Editing New Jersey Route 79

{{Short description|State highway in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox road
|state=NJ
|type=NJ
|route=79
|length_mi=12.1
|length_ref=<ref name=sld>{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000079__-.pdf |format = PDF |title = Route 79 straight line diagram |publisher = [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] |access-date = March 17, 2020 }}
</ref>
|map={{maplink-road|from=New Jersey Route 79.map}}
|map_custom=yes|map_notes=Route 79 highlighted in red
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|NJ|33}} in [[Freehold Township, New Jersey|Freehold Township]]
|junction=
*{{jct|state=NJ|NJ-Bus|33}} in [[Freehold Borough, New Jersey|Freehold]]
*{{jct|state=NJ|CR|537}} in Freehold 
*{{jct|state=NJ|NJ|18}} in [[Marlboro Township, New Jersey|Marlboro]]
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|34|CR-Spur|516}} in [[Matawan, New Jersey|Matawan]]
|established=January 1, 1953<ref name="1953renum">{{cite news |title = New Route Markers Go Up Next Month |url = http://www.fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2021/Hackettstown%20NJ%20Gazette/Hackettstown%20NJ%20Gazette%201952-1953/Hackettstown%20NJ%20Gazette%201952-1953%20-%200243.pdf |access-date = September 26, 2018 |work = The Hackettstown Gazette |date = December 18, 1952 |page = 17 }}</ref>
|counties=[[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth]]
|previous_type=I
|previous_route=78
|next_type=I
|next_route=80
}}

'''Route&nbsp;79''' is a [[List of state highways in New Jersey|state highway]] located in [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]] in the U.S. state of [[New Jersey]]. It runs {{convert|12.1|mi|km|abbr=on}} from an intersection of [[U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;9]] in [[Freehold Township, New Jersey|Freehold Township]] north to an intersection of [[New Jersey Route 34|Route&nbsp;34]] and Main Street ([[County Route 516 (New Jersey)#County Route 516 Spur|CR&nbsp;516 Spur]]) in [[Matawan, New Jersey|Matawan]]. The route is a mostly two-lane undivided road that passes through a mixture of suburban residential, urban commercial, and open rural areas. The route interchanges with [[New Jersey Route 33|Route&nbsp;33]] in Freehold Township, intersects with [[New Jersey Route 33#Business route|Business Route&nbsp;33]] and [[County Route 537 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;537]] in [[Freehold Borough, New Jersey|Freehold]], interchanges with [[New Jersey Route 18|Route&nbsp;18]] and intersects with [[County Route 520 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;520]] in [[Marlboro Township, New Jersey|Marlboro]], and intersects with [[County Route 516 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;516]] in Matawan.

In 1927, the current alignment of Route&nbsp;79 was designated as a part of [[New Jersey Route 4|Route&nbsp;4]], which was to run from [[Cape May, New Jersey|Cape May]] to the [[George Washington Bridge]], and US&nbsp;9 was additionally designated along the route by the 1940s. After US&nbsp;9 and Route&nbsp;4 were moved to a new routing between Freehold and [[Cheesequake, New Jersey|Cheesequake]], the former route became '''Route&nbsp;4A''', a [[spur route|spur]] of Route 4. In 1953, Route&nbsp;4A became Route&nbsp;79 between Freehold and Matawan and an extension of Route&nbsp;34 between Matawan and Cheesequake.

==Route description==
[[File:2018-05-28 16 58 58 View south along New Jersey State Route 79 (Main Street) between New Jersey State Route 34 and Schenck Avenue in Matawan, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|left|Route 79 southbound at Route 34 in [[Matawan, New Jersey|Matawan]]]]
Route&nbsp;79 begins at an intersection of [[U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;9]] in [[Freehold Township, New Jersey|Freehold Township]], heading north on South Street, a two-lane [[Dual carriageway|divided highway]] that soon becomes an undivided road.<ref name=sld/> It interchanges with [[New Jersey Route 33|Route&nbsp;33]] and continues through a mix of residential and commercial areas.<ref name=gm>{{google maps |url = https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=route+9+and+south+street+freehold,+nj&daddr=route+34+and+route+79+matawan,+nj&geocode=&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=40.242421,-74.279509&sspn=0.014479,0.027509&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11 |title = Overview of Route&nbsp;79 |access-date = June 24, 2009 }}</ref> The route enters [[Freehold Borough, New Jersey|Freehold]], where it crosses the intersection of Park Avenue ([[New Jersey Route 33#Business route|Business Route&nbsp;33]]). Route&nbsp;79 heads into Downtown Freehold, where it crosses the [[Freehold Industrial Track]] railroad line operated by the [[Delaware and Raritan River Railroad]] and intersects with West Main Street ([[County Route 537 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;537]]).<ref name=sld/><ref name=gm/> Here, the route heads northeast on West Main Street to [[Concurrency (road)|run concurrently]] with CR&nbsp;537 for a short distance. It eventually splits from CR&nbsp;537 by forking to the left to head northeast on Broadway while CR 537 continues east-northeast on East Main Street.<ref name=sld/> The route continues to travels north on Broadway, as it heads past homes and eventually passes by [[Freehold High School]] at the intersection of Route&nbsp;79 and Dutch Lane Road ([[List of county routes in Monmouth County, New Jersey#46|CR&nbsp;46]]). Route 79 crosses back into Freehold Township, where it continues through suburban residential areas, with intermittent farms and woods. It heads into [[Marlboro Township, New Jersey|Marlboro]]. The route passes some businesses before it widens into a four-lane divided highway and comes to an interchange with [[New Jersey Route 18|Route&nbsp;18]].<ref name=sld/><ref name=gm/>

[[File:2020-09-13 13 24 44 View north along New Jersey State Route 79 and east along Monmouth County Route 537 (Main Street) at the exit for Monmouth County Route 537 EAST in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|Route&nbsp;79 northbound at the split with [[County Route 537 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;537]] eastbound in Freehold]]
Past this interchange, Route&nbsp;79 heads through a mix of homes and businesses, narrowing back into a two-lane undivided road. The route continues as Route&nbsp;79 at the intersection of School Road. The road passes through residential and commercial areas with some farm fields, along with passing by [[Marlboro High School]], and then intersecting with Newman Springs Road ([[County Route 520 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;520]]).<ref name=sld/><ref name=gm/> Past this intersection, Route&nbsp;79 continues north and heads into more suburban areas, with the [[Henry Hudson Trail]] parallel to the west of the road before it splits to the west.<ref name=gm/> The road heads through wooded areas with some development, intersects with Tennent Road ([[List of county routes in Monmouth County, New Jersey#3|CR&nbsp;3]]) in [[Morganville, New Jersey|Morganville]] and forms a short concurrency with that route that lasts until CR&nbsp;3 heads northeast on Lloyd Road. Route&nbsp;79 continues north through wooded neighborhoods and enters [[Matawan, New Jersey|Matawan]], where it becomes Main Street. It passes through residential areas and heads across the Henry Hudson Trail before the road crosses the intersection of Broad Street/New Brunswick Avenue ([[County Route 516 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;516]]) in a commercial area.<ref name=sld/><ref name=gm/> Route&nbsp;79 continues a short distance north past this intersection to its northern terminus at the intersection of [[New Jersey Route 34|Route&nbsp;34]]. At this intersection, unsigned [[County Route 516 (New Jersey)#County Route 516 Spur|CR&nbsp;516 Spur]] continues northeast on Main Street.<ref name=sld/><ref name=gm/>

==History==
{{infobox road small
|state=NJ
|type=NJ 1926
|county=
|route=4A
|location= [[Freehold Borough, New Jersey|Freehold]]–[[Cheesequake, New Jersey|Cheesequake]]
|length_mi=
|length_round=
|length_ref=
|formed=1940s<ref name="mwm">{{cite map |author = Mid-West Map |title = Map of Pennsylvania and New Jersey |year = 1941 |author2 = [[H.M. Gousha]] |url = http://www.mapsofpa.com/roadcart/1941_1467m.jpg |publisher = Mid-West Map |access-date = March 29, 2009 }}</ref>
|deleted=1953<ref name="nj1953" />
}}
What has become Route&nbsp;79 is an original road for the area. On June 7, 1701, a patent was granted to John Johnstone for a road from old Oysterbank Landing (Matawan Creek) to Wickatunk.<ref>{{cite book |title = The New Jersey Coast in Three Centuries: History of the New Jersey |volume = 2 |editor-first = William |editor-last = Nelson |year = 1902 |page = 188 }}</ref> This would have roughly followed that Route&nbsp;79 path. Almost the entirety of the road was maintained in the late 19th century as part of the [[Monmouth County Plank Road]]. Before 1927, what is today Route&nbsp;79 was an unnumbered road.<ref name=ttmap>{{cite web |last1 = Williams |first1 = Jimmy |last2 = Williams |first2 = Sharon |url = http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/maps/1927tt2.jpg |title = 1927 Tydol Trails Map: South |work = 1920s New Jersey Highways |access-date = March 30, 2009 |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> In the [[1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering]], the route was legislated as part of [[New Jersey Route 4|Route&nbsp;4]], which was to run from [[Cape May, New Jersey|Cape May]] to the [[George Washington Bridge]].<ref name=nj1927>State of New Jersey, Laws of 1927, Chapter 319.</ref><ref name="Map">{{cite web |last1 = Williams |first1 = Jimmy |last2 = Williams |first2 = Sharon |url = http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |title = 1927 New Jersey Road Map |work = 1920s New Jersey Highways |access-date = October 8, 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160313112746/http://jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |archive-date = March 13, 2016 }}</ref> Between 1932 and 1934,<ref>{{Cite map |author = New Jersey State Highway Commission |year = 1934 |title = Road Map of New Jersey |url = https://collections.lib.uwm.edu/digital/collection/agdm/id/16589 |scale = Scale not given |location = Trenton |publisher = 	
New Jersey State Highway Commission |access-date = August 20, 2022 |via = American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries |language = en }}</ref> the State Highway Department took over this section of the route, and US&nbsp;9 was realigned to follow this portion of road along with Route&nbsp;4. Beginning with a bypass of Freehold in 1938,<ref>{{Cite news |date = November 3, 1938 |title = Asks Federal Help For Freehold By-Pass |pages = 5 |work = Monmouth Democrat |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107970176/asks-federal-help-for-freehold-by-pass/ |access-date = August 20, 2022 }}</ref> US&nbsp;9 and Route&nbsp;4 were moved to a new alignment between Freehold and [[Cheesequake, New Jersey|Cheesequake]], and the former alignment between these two points became Route&nbsp;4A, a [[spur route|spur]] of Route&nbsp;4. The realignment was completed by 1941.<ref>{{Cite news |date = December 6, 1940 |title = Will Receive Bids For Shore Highway |pages = 31 |work = The Central New Jersey Home News |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107972991/will-receive-bids-for-shore-highway/ |access-date = August 20, 2022 }}</ref> In the [[1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering]], Route&nbsp;4A became Route&nbsp;79 between Freehold and Matawan and an extension of Route&nbsp;34 between Matawan and Cheesequake.<ref name="nj1953">{{Cite web |title = 1953 renumbering |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> On December 15, 2006, a project which rebuilt the intersection between US&nbsp;9 and Route&nbsp;79 was completed. This project's goals included improved safety and reduced traffic congestion.<ref name=njdot>{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2006/122106.shtm |title = NJDOT improves Route 9 in Freehold Township |date = December 21, 2006 |publisher = [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] |access-date = June 25, 2009 }}</ref>

==Major intersections==
{{Jcttop|length_ref=<ref name=sld/>|county=Monmouth|state=NJ}}
{{NJint
|mile=0.0
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9|location1=[[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood]]|location2=[[The Amboys]]}}
|location=Freehold Township
|lspan=2
|notes=Southern terminus
}}
{{NJint
|type=
|mile=0.1
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|33|city1=Trenton|location2=[[Asbury Park, New Jersey|Asbury Pk]]}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint
|mile=0.7
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ-Bus|33|name1=Park Ave|city1=Trenton|city2=Asbury Park|location3=Inspection Sta}}
|location=Freehold Borough
|lspan=3
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=1.4
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|537|dir1=west|name1=W Main St}}
|notes=South end of the overlap with CR&nbsp;537
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=1.5
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|537|dir1=east|name1=E Main St}}
|notes=North end of the overlap with CR&nbsp;537
}}
{{NJint
|mile=5.1
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|18|city1=New Brunswick|location2=[[Point Pleasant, New Jersey|Pt Pleasant]]}}
|location=Marlboro Township
|lspan=2
|notes=Exits&nbsp;25A-B (Route&nbsp;18)
}}
{{NJint
|mile=6.8
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|520|name1=Newman Springs Rd|to2=to|GSP|dir2=south|city1=Robertsville|location2=[[Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital|Marlboro State Hospital]]|location3=[[Holmdel Township, New Jersey|Holmdel]]}}
}}
{{NJint
|mile=11.8
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|516|name1=New Brunswick Ave/Broad St|location1=[[Old Bridge Township, New Jersey|Old Bridge]]|city2=Keyport}}
|location=Matawan
|lspan=2
}}
{{NJint
|mile=12.1
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|34|location1=[[The Amboys]]|city2=Asbury Park}}<hr>{{jct|state=NJ|CR-Spur|516|dir1=east|name1=Main St|city1=Keyport}}
|notes=Northern terminus; western terminus of CR 516 Spur
}}
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|New Jersey Route 79}}
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
*[http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/nj_79/ New Jersey Roads: Route 79]
*[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/traffic_orders/speed/rt79.shtm Speed Limits for State Roads: Route 79]

{{good article}}

[[Category:State highways in New Jersey|079]]
[[Category:Transportation in Monmouth County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 9]]