New Jersey Route 35

Route 35 begins at the entrance to the Island Beach State Park in Berkeley Township, Ocean County, at the southern tip of the Barnegat Peninsula. South of Seaside Park, Route 35 is Central Avenue as it is the only road while it travels along the shore of the peninsula. It heads north, varying between a two-lane road to a four-lane divided highway with parking spaces in the median and bike lanes on the outside through residential areas of South Seaside Park.^[2] It briefly becomes an undivided highway before crossing into Seaside Park, where the route becomes four-lane, divided Central Avenue, which also has median parking spaces. Route 35 passes by residences in Seaside Park, with the median widening for the Seaside Park Police Department building at the intersection of 6th Avenue, and then the road widening to six lanes further north.^[1][2] Upon crossing the intersection of Decatur Avenue, the southbound lanes of Route 35 run one block to the west of the northbound lanes and then turns to the west, crossing into Seaside Heights, a beach resort that has a boardwalk and an amusement pier. In Seaside Heights, Route 35 turns north and has an interchange with the eastern terminus of Route 37 on the Seaside Heights/Berkeley Township border on the eastern shore of the Barnegat Bay. At this interchange, a ramp provides access from northbound Route 35 a short distance past the ramp from eastbound Route 37 to Seaside Heights, connecting to Sumner Avenue.^[1][3]

 

Past the Route 37 interchange, Route 35 continues north along Barnegat Bay, curving eastward and crossing into Toms River, where the route splits into a block-wide one-way pair with two lanes and a bike lane in each direction that heads north through residential and commercial Ortley Beach. After crossing into Lavallette a mile later, the northbound direction of Route 35 becomes Grand Central Avenue and the southbound direction of Route 35 becomes Anna O. Hawkins Boulevard.^[1][3] The route then crosses back into Toms River, passing through Dover Beaches North. When Route 35 enters Brick, the northbound direction becomes Ocean Avenue and the one-way pair between the opposing directions of Route 35 narrows as it passes oceanfront residences.^[2] Upon crossing into Mantoloking, Route 35 becomes a two-lane, undivided road and heads north along a narrow peninsula, intersecting with Herbert Street (CR 528) less than a mile later.^[1]

Route 35 continues north through Bay Head, where the bike lanes end and the road name becomes Main Avenue. It then enters Point Pleasant Beach, a beach resort with a boardwalk, where the route swings to the west and crosses NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line. Southbound Route 35 intersects the eastern terminus of Route 88 before Route 35 turns north onto another one-way pair with two lanes in each direction—the northbound direction following Cincinnati Avenue and the southbound direction following Richmond Avenue.^[3] The one-way pair carries the route through the downtown area of Point Pleasant Beach, with the NJ Transit tracks parallel to the east.^[2] At the intersection of Arnold Avenue (CR 633), northbound Route 35 shifts slightly to the west and becomes Hawthorne Avenue, passing to the west of the Point Pleasant Beach Station serving the North Jersey Coast Line. The route becomes a two-way highway again after half a mile and becomes a four-lane divided highway after intersecting with Broadway (CR 635), almost immediately crossing a channel of the Manasquan River and entering Monmouth County.^[1]

 

Route 35 crosses into Brielle, Monmouth County, immediately passing over the main channel of the Manasquan River on a drawbridge. Upon crossing into Brielle, the route heads further west from the railroad tracks and intersects Ashley Avenue and the southern terminus of Route 71. The route continues northwest and crosses into Wall Township and meets the intersection of Route 34 and Route 70 at the former Brielle Circle, now an at-grade intersection with jughandles. Past this intersection, Route 35 heads north on a two-lane, undivided road that passes by many businesses. It meets the intersection of Atlantic Avenue (CR 524 Spur) at the Manasquan Circle, where the former Circle Factory Outlet Center is located. Past the Manasquan Circle, Route 35 heads north as a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane that intersects with Allaire Road (CR 524).^[1][2] Route 35 widens to a four-lane divided highway and reaches an interchange with the eastern terminus of Route 138, which continues west to become I-195. Route 35 curves to the east and crosses into Belmar where it becomes River Road. Here, the route runs along the south bank of the Shark River as a four-lane undivided highway, intersecting with H Street, where Route 71 heads to the south and running concurrently with that route. The two routes continue north along a divided highway until the intersection of 8th Avenue, where Route 71 heads to the east. Past this intersection, Route 35 becomes a four-lane, undivided road again, with the North Jersey Coast Line east of the road, and crosses the Shark River into Neptune.^[1]

 

Past the Shark River Bridge, Route 35 continues as a four-lane divided highway that features an interchange with Memorial Drive (CR 40A), crossing into Neptune City. The route continues northwest away from the railroad tracks through residential and commercial areas of Neptune City as a four-lane, undivided highway before heading north as a two-lane, undivided road.^[2] Route 35 crosses back into Neptune, where it crosses the intersection of Corlies Avenue (Route 33).^[1] It continues through suburban development and comes to the Asbury Park Circle where the route intersects with Asbury Avenue (CR 16), crosses into Ocean Township, and intersects with the eastern terminus of Route 66. The route becomes a four-lane divided highway and passes by the Seaview Square Mall as it continues north through commercial areas, intersecting many roads with jughandles and passing near Weltz County Park. Route 35 passes through the intersection of Talmadge Avenue.^[1][2]

 

Route 35 enters Eatontown, where it passes by the Monmouth Mall and intersects with Route 36 at the former Eatontown Circle, now an at-grade intersection with ramps.^[1][2] After that intersection, the route becomes an undivided highway. Consequently, Route 35 passes through a few more roads and commercial areas before finally crossing the intersection of Wyckoff Road (CR 547). Past this intersection, Route 35 intersects with Broad Street (Route 71), where it becomes Main Street. The route has an intersection of Tinton Avenue/Avenue of Memories (CR 537) next to the former entrance to Fort Monmouth. Route 35 crosses into Shrewsbury, where it becomes Broad Street and continues north through residential and commercial areas, passing by The Grove at Shrewsbury.^[1] It intersects with Newman Springs Road (CR 520). Route 35 runs concurrently with that route and immediately crossing the North Jersey Coast Line into Red Bank. Upon entering Red Bank, CR 520, along with CR 11, head north on Broad Street and Route 35 heads northwest on two-lane Maple Avenue, which turns north and passes by numerous homes.^[2] Route 35 splits from Maple Avenue, briefly head west on West Front Street, and rejoins on four-lane Riverside Avenue, where it heads northwest while the southbound direction follows Pearl Street and Water Street. Route 35 crosses the Navesink River into Middletown.^[1]

Past the Navesink River, the route runs along a four-lane, divided highway with a jersey barrier, passing through commercial areas. It crosses under Normandy Road, which serves as a road and railroad link between the two sections of Naval Weapons Station Earle.^[1] Along the northbound lanes of Route 35, just before the intersection of Kings Highway, stands the Evil Clown of Middletown, a large sign advertising a liquor store. A mixed-use complex, the Middletown Town Center, is also planned to be built in this area. The route intersects with Cherry Tree Farm Road (CR 516). Route 35 runs concurrently with that route as it enters Holmdel. The concurrency with CR 516 ends at the intersection of Laurel Avenue, where that route heads to the north and CR 52 heads to the south on South Laurel Avenue. Route 35 continues west past numerous businesses and runs through Hazlet before crossing into Keyport. In Keyport, the route comes to an interchange with the northern terminus of Route 36 that also features access to the Garden State Parkway. Past this interchange, the road continues northwest and passes under the Henry Hudson Trail before it intersects with Nappi Place (CR 3), where it also features ramps to CR 516, which Route 35 passes under just to the north. Past this interchange, the road crosses the Matawan Creek into Aberdeen, where it heads northwest through Cliffwood and Cliffwood Beach.^[1][2]

 

Route 35 crosses the Whale Creek into Old Bridge, Middlesex County, where it continues northwest through businesses and residences in Cliffwood Beach and Laurence Harbor, both sections of Old Bridge. It crosses the Cheesequake Creek on a drawbridge into Sayreville and turns to the west, passing over the North Jersey Coast Line. The road then intesects South Pine Avenue (CR 688), which provides access to Bordentown Avenue (CR 615).^[1] Past this interchange, the route turns north and crosses into South Amboy, where Route 35 comes to an interchange and forms a concurrency with US 9. The two routes head through commercial areas and woodland, crossing over Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Amboy Secondary before interchanging with Raritan Street (CR 535) and Kearney Road, crossing back into Sayreville at the interchange with the former. US 9 and Route 35 split at an interchange (the former Victory Circle) that features access to the southbound direction of the Garden State Parkway by way of Chevalier Avenue, with Route 35 continuing north on a four-lane divided highway that passes through marshland and crosses the Raritan River on the Victory Bridge into Perth Amboy. In Perth Amboy, the route becomes four-lane, undivided Convery Boulevard upon crossing the intersection of Smith Street (CR 656).^[1][2]

 

The route continues north through commercial and residential sections of Perth Amboy, crossing over a connector to Route 440 and Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Perth Amboy Running Track line. It intersects the eastbound direction of Route 184, the former alignment of Route 440, before meeting the interchange of Route 440. Route 35 intersects the westbound direction of Route 184 and heads north, crossing into Woodbridge, where it becomes Amboy Avenue.^[1][2] In Woodbridge, the route passes by William Warren County Park and crosses over the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95). Past the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95), the road heads into residential neighborhoods, crossing the intersection of Main Street (CR 514). Route 35 merges onto St. Georges Avenue and crosses Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Port Reading Secondary line before it comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with US 1/9. Past US 1/9, the road passes homes and businesses, heading into Rahway, Union County, just before crossing the Rahway River. Upon entering Rahway, Route 35 crosses under Amtrak's Northeast Corridor rail line just before ending at the intersection of Lincoln Highway/St. Georges Avenue (Route 27). Route 27 continues north on St. Georges Avenue past the northern terminus of Route 35.^[1][2]

 

The present-day alignment of Route 35 follows parts of many 19th-century turnpikes, including the Middletown Turnpike, chartered in 1866 to run from Middletown to Red Bank, the Middletown and Keyport Turnpike, which was chartered on March 15, 1859, to run from Middletown Township to Keyport, and the Red Bank and Eatontown Turnpike, chartered on February 9, 1865, along present-day Broad Street, CR 11, and Route 35.^[4] The road running from Perth Amboy to Keyport, and from Point Pleasant to Seaside Heights, was signed as part of the Jersey Coast Way, running from the Staten Island Ferry to Cape May.^[5]

In 1916, the current alignment of Route 35 was legislated as a part of pre-1927 Route 4 between Point Pleasant and Brielle and from Eatontown to South Amboy.^[6] In the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering, Route 35 was designated to run from Lakewood to South Amboy, replacing pre-1927 Route 4 from Lakewood to Belmar and from Eatontown to South Amboy with the portion of pre-1927 Route 4 between Belmar and Eatontown becoming Route 4N (now Route 71).^[7][8] At this time, US 9 followed the portions of Route 35 that were formerly a part of pre-1927 Route 4.^[9]

By the 1940s, Route 35 was designated onto its current alignment between Brielle and Belmar with the former alignment becoming a southern extension of Route 4N. US 9 was also moved off Route 35 onto a newly completed alignment of Route 4 between Lakewood and South Amboy.^[10] In 1947, Route 35 was extended north to end at Route 25 (now US 1) in Iselin, running concurrently with US 9.^[11] The current bridge over the Manasquan River and the bypass of Brielle were opened in 1951.^[12]

In the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering, the portion of Route 35 between Lakewood and Point Pleasant became Route 88, and Route 35 was designated to head south from Point Pleasant to Seaside Heights on what had been a part of Route 37.^[13] This section of Route 35 follows the right-of-way of the former Pennsylvania Railroad between Seaside Park and Mantoloking, which was removed in 1949.^[14] Also in the 1953 renumbering, the Route 35 designation was removed from the concurrency with US 9 between South Amboy and Iselin and reassigned to the former alignment of Route 4 between South Amboy and Route 27 in Rahway.

In the late 1950s, plans were made for a freeway along the Route 35 corridor between Seaside Heights and Long Branch to reduce congestion along the current route.^[15] This proposed freeway was built as Route 18 between Wall Township and Eatontown from 1965 to 1991 while the southern portion to Seaside Heights was never built. In the early 1970s, a Route 35 freeway was planned to run from Route 18 north to the planned Route 74 freeway in Matawan with an estimated cost of $53 million. This freeway was never built due to the cancellation of the Route 74 freeway in the mid-1970s.^[16]

 

 

Since the 1953 renumbering, the current alignment of Route 35 has seen many changes and improvements. The current interchange with Route 37 and the bypass around Seaside Heights were completed in 1958.^[17] The highway was turned into a one-way pair between Brick and Seaside Heights in 1961 by utilizing the former right-of-way of the Pennsylvania Railroad.^[18] The section of the route through downtown Point Pleasant Beach was turned into a one-way pair in 1967.^[19] Route 35 was extended south to the entrance of Island Beach State Park by the 1980s.^[20] Many traffic circles have been removed along Route 35 in recent years, including the Brielle Circle in 2001 and the Eatontown Circle in the 1980s, which were both converted into at-grade intersections with traffic lights, and the Victory Circle, which was replaced with a diamond interchange between 2003 and 2006.^[21][22] Between 2002 and 2005, the Victory Bridge over the Raritan River was reconstructed at a cost of $109 million.^[23] Between February 2006 and November 2008, the Woodbridge Cloverleaf interchange with US 1/9 in Woodbridge, first cloverleaf interchange in the United States built in 1929 when this portion of Route 35 was still a part of Route 4, was replaced with a partial cloverleaf interchange, costing $34 million.^[24][25][26]

The interchange with Route 36 in Eatontown originally did not intersect at a 90-degree angle; this was a remainder from the original Eatontown Circle. However, this posed a significant safety problem, and the need to rebuild the intersection again was planned.^[27] Because of this, in April 2010, NJDOT initiated construction to relocate the intersection to allow for a straighter roadway and a full cloverleaf configuration around the interchange. The project was declared largely complete on June 29, 2012.^[28]

On February 1, 2013, Route 35 in Mantoloking was fully reopened after being closed since October 29, 2012 after Hurricane Sandy hit the area. The night of the storm at the intersection where the Mantoloking Bridge and Route 35 meet, a new inlet was formed by the raging storm waters. This effectively cut off the island from the mainland.^[29]

Beginning in March 2013 (after a six-month delay due to Hurricane Sandy), a four-year major construction project began on Route 35 between Raritan Boulevard/Birchwood Drive in Cliffwood Beach (Old Bridge) and Amboy Avenue in Aberdeen. The project includes several highway improvements designed to alleviate the flooding the highway is prone to due to its lowness and being adjacent in several areas to tidal marshes and Whale Creek and Long Neck Creek, widening of four intersections (Birchwood Drive, County Road, Cliffwood Avenue, and Amboy Avenue), and lane alignments, and additions for pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Also planned are traffic signal upgrades to reduce congestion. The project was expected to be completed in 2015.^[30]

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to New Jersey Route 35.

• New Jersey Roads: Route 35
• Unbuilt Route 35 Freeway
• Speed Limits for Route 35