Editing New Jersey Route 38

{{Short description|State highway in southern, New Jersey, US}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox road
|state = NJ
|type = NJ
|route = 38
|alternate_name =
|map = {{maplink-road}}
|map_notes =
|map_custom = yes
|length_mi = 19.1
|length_ref = <ref name="njsld">{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000038__-.pdf|title=Route 38 straight line diagram|publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]|access-date=March 17, 2020}}</ref>
|established = 1927
|direction_a = West
|direction_b = East
|terminus_a = {{jct|state=NJ|US|30|US|130}} in [[Pennsauken Township, New Jersey|Pennsauken]]
|junction = {{jct|state=NJ|NJ|70|CR|601|CR|612|county2=Camden|county3=Camden}} in Pennsauken <br>{{jct|state=NJ|NJ|41|NJ|73}} in [[Maple Shade Township, New Jersey|Maple Shade]]<br>{{jct|state=NJ|I|295}} in [[Mount Laurel, New Jersey|Mount Laurel]]
|terminus_b = {{jct|state=NJ|US|206|CR|530}} in [[Southampton Township, New Jersey|Southampton]]
|counties = [[Camden County, New Jersey|Camden]], [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington]]
|previous_type = NJ
|previous_route = 37
|next_type = NJ-old
|next_route = 39
}}

'''Route 38''' is a [[List of state highways in New Jersey|state highway]] in the southern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]] serving the [[Delaware Valley|Philadelphia metro area]]. It extends {{convert|19.1|mi|km|2|abbr=on}} from the [[Airport Circle (Pennsauken, New Jersey)|Airport Circle]] junction with [[U.S. Route 30 in New Jersey|US 30]] and [[U.S. Route 130|US 130]] in [[Pennsauken Township, New Jersey|Pennsauken]], [[Camden County, New Jersey|Camden County]], east to an intersection of [[U.S. Route 206|US 206]] and South Pemberton Road ([[County Route 530 (New Jersey)|CR 530]]) in [[Southampton Township, New Jersey|Southampton]], [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington County]]. The entire route is closely parallel to [[County Route 537 (New Jersey)|CR 537]] located to the north, being only one block away at places. The route is a multilane [[divided highway]] for most of its length and passes through commercial development, residential development, and some farmland.

Route 38 was signed in 1927, replacing part of [[Pre-1927 Route 18 (New Jersey)|Pre-1927 Route 18]], which had run from [[Camden, New Jersey|Camden]] east to [[Toms River, New Jersey|Toms River]]. Route 38 was originally planned to be a [[freeway]] crossing the state of New Jersey, running from Camden east to [[Wall Township, New Jersey|Wall Township]], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]]. The eastern part of this freeway would become part of [[Interstate 195 (New Jersey)|I-195]] in the late 1960s. The freeway routing was then modified to head north of I-195 to [[New Jersey Route 18|Route 18]] in [[Colts Neck Township, New Jersey|Colts Neck]] but was ultimately canceled by the late 1970s due to environmental and financial concerns. [[New Jersey Route 138|Route 138]] was originally numbered as a segment of Route 38, but was renumbered by the 1990s when it became apparent the freeway would not be completed.

==Route description==
[[File:NJ 38 EB past Camden CR 626.jpeg|left|thumb|Route 38 eastbound past CR 626 in Cherry Hill]]
Route 38 begins at the [[Airport Circle (Pennsauken, New Jersey)|Airport Circle]] intersection of [[U.S. Route 30 in New Jersey|US 30]], [[U.S. Route 130|US 130]], and Kaighns Avenue ([[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#607|CR 607]]) in [[Pennsauken Township, New Jersey|Pennsauken]], [[Camden County, New Jersey|Camden County]], heading east on Kaighns Avenue.<ref name="njsld" /> It comes to a [[partial cloverleaf interchange]] with the western terminus of [[New Jersey Route 70|Route 70]] that also connects to [[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#601|CR 601]] (Marlton Pike) and [[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#659|CR 659]] (Browning Road), which replaced the Browning Road Traffic Circle.<ref name="chevron">{{cite map|publisher=[[Chevron Oil Company]]|title= Map of New Jersey |year=1969|cartography=[[H.M. Gousha]]}}</ref> A six&ndash;lane divided highway separated by a [[jersey barrier]], it proceeds eastward, crossing into [[Cherry Hill, New Jersey|Cherry Hill]], where it heads through commercial development.<ref name="njsld" /><ref name="google">{{google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=from:+Kaighn%20Ave%20@39.933820,%20-75.082970+to:+S%20Pemberton%20Rd/RT-38%20@39.969940,%20-74.735850 |title= Overview of New Jersey Route 38 |access-date=2008-02-08}}</ref> Route 38 features [[cloverleaf interchange]]s with Cuthbert Boulevard ([[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#636|CR 636]]) and Haddonfield Road ([[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#644|CR 644]]), passing under [[NJ Transit]]'s [[Atlantic City Line]] between the two interchanges.<ref name="njsld" /> Past the interchange with Haddonfield Road (CR 644), Route 38 heads past the [[Cherry Hill Mall]], located on the north side of the road.<ref name="google" /> It proceeds through the Church Road Circle, where it crosses the intersection of Church Road ([[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#616|CR 616]]) and Coles Avenue/Cooper Landing Road ([[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#627|CR 627]]).<ref name="njsld" />

[[File:2020-09-04 12 45 32 View west along New Jersey State Route 38 (Kaighns Avenue) at the exit for New Jersey State Route 41 SOUTH (Haddonfield) in Maple Shade Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.jpg|right|thumb|Route 38 westbound at Route 41 interchange in Maple Shade Township]]Route 38 crosses the South Branch of the [[Pennsauken Creek]] into [[Maple Shade Township, New Jersey|Maple Shade]], [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington County]]. The route reaches a cloverleaf interchange with [[New Jersey Route 41|Route 41]] before it has an interchange with [[New Jersey Route 73|Route 73]] that also has access to Old Kings Highway.<ref name="njsld" /> The Route 38-41-73 interchange complex replaced a dangerous and congested 6-way traffic circle.<ref name="chevron" /> The route then crosses the intersection of Lenola Road ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#608|CR 608]]) into [[Moorestown, New Jersey|Moorestown]], where it becomes unnamed. Route 38 travels by the [[Moorestown Mall]] located to the south before passing by the Strawbridge Lake Park located to the north, where it crosses the intersection of Church Street ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#607|CR 607]]) and then Mount Laurel Road ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#603|CR 603]]).<ref name="google" /> It enters [[Mount Laurel, New Jersey|Mount Laurel]], where it intersects with Marter Avenue ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#615|CR 615]]) before meeting [[Interstate 295 (Delaware–Pennsylvania)|I-295]] at a partial cloverleaf interchange and passing over the [[New Jersey Turnpike]] without access.<ref name="njsld" />

[[File:2018-05-22 17 26 11 View west along New Jersey State Route 38 at U.S. Route 206 in Southampton Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|left|View west at the east end of Route 38 at US 206 and CR 530 in Southampton Township]]
It then continues east, heading into more residential areas and passing south of [[Rowan College at Burlington County]].<ref name="google" /> Route 38 intersects many roads with [[jughandle]]s, including Hartford Road ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#686|CR 686]]), Ark Road ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#635|CR 635]]), and Masonville-Fostertown Road ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#636|CR 636]]) crossing into [[Hainesport Township, New Jersey|Hainesport]], where it further intersects with Hainesport-Mount Laurel Road ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#674|CR 674]]), Creek Road (CR 636) without a traffic light, and Lumberton Avenue ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#641|CR 641]]).<ref name="njsld" />  The route then crosses the South Branch of the [[Rancocas Creek]] before entering [[Lumberton, New Jersey|Lumberton]], where the road intersects with Mount Holly Bypass ([[County Route 541 (New Jersey)|CR 541]]).<ref name="njsld" />  Route 38 runs through the southern part of the [[Mount Holly, New Jersey|Mount Holly]] area, intersecting with Madison Avenue/Main Street ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#691|CR 691]]), the former alignment of CR 541. It crosses into [[Mount Holly, New Jersey|Mount Holly]] at the intersection of Pine Street/Eayrestown Road ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#612|CR 612]]).<ref name="njsld" />  Past this intersection, Route 38 eventually becomes an undivided highway and then reenters Lumberton.<ref name="njsld" /> The route then heads into farmland and crosses into [[Southampton Township, New Jersey|Southampton]] at the intersection of Smithville Road ([[List of county routes in Burlington County, New Jersey#684|CR 684]]).<ref name="njsld" /><ref name="google" />  Route 38 ends at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 206|US 206]], where the road continues east on South Pemberton Road ([[County Route 530 (New Jersey)|CR 530]]).<ref name="njsld" />

==History==
[[File:2021-09-07 13 25 45 View east along New Jersey State Route 38 (Kaighn Avenue) from the pedestrian overpass at the Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill Township, Camden County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|Route 38 in Cherry Hill looking east]]
Prior to 1927, the route was a part of [[Pre-1927 Route 18 (New Jersey)|Pre-1927 Route 18]], which was legislated in 1923 to run from [[Camden, New Jersey|Camden]] to [[Toms River, New Jersey|Toms River]].<ref name="1920r18">State of New Jersey, Laws of 1923, Chapter 184.</ref>  In the [[1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering]], Route 38 was legislated to run along the route from [[New Jersey Route 25|Route 25]] (now [[U.S. Route 130]]) in [[Pennsauken Township, New Jersey|Pennsauken]] east to [[New Jersey Route 39|Route 39]] (now [[U.S. Route 206|US 206]]) in [[Eastampton Township, New Jersey|Eastampton]].<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|access-date=2008-10-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313112746/http://jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif|archive-date=2016-03-13}}</ref>

In 1938, Route 38 was legislated to extend from East Hampton to [[New Jersey Route 4N|Route 4N]] (now [[New Jersey Route 71|Route 71]]) in [[Wall Township, New Jersey|Wall Township]], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]].<ref name=nj1938>State of New Jersey, Laws of 1938, Chapter 51.</ref> A section of this was built, running between [[New Jersey Route 34|Route 34]] and [[New Jersey Route 35|Route 35]] in Wall Township.<ref name="chevron" /> The Route 38 freeway was then planned in 1961 to connect these two sections of Route 38. It was to run from I-680 (now [[Interstate 676|I-676]]) in [[Camden, New Jersey|Camden]] east to the planned Route 35 freeway (now [[New Jersey Route 18|Route 18]]) in Wall Township, providing a direct freeway connection between the [[Delaware Valley|Philadelphia metro area]] and the northern portions of the [[Jersey Shore]]. The route of the freeway was to run east from the [[Benjamin Franklin Bridge|Ben Franklin Bridge]], paralleling [[U.S. Route 30 in New Jersey|US 30]] and then [[New Jersey Route 70|Route 70]]. It would then have run parallel to the current alignment of Route 38 through the [[Mount Holly, New Jersey|Mount Holly]] area and then travel along the northern border of the [[Fort Dix|Fort Dix Military Reservation]] to [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson]], [[Ocean County, New Jersey|Ocean County]], where it would then follow the present alignment of [[Interstate 195 (New Jersey)|I-195]] to Wall Township.<ref name=NJDOT1961>{{cite book|title=New Jersey Builds Better Highways|publisher=New Jersey State Highway Department|year=1961}}</ref><ref name=NJSHD1965>{{cite book|title=Plans for a Central Jersey Expressway System|publisher=New Jersey State Highway Department|year=1965}}</ref> In the late 1960s, the eastern part of the Route 38 freeway became part of the proposed I-195.<ref name=NJDOT1967>{{cite book|title=Route 37 Freeway Relocation Study|publisher=New Jersey Department of Transportation|year=1967}}</ref><ref name=NJDOT1967ii>{{cite book|title=New Jersey Highway Facts|publisher=New Jersey Department of Transportation|year=1967}}</ref>

[[File:NJ 38 EB past US 30-US 130.jpeg|thumb|left|Route 38 eastbound past US 30/US 130 at the Airport Circle in Pennsauken Township]]
In 1969, it was estimated the Route 38 freeway between [[Interstate 295 (Delaware–Pennsylvania)|I-295]] in [[Cherry Hill, New Jersey|Cherry Hill]] and I-195 in Jackson would cost $60 million and be completed by 1985.<ref name=dvrpc>{{cite book|title=1985 Regional Transportation Plan|publisher=[[Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission]] |year=1969}}</ref> The route of the freeway was revised in 1972 to head north of I-195 to Route 18 in [[Colts Neck Township, New Jersey|Colts Neck]], intersecting with [[New Jersey Route 33|Route 33]] in [[Freehold Township, New Jersey|Freehold Township]]. The western terminus was also moved to [[Mount Laurel, New Jersey|Mount Laurel]], where it was to connect to the [[New Jersey Turnpike]] and [[New Jersey Route 90|Route 90]], which was projected to extend to the New Jersey Turnpike. It was estimated that this routing of the Route 38 freeway would cost $101 million.<ref name=NJDOT1972>{{cite book|title=Master Plan for Transportation|publisher=New Jersey Department of Transportation|year=1972}}</ref> However, due to environmental concerns of the route passing through the [[New Jersey Pine Barrens|Pine Barrens]] and financial troubles, the freeway was canceled by the end of the 1970s.<ref name=inq>{{cite news|last=Nussbaum|first=Paul|title=Schuylkill carries the load of many routes left unbuilt|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=August 19, 1984}}</ref> The orphaned eastern section of Route 38 in Monmouth County was renumbered to [[New Jersey Route 138|Route 138]] on July 29, 1988.<ref name=July1988Ref>{{cite web |url=http://law.njstatelib.org/law_files/imported/Research_Guides/Law/njregister/volume24number23%20page4307-4454.pdf |title=Proposed New Rule: N.J.A.C. 16:28A-1.112 |date=December 7, 1992 |quote=The section of highway which was designated as Route 38 in Wall Township, Monmouth County, was redesignated Route 138 on July 29, 1988, as evidenced in the New Jersey State Highway Straight Line Diagrams 1990. |access-date=July 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616020631/http://law.njstatelib.org/law_files/imported/Research_Guides/Law/njregister/volume24number23%20page4307-4454.pdf |archive-date=June 16, 2011 }}</ref>

==Major intersections==
{{jcttop|state=NJ|length_ref=<ref name="njsld"/>}}
{{NJint
|county=Camden
|cspan=4
|location=Pennsauken Township
|lspan=2
|mile=0.0
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|30|US|130|city1=Camden|location2=[[Benjamin Franklin Bridge|B Franklin Br]]|city3=Trenton}}
|notes=[[Airport Circle (Pennsauken, New Jersey)|Airport Circle]]; western terminus 
}}
{{NJint
|mile=0.6
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|70|dir1=east|to2=to|NJ|72|NJ|37|location1=[[Cherry Hill, New Jersey|Cherry Hill Business Dist]]}}<hr>{{jct|state=NJ|road|Marlton Pike/Browning Rd|city1=Merchantville}}
|notes=[[Partial cloverleaf interchange]]; western terminus of Route 70; access via [[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#601|CR 601]]/[[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#612-3|CR 612]]
}}
{{NJint
|location=Cherry Hill
|lspan=2
|mile=1.5
|road={{jct|state=NJ|road|Cuthbert Blvd|city1=Merchantville|city2=Oaklyn}}
|notes=[[Cloverleaf interchange]]; access via [[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#636|CR 636]]
}}
{{NJint
|mile=2.8
|road={{jct|state=NJ|road|Haddonfield Rd|city1=Haddonfield|location2=[[Pennsauken Township, New Jersey|Pennsauken Township]]}}
|notes=Cloverleaf interchange; access via [[List of county routes in Camden County, New Jersey#644|CR 644]]
}}
{{NJint
|county=Burlington
|cspan=7
|location=Maple Shade Township
|lspan=3
|mile=5.2
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|41|to2=to|NJ|73|dir2=north|city1=Haddonfield|city2=Palmyra|location3=[[Tacony-Palmyra Bridge|Tacony Br]]}}
|notes=Partial cloverleaf interchange; no northbound access to Route 38 west
}}
{{NJint
|mile=5.5
|mspan=2
|type=incomplete 
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|73|city1=Marlton|dir1=south|to2=to|NJTP2}}
|notes=No westbound exit
}}
{{NJint
|mile=none
|type=incomplete 
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|73|city1=Palmyra|dir1=north|location2=[[Tacony-Palmyra Bridge|Tacony Br]]}}
|notes=No eastbound exit
}}
{{NJint
|location=Mount Laurel 
|lspan=2
|mile=9.5
|mspan=2
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|295|dir1=south|location1=[[Delaware Memorial Bridge|Del Mem Br]]}}
|notes=No eastbound exit; Exits 40A-B (I-295)
}}
{{NJint
|mile=none
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|295|dir1=north|city1=Trenton}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; Exits 40A-B (I-295)
}}
{{NJint
|location=Lumberton 
|mile=15.3
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|541|name1=Mt Holly Bypass|to2=to|NJTP2||dir2=north|location1=[[Mount Holly, New Jersey|Mt. Holly]]|city2=Burlington|city3=Lumberton|city4=Medford}}
|notes=
}}
{{NJint
|location=Southampton Township
|mile=19.1
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|206|to2=to|ACE2||city1=Trenton|city2=Hammonton}}<hr>{{jct|state=NJ|CR|530|dir1=east|name1=S Pemberton Rd}}
|notes=Eastern terminus; western terminus of CR 530
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=incomplete}}

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|New Jersey Route 38}}
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}
*[http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/log/4.html#38 New Jersey Roads – History]
*[http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/nj_38/ New Jersey Roads – Photos]
*[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/traffic_orders/speed/rt38.shtm Speed Limits for Route 38]

{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Jersey Route 038}}
[[Category:State highways in New Jersey|038]]
[[Category:Transportation in Burlington County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Transportation in Camden County, New Jersey]]