Jcttop|length_ref=<ref name=SLD/>}}
{{NJint
|county=Mercer
|cspan=3
|mile=0.00
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|206|name1=Bayard Lane / Stockton Street|city1=Lawrenceville|city2=Trenton|location3=[[Princeton Airport (New Jersey)|Princeton Airport]]|extra=airport}}
|location=Princeton
|lspan=3
|notes=Southern terminus
}}
{{NJint
|mile=0.04
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|583|dir1=south|name1=Mercer Street}}
|notes=Northern terminus of CR&nbsp;583
}}
{{NJint
|mile=0.40
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|526|dir1=east|CR|571|dir2=south|name2=Washington Road|to3=to|NJTP|extra=hospital}}
|notes=Western terminus of CR&nbsp;526; northern terminus of CR&nbsp;571
}}
{{NJint
|county1=Middlesex
|county2=Somerset
|township1=South Brunswick
|township2=Franklin
|ctdab2=Somerset
|mile=6.90
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|518|dir1=west|name1=Gateway Boulevard|city1=Rocky Hill}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of CR&nbsp;518
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|county=Middlesex
|cspan=12
|mile=16.22
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|527|dir1=north|name1=Easton Avenue|extra=hospital}}
|location=New Brunswick
|lspan=4
|notes=Southern end of CR&nbsp;527 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=16.32
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|171|dir1=south|name1=George Street}}<hr>{{jct|state=NJ|CR|672|county1=Middlesex|dir1=north|name1=George Street}}
|notes=Northern end of unsigned CR&nbsp;527 concurrency; northern terminus of Route&nbsp;171; southern terminus of CR&nbsp;672
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=16.51
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|514|dir1=west|name1=Johnson Drive}}
|notes=Southern end of CR&nbsp;514 concurrency; no access from Route&nbsp;27 north to CR&nbsp;514 west
}}
{{NJint
|type=incomplete
|mile=16.55
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|18|dir1=south|to2=to|NJTP}}
|notes=No access to Route&nbsp;18 north or from Route&nbsp;18 south; interchange
}}
{{jctbridge
|location_special=[[Raritan River]]
|mile=16.65
|line=yes
|bridge=[[Albany Street Bridge]]
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=17.48
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|514|dir1=east|name1=Woodbridge Avenue}}
|location=Highland Park
|notes=Northern end of CR&nbsp;514 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=18.86
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|529|name1=Plainfield Avenue|city1=New Market|countydab1=Middlesex|city2=Dunellen|location3=Motor Vehicle Inspection Station and Agency}}
|location=Edison
|lspan=2
}}
{{NJint
|type=incomplete
|mile=20.82
|mile2=20.84
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|287|dir1=south|to2=to|NJTP||GSP}}
|notes=No access I-287 north or from I-287 south; exits&nbsp;2A–B on I-287
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=21.62
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|501|dir1=east|name1=Amboy Avenue}}
|location=Metuchen
|lspan=3
|notes=Southern end of CR&nbsp;501 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=21.86
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|501|dir1=west|name1=Middlesex Avenue|to2=to|I|287|dir2=north}}
|notes=Northern end CR&nbsp;501 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=22.07
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|531|name1=Main Street|city1=Plainfield|city2=Metuchen}} Business District
}}
{{NJint
|mile=24.69
|road={{jct|state=NJ|GSP2}}
|location=Woodbridge Township
|notes=Exit&nbsp;132 (Garden State Parkway), was exit&nbsp;131 until March 2015
}}
{{NJint
|county=Union
|cspan=4
|mile=27.29
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|35|dir1=south|name1=St. Georges Avenue|to2=to|NJTP}}
|location=Rahway
|notes=Northern terminus of Route&nbsp;35
}}
{{NJint
|mile=32.98
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|439|name1=South Elmora Avenue}}
|location=Elizabeth
|lspan=3
}}
{{NJint
|mile=34.00
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|28|dir1=west|name1=Westfield Avenue}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of Route&nbsp;28
}}
{{NJint
|mile=35.29
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|439|dir1=south|name1=North Avenue|extra=rail}}
|notes=Northern terminus of Route&nbsp;439; to [[North Elizabeth station]]
}}
{{NJint
|county=Essex
|cspan=2
|mile=37.31
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|22|to2=to|NJTP}}
|location=Newark
|lspan=2
|notes=Interchange; entrance to US&nbsp;22 west via Empire Street; exit from US&nbsp;22 east via Victoria Street 
}}
{{NJint
|type=incomplete
|mile=38.39
|mile2=38.53
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|21|name1=McCarter Highway|road|Broad Street}}
|notes=Direct access to Route&nbsp;21 north only; interchange; northern terminus
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur,incomplete}}
{{clear}}

==See also==
*{{Portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}
*{{Portal-inline|New Jersey}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|New Jersey Route&nbsp;27}}
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}
*{{cite news | last = Di Ionno | first = Mark | title = On N.J. road, the world's dreams unfold | newspaper = The Star-Ledger | date = December 4, 2011 | url = http://blog.nj.com/njv_mark_diionno/2011/12/di_ionno_on_nj_road_the_worlds.html | access-date = 2013-07-30 }}
* [http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/nj_27/ New Jersey Roads: Route&nbsp;27]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015220/http://www.njroads.org/ends/27/nj27.htm New Jersey Highway Ends: Route&nbsp;27]
* [http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/traffic_orders/speed/rt27.shtm Speed Limits for Route&nbsp;27]

{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Jersey Route 027}}
[[Category:Transportation in Essex County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Transportation in Mercer County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Transportation in Middlesex County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Transportation in Somerset County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Transportation in Union County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:State highways in New Jersey|027]]
[[Category:Lincoln Highway]]