Garden State Parkway

The Garden State Parkway (GSP) is a controlled-access toll road that stretches the north–south length of eastern New Jersey from the state's southernmost tip near Cape May north to the New York state line at Montvale. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State". The parkway has an unsigned reference number of Route 444 by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). At its north end, the road becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, a component of the New York State Thruway system that connects to the Thruway mainline in Ramapo.

Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway highlighted in green
Route information
Maintained by NJTA
Length	172.40 mi^[1] (277.45 km)
Existed	1947–present
History	Completed by 1957
Component highways	Route 444 (unsigned)
Tourist routes	Pine Barrens Byway
Restrictions	No trucks north of exit 105
Major junctions
South end	Route 109 in Lower Township
Major intersections	Route 47 in Middle Township US 40 / US 322 in Egg Harbor Township A.C. Expressway in Egg Harbor Township US 30 in Galloway Township I-195 / Route 138 / Route 34 in Wall Township Route 36 / Route 18 in Titon Falls Route 35 / Route 36 in Keyport US 9 / Route 440 in Woodbridge Township I-95 / N.J. Turnpike in Woodbridge Township US 1 in Woodbridge Township I-78 in Hillside I-280 / CR 508 in East Orange I-80 in Saddle Brook
North end	I-87 / I-287 / New York Thruway in Chestnut Ridge, NY
Location
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Counties	Cape May, Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, Union, Essex, Passaic, Bergen
Highway system
New Jersey State Highway Routes Interstate US State Scenic Byways
New Jersey Turnpike Authority
← Route 440 444 → Route 445

The Garden State Parkway is the longest highway in the state at approximately 172 miles (277 km), and, according to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, was the busiest toll road in the United States in 2006.^[2] Most of the highway north of the Raritan River runs through heavily populated areas. Between the Raritan River and the township of Toms River, the highway passes through lighter suburban development, while south of Toms River, the road mostly runs through unspoiled wilderness in the Pine Barrens and swampland, interspersed with small towns and Jersey Shore beach communities. The highway has a posted speed limit of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) for most of its length and is primarily for passenger vehicle use; trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) are prohibited north of exit 105.

The parkway was constructed between 1946 and 1957 to connect suburban northern New Jersey with the Jersey Shore resort areas along the Atlantic coast and to alleviate traffic on traditional north–south routes running through each town center, such as U.S. Route 1 (US 1), US 9, and Route 35. During planning and construction of the first segment, the road was to be a toll-free highway designated as the Route 4 Parkway. However, a lack of funding caused the remainder of the parkway to be built as a toll road. The highway has seen many improvements over the years, including the addition and reconstruction of interchanges, bridge replacements, widening of the roadway, and removal of at-grade intersections. Previously, the road had been maintained by an agency known as the New Jersey Highway Authority (NJHA), however in 2003, the agency merged into the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), which now maintains the parkway along with the New Jersey Turnpike.

The parkway uses an open system of toll collection with flat-fee tolls collected at 11 toll plazas along the roadway, as well as at several entrances and exits. Tolls can be paid using cash or via the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system. Along the route are 11 service areas, providing food and fuel to travelers. Historically, the road had ten picnic areas along its length, but only one remains open today.

Route description

 

Route 444 shield, of which the parkway is unsigned as.

The Garden State Parkway begins at Route 109 in Cape May County. It runs north along the Jersey Shore, crossing the Great Egg Harbor Bay and passing to the west of Atlantic City. The parkway passes through the sparsely populated Pine Barrens until it reaches the township of Toms River in Ocean County. From here, the road heads into suburban areas. North of Asbury Park, the route splits into a local-express lane configuration, which it maintains through South Amboy. Here, the highway crosses the Raritan River into Woodbridge Township, where it meets the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95 or I-95). North of here, the GSP passes through densely populated communities in Middlesex and Union counties and intersects I-78 near Newark. The parkway eventually passes to the south and east of Paterson and meets I-80 in Saddle Brook. After traversing the suburban northern section of Bergen County, the road enters the state of New York where it becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, continuing north to the New York State Thruway mainline.^[1][3]

 

Typical entrance sign for the parkway

The parkway serves as a major route connecting North Jersey with all of the state's shore points, and as such, is subject to frequent congestion. The number of lanes on the parkway ranges from four in Cape May, Atlantic, and Bergen counties, to 15 on the Driscoll Bridge. Much of the highway runs closely parallel to, or concurrently with US 9.^[3] The speed limit on the parkway is 65 mph (105 km/h) for most of its length. However, it is posted at 55 mph (90 km/h) on a 5-mile (8.0 km) section near Toms River and on a 40-mile (64 km) section between Sayreville and Paramus.^[4] The NJTA may temporarily reduce the speed limit when special hazards exist.^[5] Commercial trucks with a registered weight of over 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) are not allowed to use the parkway north of exit 105, just past the Asbury Park Toll Plaza.^[6] The entire length of the Garden State Parkway carries the unsigned designation of Route 444,^[1] and is part of the National Highway System,^[7] a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.^[8]

Cape May and Atlantic counties

 

Garden State Parkway southbound, approaching the southern terminus at Route 109 in Lower Township

The parkway begins at an at-grade intersection with Route 109 in Lower Township, Cape May County, where Route 109 continues south toward the city of Cape May and west toward US 9 and the Cape May–Lewes Ferry. The GSP runs north as a four-lane freeway on the Cape May peninsula through the Cape Island Wildlife Management Area, running west of swampland, separating the highway from the Jersey Shore communities. Trees occupy the median and the sides of the road for the next several miles. After passing to the east of Cape May National Golf Club, crossing over Jones Creek, and passing a pond in the median, the highway enters Middle Township and has an interchange with Route 47, which serves The Wildwoods resort area and the community of Rio Grande. North of this point, the parkway crosses over the abandoned Wildwood Branch of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL), and afterwards, the trees in the median disappear and the highway has a partial interchange with Route 147, which provides access to North Wildwood, Whitesboro, and Burleigh. Crossing into the county seat of Cape May Court House, the median narrows and US 9 appears within yards of the southbound lanes of the parkway as it passes west of The Shore Club golf course. The two highways then split apart and the GSP bisects residential areas before reaching an interchange for County Route 657 (CR 657), which serves the Cape Regional Medical Center and the borough of Stone Harbor.^[1][3][9]

 

Garden State Parkway southbound in Cape May Court House

Past this point, the road comes to an interchange for CR 609, which provides access to the Cape May County Park & Zoo and a building complex containing the Cape May County Technical School District. After a southbound entrance ramp from US 9, the parkway leaves Cape May Court House and returns to a desolate wooded setting with a wide tree-filled median. Continuing north, the parkway has an interchange with CR 601, serving the borough of Avalon and Swainton. North of this point, the highway enters Dennis Township and has a partial junction with CR 625, serving Sea Isle City before reaching the Bruce Willis Service Area in the median. Past the service area, the parkway enters Upper Township and reaches the Cape May Toll Plaza northbound immediately before meeting the southern terminus of Route 50, which serves Seaville, at a partial interchange. After passing east of several homes and a golf course, the parkway has the John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly Picnic Area in the median before it crosses over the abandoned PRSL Ocean City Branch. Continuing north, the highway comes to a diamond interchange with US 9 and CR 623, which serves Ocean City and Marmora. North of this exit, US 9 begins to run concurrently with the GSP, and the two routes run east of the community of Beesleys Point before the median narrows, and they cross the Great Egg Harbor Bay on the Great Egg Harbor Bridge.^[1][3][9]

 

Garden State Parkway northbound at the Atlantic City Expressway in Egg Harbor Township

The highway surfaces into the city of Somers Point, Atlantic County, where the southbound roadway has the Great Egg Toll Plaza before US 9 leaves the parkway at a partial junction. Past this point, the median widens and the parkway passes west of the Greate Bay Country Club and some homes before a partial interchange with Laurel Drive, which provides access to Somers Point and Ocean City. After passing to the west of more residences, the median briefly becomes a Jersey barrier as the route crosses the Patcong Creek into Egg Harbor Township, where developments begin to appear on the west side of the highway. Eventually, the parkway crosses into uninhabited area again before heading into a commercial area and widening to six lanes. Here, the road has a junction with US 40, US 322, and CR 563, marking the first of three interchanges with roads that serve Atlantic City, located to the east. The median then transitions to a Jersey barrier and the parkway passes over the abandoned PRSL Newfield Branch before a partial junction with CR 608 and a cloverleaf interchange with the controlled-access Atlantic City Expressway (which heads west toward Philadelphia), where the northbound and southbound roadways split apart again. Upon leaving the commercial area, the highway passes to the east of Atlantic City International Airport and crosses over a flume of the Atlantic City Reservoir, which has a basin on each side of the highway. Continuing north, the highway enters Galloway Township and passes over NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line before it comes to a partial interchange with US 30, serving the city of Absecon. North of this exit, the median is home to the Frank Sinatra Service Area, which also has a barrack of the New Jersey State Police. Immediately north of the service plaza, the parkway has an interchange with CR 561, serving the community of Pomona. The parkway then enters the sparsely populated Pine Barrens, passing to the east of Stockton University and reaching a junction with CR 575/CR 561 Alt. Past this point, the road turns northeast and crosses into the city of Port Republic as it winds north into the uninhabited Port Republic Wildlife Management Area. With some occasional development appearing along the sides of the road, the median narrows to a Jersey barrier as US 9 merges back onto the parkway, along with the Pine Barrens Byway, and the three routes cross the Mullica River.^[1][3][9]

Burlington and Ocean counties

 

Garden State Parkway northbound at split with US 9 in Bass River Township

The highway surfaces into Bass River Township, Burlington County, and US 9 and the Pine Barrens Byway depart at a partial interchange. Continuing northeast past the community of New Gretna, the parkway passes over US 9 with no access before crossing the Bass River and the median widens and contains a maintenance yard. Past this point, the median temporarily narrows again as the northbound lanes have the New Gretna Toll Plaza. Crossing northward through Bass River State Forest, the six-lane highway becomes desolate as it enters Little Egg Harbor Township, Ocean County. Here, the GSP interchanges with CR 539, which serves Tuckerton, before entering Eagleswood Township, where it crosses over Westecunk Creek and passes to the west of Eagles Nest Airport. Afterwards, the parkway enters Stafford Township where development along the road begins to increase. Here, the highway has an interchange with Route 72, which provides access to Manahawkin and Long Beach Island. The parkway then forms a border between residential neighborhoods to the west and forest to the east before passing to the east of a golf course and entering Barnegat Township, where the concentration of houses shifts to the east. After an interchange with CR 554, the parkway passes by residential neighborhoods on both sides of the highway before the median shortly narrows and the southbound roadway has the Barnegat Toll Plaza. Now in Ocean Township, the parkway meets CR 532 and crosses over Oyster Creek before entering Lacey Township, where it crosses the south, middle, and north branches of the Forked River before reaching an interchange with CR 614, serving the community of Forked River, and the Celia Cruz Service Area in the median.^[1][3][9]

 

Garden State Parkway southbound at CR 614 in Lacey Township

Father north, the road crosses over Cedar Creek and enters Berkeley Township, passing west of a golf course and Central Regional High School while traversing Double Trouble State Park. The route then crosses into the borough of Beachwood and passes west of several homes before entering the borough of South Toms River, where the median narrows and the parkway becomes concurrent with US 9 once again at a junction with CR 530. After crossing the Toms River and entering the township of Toms River, the highway passes west of the Toms River Bus Terminal serving NJ Transit buses. Past this point, the road crosses the abandoned Conrail Barnegat Branch and reaches an exit for CR 527 before passing trees and reaching a cloverleaf interchange with Route 37, which provides access to Lakehurst, Seaside Heights, and Island Beach State Park. After heading northwest between trees on the west and neighborhoods on the east, the GSP turns northeast as the median widens and contains a maintenance yard, and US 9 leaves the parkway at a junction with Route 166. Past the interchange, the parkway reaches the bi-directional Toms River Toll Plaza and passes by lighter suburban development in addition to parkland, with Ocean County College to the east. Upon entering Lakewood Township, the parkway has an interchange with Route 70, serving Brick Township and Point Pleasant Beach to the east; this interchange also serves CR 528. Running along the border of Lakewood and Brick townships, the route has an interchange with CR 549 before crossing the South Branch Metedeconk River and passing over Route 88 with no access. Now entirely within Brick Township, the route crosses the North Branch Metedeconk River and reaches a second exit for CR 549, where a pedestrian bridge for the Brick Park and Ride, located to the east, passes over the parkway. North of this interchange, the road widens to eight lanes and passes west of a solar farm.^[1][3][9]

Monmouth and Middlesex counties

 

Garden State Parkway northbound at I-195, Route 138, and Route 34 in Wall Township

Upon entering Wall Township, Monmouth County, the southbound lanes have a truck inspection area and the parkway passes west of Brick Township Reservoir through woods. The parkway crosses the Manasquan River and passes under the Capital to Coast Trail before reaching a large interchange near Allaire State Park. The interchange includes a pair of collector-distributor roads and serves the eastern terminus of I-195 (which runs west across Central Jersey toward Trenton), Route 34 (which runs southeast toward Point Pleasant Beach), and Route 138 (which runs east toward Belmar). A park and ride is present in the southeastern cloverleaf with Route 138. Passing to the west of Shark River Park, the median contains the Judy Blume Service Area, which provides a park and ride for commuters and access to CR 18. The parkway then enters Tinton Falls and has exits for Route 33, which runs east toward Bradley Beach and west towards Freehold Township, and Route 66, which heads east towards Asbury Park. Soon afterwards, the parkway passes to the west of the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets and has a partial exit for CR 16, where the road widens to ten lanes. North of this point, the parkway reaches the northbound Asbury Park Toll Plaza.^[1][3]

 

Garden State Parkway northbound at the interchange with Route 18 and Route 36 in Tinton Falls

Immediately north of the toll barrier, the road divides into a local-express lane configuration with two express and three local lanes in each direction. The parkway passes to the east of a solar farm before reaching an interchange with the Route 18 freeway and Route 36, which head north toward New Brunswick and east toward Long Branch, respectively. The connector road from the parkway to the terminus of Route 36 and CR 51 is designated by NJDOT as Route 444S.^[10] North of the interchange, the GSP passes over the Southern Secondary railroad line operated by the Delaware and Raritan River Railroad and bisects residential neighborhoods before crossing the Swimming River into Middletown, where the road has an interchange with CR 520, which contains a park and ride and serves Red Bank and Lincroft. The parkway then passes over Normandy Road, which serves as a road and railroad link between the two sections of Naval Weapons Station Earle. Continuing northwest past houses and parks, the route has an interchange with CR 52 as it enters Holmdel Township, where it serves the PNC Bank Arts Center and the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. Upon entering Hazlet, the parkway crosses NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line before reaching an interchange for Route 35 and Route 36, which serves Keyport. At this point, the express roadway in each direction gains a third lane. Immediately north of here is a southbound exit and entrance at CR 3, where the parkway briefly enters Aberdeen Township and passes over the Matawan Creek before crossing the North Jersey Coast Line for a second time. Upon entering Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County, and reaching an interchange for CR 689 serving Matawan, the highway enters Cheesequake State Park.^[1][3]

 

Garden State Parkway northbound approaching the Driscoll Bridge

After crossing the Cheesequake Creek near a marina and leaving the park, the road enters Sayreville and has the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area in the median, with access to both the express and local lanes of the highway. Passing to the southwest of South Amboy, the parkway has a partial interchange with US 9 and passes over Conrail Shared Assets Operations' (CSAO) Amboy Secondary line. After a northbound entrance and southbound exit at CR 670, the lanes, now as a 4-3-3-4 configuration, merge as they cross the abandoned Raritan River Railroad and reach the Raritan Toll Plaza southbound. North of the toll barrier is an exit for Chevalier Avenue; all southbound vehicles exiting here must have an E-ZPass transponder.^[1][3][9] Paralleling US 9 and Route 35, the parkway becomes 15 lanes as it crosses the Raritan River on the Driscoll Bridge, the widest motor vehicle bridge in the world.^[11] On the bridge, the northbound lanes are divided into two roadways; only the eastern roadway has access to exit 127, an interchange for US 9 and the Route 440 freeway, providing access to the Outerbridge Crossing to Staten Island. Just north of exit 127 in Woodbridge Township, the parkway runs in between the northbound and southbound lanes of US 9. After passing under CSAO's Perth Amboy Running Track, US 9 splits off to the east and the parkway reaches an interchange with the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95). Running northwest through Woodbridge Township as a ten-lane roadway, the highway has a junction with US 1 and crosses under CSAO's Port Reading Secondary line as it enters the community of Iselin, passing to the east of several corporate offices. Immediately after passing under Amtrak's Northeast Corridor east of the Metropark station serving Amtrak and NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line, the GSP has an interchange with Route 27 (Lincoln Highway), which serves Rahway to the northeast. North of this point, the parkway curves northeast through densely populated neighborhoods, passing the Colonia South and Colonia North service areas.^[1][3][9]

Union and Essex counties

 

Garden State Parkway southbound at Vauxhall Road in Union Township

Crossing into Clark, Union County, the highway continues to pass through dense neighborhoods as a ten-lane roadway with a Jersey barrier. After crossing the Robinson's Branch Reservoir and passing an interchange with CR 613, the southbound lanes have access to a maintenance yard. The highway then passes west of a park and Winfield Township before crossing the Rahway River into Cranford, where there is a junction with CR 607 and CR 615. After passing west of a business park and over CSAO's Lehigh Line and the inactive Rahway Valley Railroad, the parkway crosses NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line and reaches a junction with Route 28, which serves Roselle Park to the east. Upon entering Kenilworth, the highway passes many businesses before the road meets CR 509, passes to the east of Galloping Hill Golf Course, and enters Union Township, where the parkway has a junction with CR 619. Immediately afterwards, the road comes to an interchange with US 22 and Route 82 serving Hillside, where the GSP briefly runs in between the carriageways of US 22 and the Union Watersphere appears on the east side of the parkway. Here, the parkway narrows to eight lanes, and the northbound lanes have access to the Whitney Houston Service Area. After the service area, the road crosses the Elizabeth River and briefly enters Hillside, where it reaches the northbound Union Toll Plaza before an interchange with I-78.^[1][3]

 

Garden State Parkway northbound in East Orange

Running northeast into Irvington, Essex County, the highway passes west of a park and east of many houses before reaching a pair of interchanges for local roads and passing through a short tunnel underneath a parking lot for Irvington Bus Terminal, serving NJ Transit buses. North of this point, the parkway gains frontage roads in each direction, which are mostly lined by residences. The frontage road for the northbound lanes is called Eastern Parkway, and the frontage road for the southbound lanes is called Western Parkway. After an interchange with CR 510, the frontage roads end, and the parkway briefly enters the city of Newark where it bisects Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, the northern end of which is in East Orange. After leaving the cemetery, the highway regains frontage roads which are known as Oraton Parkway. After passing East Orange General Hospital's Eastern Pavilion, the parkway comes to an interchange with I-280 and CR 508, which serve Downtown Newark. At the interchange, the GSP loses a lane in each direction and passes under NJ Transit's Morris & Essex Lines near East Orange station. The parkway continues to run in between frontage roads containing many houses before passing west of several apartment buildings and hospitals and crossing the abandoned Orange Branch of the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway. Winding into Bloomfield as a six-lane roadway, the GSP crosses NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line and has an interchange with the Newark-Pompton Turnpike (CR 506 Spur), where the frontage roads end. After passing under Norfolk Southern's Boonton Line and reaching an exit for CR 506, the parkway enters a more suburban area and the southbound parkway has the Essex Toll Plaza. The highway then briefly enters Nutley before crossing back into Bloomfield, where the Jersey barrier becomes a grassy median and the parkway reaches a diamond interchange for CR 655 serving Montclair and passing the Larry Doby and Connie Chung service areas, serving northbound and southbound traffic respectively, to the west of the Upper Montclair Country Club.^[1][3][9]

Passaic and Bergen counties

 

Garden State Parkway northbound at US 46 in Clifton

The parkway then crosses into Passaic County and the city of Clifton, where it reaches an interchange with Route 3. At this point, the space between the northbound and southbound roadways contains the Allwood Road Park and Ride serving NJ Transit buses. After passing under a set of power lines and bisecting a residential area, the route has an incomplete interchange with US 46. Immediately north, the parkway meets the southern terminus of the Route 19 freeway, which heads north toward the city of Paterson. Past this point, the highway curves northeast and passes over NJ Transit's Main Line before the median transitions to a Jersey barrier and the highway has a northbound exit and southbound entrance at CR 702, serving the city of Passaic. The parkway heads northeast past many homes before heading into a business district and crossing Norfolk Southern's Passaic Spur line. After passing many more residences near the route, the parkway reaches a partial interchange with the southern terminus of Route 20. Immediately afterwards, the parkway crosses the Passaic River and enters Elmwood Park, Bergen County, where it comes to a second interchange with US 46, serving Garfield. Passing more homes, followed by several businesses, the highway then passes over the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway's New Jersey Subdivision line and under NJ Transit's Bergen County Line before reaching an interchange with I-80 and the northbound Bergen Toll Plaza in Saddle Brook.^[1][3]

 

Garden State Parkway northbound at Route 17 in Paramus

Continuing northeast, the road passes through Saddle River County Park and crosses the Saddle River tributary into Rochelle Park. After leaving the park, it crosses a pair of interchanges for Route 208 and Route 4 as it enters Paramus near the Westfield Garden State Plaza shopping mall. North of Route 4, the parkway passes east of the Arcola Country Club and runs closely parallel with Route 17 before interchanging with it. Past this interchange, the median becomes grass-filled. After passing east of businesses and west of homes, the parkway passes in between the Paramus Park shopping mall and New Bridge Medical Center before reaching a junction with CR 80, which serves Oradell and has a park and ride. After bisecting residential neighborhoods, the parkway has a partial junction with CR 110 before entering Washington Township where the southbound lanes have the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza – the northernmost toll plaza on the highway. North of the toll plaza, the median becomes substantially wider and trees begin to appear within it. The Garden State Parkway finally narrows from six to four lanes at the exit for CR 502, serving Westwood and Emerson. Winding through the Pascack Valley region of Bergen County past many homes and woodland, the parkway briefly enters Hillsdale before entering Woodcliff Lake, where there is a northbound exit and southbound entrance for Chestnut Ridge Road, which is accessed via CR S73 and serves the borough of Saddle River. The parkway then enters Montvale, where it reaches the James Gandolfini Service Area, the northernmost service area on the road. Immediately north is an exit for CR 94 serving Park Ridge; this is the northernmost exit of the Garden State Parkway, which crosses into the state of New York soon afterwards. From there, the route becomes the Garden State Parkway Connector, a component of the New York State Thruway system, which heads north toward the Thruway mainline (I-87/I-287) in Nanuet.^[1][3]

History

Planning

Following World War II, traffic increased substantially on highways along the New Jersey coast. Due to the high traffic volume and presence of numerous traffic lights, it took motorists over three hours to travel between Paterson and Atlantic City. In 1946, plans were made to construct a high-speed parkway to provide a bypass of Route 4, which, prior to 1953, ran from Cape May north to the George Washington Bridge by way of Paterson, largely following present-day US 1, US 9, and Route 35.^[12][13] This parkway would be constructed using state funds and be known as the Route 4 Parkway.

 

Stone overpasses on the Garden State Parkway in Union County

In 1947, construction began on the Route 4 parkway. The landscape architect and engineer in charge of the newly named Garden State Parkway was Gilmore David Clarke of the engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, who had worked with Robert Moses on the parkway systems around New York City. Clarke's design prototypes for the parkway combined the example of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a model of efficiency with parallels in the German Autobahn routes of the 1930s, with the Merritt Parkway model that stressed a planted "green belt" for beauty. Both design models featured wide planted medians to prevent head-on collisions and mask the glare of oncoming headlights. The Garden State Parkway was designed to have a natural feel. Many trees were planted, and the only signs were those for exits—there were no distracting billboards. Most of the signs were constructed from wood, or a dark-brown metal, instead of the chrome bars used on most other highways. The guardrails were also made from wood and dark metal. Most early overpasses were stone, but were later changed to concrete, with green rails and retro etchings, popular around the 1950s and 1960s. The parkway was designed to curve gently throughout its length so that drivers would remain alert and not fall asleep at the wheel.^[14][15]

1950s–1990s

the first section to open ran from Route 27 north to Cranford and opened on June 29, 1950.^[16] The highway was extended south to New Brunswick Avenue in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, on November 1 that year,^[17] This segment, which now runs between exits 129 and 140, can be distinguished from the rest of the GSP by the stone facing on the overpasses.

In Cape May County, a four mile bypass of Cape May Court House opened on July 29, 1951.^[18][19]

On July 3, 1952, the bypass of Toms River was opened.^[20]

However, due to a lack of funds, construction of the Route 4 Parkway stalled. The solution was for the state to establish the New Jersey Highway Authority (NJHA) in 1952 to oversee construction and operation of the remainder of the parkway as a self-liquidating toll road from Cape May to the New York state line.^[14][15] Literature from the time indicates that the parkway would become toll-free once bonds used for its construction were paid off. However, this speculation never became a reality.^[21]

A northern extension to Union Township was opened on July 16, 1953.^[22]

Much of the parkway opened in 1954, these were the first parts to be tolled. On January 13, 1954, the parkway from US 22 to Mill Road, was opened, by January 15, it began tolling drivers.^[23] The Toms River bypass was extended south to Manahawkin on July 15,^[24] and north to the Eatontown Spur (now Route 36) on July 30, 1954.^[25] The Driscoll Bridge, which carry's the parkway over the Raritan River was also opened to northbound traffic on this day,^[26] extending the highway south to US 9 in Sayreville.^[27] The southbound lanes were opened on the bridge south to Eatontown on August 4, and an extension to New Gretna opened the day after.^[28] Closing the northbound gap from Eatontown to Sayreville on August 7 provided for 90 miles of unbroken highway.^[29] Within Atlantic County, a large section from Tilton Road in Egg Harbor Township to the south bank of the Mullica River opened on August 11, though north of the White Horse Pike the road initially operated as a temporary super two on the southbound lanes^[30] until August 21.^[31] This was extended south to Somers Point on August 27, and was temporarily a super-two before the northbound lanes opened on September 22.^[32]), then connected across the Mullica River to the existing section on August 28 over a temporary super-two,^[33] with the other lanes opened a few weeks later. The Cape May section of highway was also extended north to Route 50 at Seaville that day,^[34] which then was extended south to Route 47 on September 4,^[35] and north to Beesley's Point Bridge on October 6. The entire highway south of Irvington was declared finished on October 9, 1954.^[36]

The bridge over the Passaic River opened on May 26, 1955. This extended the parkway's northern terminus to US 46 in present-day Elmwood Park.^[37] On July 1 of that year, the portion of the highway from US 46 to Route 17 in Paramus opened.^[38] Later that year, a project began to upgrade all of the roadway to use a similar design to the New Jersey Turnpike. The section north of Seaville was upgraded by October 17, the section south of Cape May Court House on October 25, and the rest by October 28.^[39]

 

The old temporary alignment at the Beesley's Point Bridge heading southbound with a white center line (instead of yellow)

The Great Egg Harbor Bridge was completed on June 16, 1956,^[40] a small part of the parkway that carried traffic to the Beesley's Point Bridge alongside US 9 was also bypassed.^[41]

The final portion of the parkway to open from Paramus to the New York state line near Montvale was originally proposed as part of a northern extension of Route 101, a highway that was intended to run from Kearny to Hackensack. The extension, Route S101, would have continued northward from Hackensack to the state line via Paramus. Route 101 was never built, and only the Paramus–Montvale segment saw any later construction.^[42] This segment of the parkway opened to Chestnut Ridge on July 3, 1957,^[43] and the Garden State Parkway Connector of the New York State Thruway opened on August 29 that year.^[44]

 

Garden State Parkway southbound approaching exit 154 with US 46 in Clifton

In December 1957, D. Louis Tonti, the executive director of the New Jersey Highway Authority, announced plans to construct the missing ramps at exit 154 in Clifton. These ramps would connect drivers from US 46 eastbound to the parkway northbound, and from the parkway southbound to US 46 westbound. In May 1958, the project bid went to Thomas Nichol Company, Inc. of Farmingdale, and construction began immediately.^[45] The new ramps opened in December, and the toll booths on the ramps opened the following month.^[46] The total cost of the project was $2.25 million,^[47] which was half a million higher than the original estimate.^[48] During 1959, traffic counts noted 1.5 million cars used the new ramps at exit 154.^[49]

On February 1, 1961, the NJHA outlawed motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles from the entire length of the parkway. The ban was enacted after a year involving 20 motorcycle accidents and two fatalities. Motorcyclists who used the highway faced a fine of $200 or a 30-day jail sentence.^[50]

 

Garden State Parkway northbound at exit 114 in Middletown Township

In June 1961, the Highway Authority announced plans to construct a new interchange at Red Hill Road in the Holmdel–Middletown area.^[51] This new interchange would help relieve local congestion with the opening of Bell Labs and more industrial parks in the area.^[52] As part of the plan, the ramp at exit 116 would be closed to non-emergency automobile traffic,^[53] despite disapproval from locals.^[54] On December 14, the Highway Authority made an appropriation of $50,000 for the engineering work for the new interchange.^[55] Construction began in July 1962,^[56] and it was completed by December.^[57]

On July 2, 1963, exit 12 was closed in order to reduce ocgestion and increase safety on local roads.^[58]

On December 23, 1963, a $4.5 million tolled intersection with I-80 opened to traffic. The interchange with Midland Avenue was subsequently closed due to obsolescence.^[59]

The intersection with the Atlantic City Expressway was ooened to traffic in mid-1964.^[60]

On March 8, 1965, the northbound exit and southbound entrance at exit 30 in Somers Point was permanently closed, with traffic directed to use the intersection with US 9, which later became exit 29, 1 mile (1.6 km) to the south. The interchange at exit 30 was reconstructed with toll plazas on the southbound exit and northbound entrance.^[61]

Exit 146 was permanently closed on January 11, 1966.^[62]

 

Garden State Parkway northbound at the Route 27 interchange in Woodbridge Township

In May 1966, the borough of Paramus and the New Jersey Highway Authority agreed to a complete replacement of exit 165 (Ridgewood Avenue) to improve safety and capacity. The project, costing $3.7 million (equivalent to $26.5 million in 2023^[63]), would expand the two-ramp interchange to eight ramps, creating a collector-distributor road to serve both ramps.^[64] Construction on the new interchange began almost immediately, with the new southbound ramps opening on November 30, 1966.^[65] A month later, on December 29, the dual ramps on the northbound direction opened, and the tolls went into effect on February 13.^[66]

In early 1967, the parkway was expanded from four to six lanes between the Bergen Toll Plaza in Saddle Brook and the interchange with Route 4 in Paramus. Additional on January 6, the ramps at exit 166 were closed to traffic.^[67] but they reopened in September.^[68]

In 1968, the road was widened to six lanes between Route 17 and Ridgewood Avenue/Oradell Avenue.

In 1969, the section between Route 4 and Route 17 was widened. This widening made the entire 80-mile (130 km) stretch from Ocean County to Paramus at least six lanes wide.^[64] A further expansion project begun at the end of the 1960s to expand the parkway from the New Jersey Turnpike through Monmouth County. The first stage of this project opened on September 18, 1969, when most of a new interchange between the parkway and the turnpike opened, replacing both exits 10 and 11 of the turnpike.^[69]

On November 24, 1970, southbound parkway traffic from there south to the Raritan River was redirected onto a new roadway that lied in the median of the old parkway, while the old lanes became part of US 9;^[70] the same switch occurred northbound on August 17, 1971.^[71] An explanation of the Driscoll Bridge across the Raritan River was completed on September 2 that year.^[72]

By 1972, the dualization of the Great Egg Harbor Bridge eliminated the last two lane segment of the parkway.^[73]

Exit 117A (now exit 118) was opened to the public on February 21, 1974.^[74] Later that year, new express roadways, two lanes wide each direction, were placed in the median of the existing highway, and many of the previously left hand exits were repurposed as express local exits; with the rest remaining local only. The segment of roadway from Sayerville to Keyport was opened on July 3, 1974, with the roadway being extended to the Tinton Falls toll plaza on August 2 of that year.^[75]

On November 1, 1975, motorcycles were relegalized after 14 years of protest from motorcyclists such as Malcolm Forbes; all of the other restrictions remained.^[76][77]

In around 1976, the interchange with I-76 was opened to traffic.

 

Garden State Parkway in the 1970s

The parkway was planned to be the southern terminus of the unbuilt Driscoll Expressway, a 38-mile (61 km) toll road that was planned in the early 1970s to run from Toms River to the New Jersey Turnpike in South Brunswick; this plan was abandoned in 1977.^[78] The parkway was also planned to be the southern terminus for Route 55 at milepost 19. This was canceled after the conclusion that the highway ran through too many wetland areas.^[79] The idea has since been revisited after frequent traffic jams on Route 47.^[80][81]

In November 1980, a project to add a HOV lane was completed. The definition of a carpool changed from three or more to two or more occupants in June 1981. They were converted into general use lanes in 1982 after the majority of drivers complained about it.^[82] In October of that year, exit 124 was opened to traffic.^[83]

In 1985, exit 171 was opened to traffic.^[84]

In 1986, the left hand ramp onto NJ 66 at exit 100 was replaced by one on the right side, with the parkway in the area also being widened.^[85]

In 1987, the New Jersey Highway Authority purchased the approximately 19 miles of parkway that had been constructed by the New Jersey State Highway Department (now New Jersey Department of Transportation). These three toll-free sections are located in Cape May County (between EXIT 6 and EXIT 12), Ocean County (between EXIT 80 and EXIT 83) and Middlesex and Union counties (between EXIT 129 and EXIT 140). The NJDOT sold the sections for one dollar on the premise that tolls would never be charged on them.^[86]

In 1988, a northbound ramp at exit 105 was constructed to allow vehicles to exit onto route 18 north. Additionally, a new ramp was built that allows southbound route 18 traffic to enter onto the southbound lanes.^[87]

2000s–present

On July 9, 2003, Governor Jim McGreevey's plan to merge the operating organizations of the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike into one agency, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), was completed.^[88]

In 2006, a project to upgrade various interchanges was completed.^[86]

In 2007, the I-280 interchange was upgraded.^[86]

In 2008, the speed limit was lowereed by 10 mph between mileposts 80 and 100.^[86]

 

Garden State Parkway northbound approaching the Driscoll Bridge in 2002, before the southbound span was built

On September 25, 2002, construction began on a new span of the Driscoll Bridge just west of the original spans, consisting of seven lanes and emergency shoulders. On May 3, 2006, all traffic was shifted onto the new span, and the original two were closed for rehabilitation.^[89] On May 20, 2009, all northbound traffic was shifted back onto the original spans, and the new one was made exclusively for southbound traffic.^[90]

 

Flyover ramp from the GSP northbound to I-78 westbound, opened in 2009

The northbound ramps to exit 63 opened in October 2010.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, a $150 million project began to add new ramps at the interchange with I-78, supplying the missing movements between the two highways. Previously, the parkway northbound did not have an exit to I-78 westbound, and the parkway southbound did not have an exit to I-78 eastbound. The lack of connections was due to the cancellation of the extension of I-278 (which would have connected northbound parkway traffic with I-78 westbound) and Route 75 (which would have connected southbound parkway traffic with I-78 eastbound via I-280).^[91] In April 2008, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) awarded the project contract to the engineering firm Gannett Fleming for the design, and to Union Paving & Construction Company for building the ramps.^[92] The ramp connecting the parkway northbound with I-78 westbound opened on September 16, 2009 with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by Governor Jon Corzine,^[93] and the ramp connecting the parkway southbound with I-78 eastbound opened on December 10, 2010.^[92]

In April 2011, New Jersey Transportation Commissioner James Simpson announced the NJTA was considering allowing trucks on the northern portion of the Garden State Parkway.^[94] However, the idea was quickly abandoned after the agency found the road had engineering concerns that would not accommodate trucks on this segment.^[95]

In May 2011, a widening from exits 80 to 63 was completed.^[96]

In November 2014, a widening between exits 63 to 48 was completed.^[97]

 

Former traffic light at exit 9 (Shell Bay Avenue) before construction of overpass in 2014

As originally built, in Cape May County, the parkway had three traffic lights (at exits 9, 10, and 11), but these were eliminated in 2014–2015, with construction of three overpasses in Cape May Court House.^[98] Construction began in early 2013, years after the scheduled start date due to a wetland mitigation plan that had not been approved by the federal government. The project cost $125 million, and was complete by September 2015.^[99]

The southbound bridge over the Great Egg Harbor Bay was replaced with a wider span parallel to the older span as part of a $79.3 million project. Construction began in 2013 and continued into 2019.^[100] The new southbound bridge temporarily carried both northbound and southbound traffic so the northbound bridge could receive new decking and strengthening.

In 2012, the improvement of exit 105 southbound at the intersection with NJ route 36 on the local lanes was proposed.^[101] It involved replacing the single laned ramp which provided access to Route 36 with a new one. This ramp would have two lanes and a wider shoulder, and would also provide access to Route 18 via Wayside road, and relocating the northbound onramp that carries traffic not route 36 onto new loop ramp. reducing congestion and head on collisions.^[102] Construction on the general project started in 2016, and the ramp was built by 2017.

Exit 41 was opened on March 13, 2015.^[103] Previously, drivers who wanted to go to Jimmie Leeds Road had to cut through the parking lot of the Atlantic City Service area, though they still can,^[103] however the traffic light that previously existed was elimniated.^[104] Additionally, exit 44 was rebuilt into a full interchange.^[105]

On July 22, 2014, the NJTA filed a federal lawsuit against Jersey Boardwalk Pizza, a pizza chain in Florida, for using a logo too similar to the Garden State Parkway's signs and iconography.^[106] Federal Judge William Martini dismissed the suit on March 26, 2015.^[107][108]

On June 11, 2015, exit 88 was replaced by a new exit 89.^[109]

In 2018, a widening from exits 48 to 30 was completed it also included construction of new bridges across the Mullica River from the city of Port Republic to Bass River Township.^[110]

In June 2018, an improvement project began at the interchange with I-280 and CR 508 (Central Avenue). The project involved widening the entrance ramp to the parkway southbound from one to two lanes and adding a second deceleration lane on the parkway northbound. Due to the addition of the deacceleration lane to South Grove St, the northbound toll plaza on the exit was completely removed. To accommodate the wider roadway, the overpass carrying Central Avenue over the parkway was rebuilt.^[110] Five nearby bridges were also rehabilitated as part of the project. The project cost approximately $63 million and was completed in August 2022.^[111][112]

In April 2016, a project to reconstruct exit 125 into a full interchange was enacted. It involved widening the bridge that carried the parkway over Chevalier Avenue, improving the ramps in the vicinity, adding a northbound Parkway entrance ramp, and reconfiguring an existing southbound entrance ramp. Work was initiated in April 2016,^[113] and completed in February 2020.

In 2018, an improvement project began at exit 109 northbound at the interchange with CR 520 (Newman Springs Road).^[114] The project involved partly winding the ramp and constructing a new ramp to directly allow access to the Lincroft park and ride from the parkway and to allow easier access to Newman Spring Road eastbound. Improvements were also made to the ramps onto the parkway from County Route 520. These include a ramp and overpass being built on Newman Spring Road eastbound, the addition of a traffic signal at Schulz Dr, the removal of the U-turn ramp to Half Mile Road and the addition of a left turn signal at the junction to compassionate.

In 2020, a project that involved making multiple improvements between mileposts 140 and 143 was commenced. It involves repaving the road, adding new lighting, and adding new median barriers. It also retrofits multiple bridges in between the mile markers, including two that carry traffic over US 22 and one that carries traffic over NJ 82.^[115]

 

Southbound approaching exit 30 in Somers Point

The NJTA had plans to close exit 30 in Somers Point, which connects to Laurel Drive, a residential street that leads to US 9 and becomes Route 52, an access road to Ocean City. With the closure of exit 30, exit 29 will be converted to a full interchange to redirect traffic heading to Ocean City from points north along US 9 and CR 559 to reach Route 52. The planned closure of exit 30 is being made in order to reduce summertime traffic congestion along the parkway from vehicles exiting at the interchange along with reducing summertime traffic levels along Laurel Drive. The proposed closure of exit 30 and conversion of exit 29 to a full interchange has received opposition from officials in Somers Point and Ocean City along with residents along CR 559 fearing increased traffic congestion.^[116]

On March 24, 2020, the NJTA temporarily suspended cash toll collection due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drivers without E-ZPass transponders had their license plates photographed at the toll plazas and were sent bills in the mail. Cash collection resumed on May 19 of that year.^[117]

In March 2022, exit 105 was closed in multiple stages so that fives bridges over the northbound lanes, built in the 1970s, could be demolished and replaced.^[118] The project has since been completed.^[119]

Future

There are plans to upgrade the parkway between mileposts 80 and 83.^[120]

Tolls

 

Southbound at the Great Egg Toll Plaza

 

Toll plaza on the southbound entrance ramp at exit 165

The Garden State Parkway uses an open system of tolling in which flat-rate tolls are collected at numerous toll plazas placed along the mainline and at certain interchanges. This contrasts with the New Jersey Turnpike, which uses a closed system in which a motorist receives a ticket with the toll rates at the highway's entrance, and turns in the ticket along with the toll upon exiting at toll gates. Tolls can be paid by using cash or the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system.^[121]

As of March 1, 2024, the standard car toll is $1.10 for cash and $1.05 for E-ZPass on the main road at two-way toll plazas and $2.20 for cash and $2.09 for E-ZPass at one-way toll plazas. Some entrances and exits require a toll of either $0.80, $1.10, $1.55, or $2.20 for cash and $0.73, $1.05, $1.45, or $2.09 for E-ZPass.^[122][123] Additional E-ZPass discounts are available for off-peak travel, senior citizens, drivers of green vehicles, and trailers.^[121]

There are three different lane types at the toll plazas. However, not all plazas have every type of lane at all times.^[103]

The first type is full-service lanes. These lanes are staffed and toll collectors can provide change and receipts to drivers.^[124]

The second type is exact-change lanes. In these lanes, motorists deposit coins in a toll basket and each coin is mechanically counted; historically, these lanes also accepted tokens.^[125] Payment of tolls in exact-change lanes has been enforced by photo since 2011.^[126] The Union Toll Plaza was the first to use an automated toll-collection machine; a plaque commemorating this event includes the first quarter collected at its toll booths.^[127] As of 2018, exact-change lanes are only used for exit and entrance ramp toll plazas.^[128]

The third type of lane is dedicated for vehicles with E-ZPass tags. Some plazas also feature Express E-ZPass lanes, allowing drivers to bypass the toll plaza at highway speeds.^[129] E-ZPass is also accepted in full-service lanes.^[130] Express E-ZPass lanes operate at the Pascack Valley, Raritan, Asbury Park, Toms River, Barnegat, New Gretna and Cape May Toll Plazas.

 

Garden State Parkway tokens, which were discontinued after January 1, 2009

Tokens, available for purchase at full-service toll plaza lanes, were introduced in 1981 at a price of $10 for a roll of 40 tokens; as the toll was $0.25 at the time, most drivers continued to use quarters. However, when the toll was increased to $0.35 in 1989, rolls were priced at 30 tokens for $10; between the slight discount and the convenience of using a single coin, tokens gained in popularity.^[125] There were also larger bus tokens, primarily for use by Atlantic City-bound buses.^[131] As E-ZPass became more widespread, tokens were phased out. Token sales were discontinued on January 1, 2002,^[125] and they were no longer accepted effective January 1, 2009.^[21]

 

Historical picture of a Garden State Parkway toll plaza

E-ZPass was first installed at the Pascack Valley Toll Plaza in December 1999, and the system was expanded across the entire road by August 2000.^[132][133] To reduce congestion, 10 of the 11 toll plazas on the roadway were converted into one-way plazas between 2004 and 2010. The Cape May (in Upper Township), Great Egg (in Somers Point), New Gretna (in Bass River Township), Barnegat (in Barnegat Township), Asbury Park (in Tinton Falls), Raritan (in Sayreville), Union (in Hillside), Essex (in Bloomfield), Bergen (in Saddle Brook), and Pascack Valley (in Washington Township) toll plazas were among these.^[134] The tolls at these plazas were doubled upon conversion. The Toms River Toll Plaza (in Toms River) is the only location on the parkway mainline where a toll is still collected in both directions.^[122]

On September 27, 2022, the NJTA awarded a $914 million contract to TransCore to convert the parkway into an all-electronic toll road, eliminating the toll booths in the process. Although the agreement has been made, the Turnpike Authority has no set date on when the conversion will be completed.^[135]

Services

Service areas

 

Northbound exit for the Celia Cruz Service Area (formerly Forked River at the time of photo seen here)

All service areas are located in the center median, unless otherwise noted.

Name	Location	mi^[1]	km	Direction	Facilities	Notes
Bruce Willis (formerly Ocean View)	Dennis Township	18.3	29.5	Both	Convenience store, restrooms, fuel, vending machines, and tourist information	Rebuilt from 2013 to spring/summer 2014
Frank Sinatra (formerly Atlantic)	Galloway Township	41.4	66.6	Both	Food, restrooms, fuel, and information	Rebuilt from 2014 to Spring 2015
Celia Cruz (formerly Forked River)	Lacey Township	76.0	122.3	Both	Food, restrooms, and fuel	Rebuilt from fall 2019 to summer 2020
Judy Blume (formerly Monmouth)	Wall Township	100.4	161.6	Both	Food, restrooms, and fuel	Rebuilt from fall 2018 to spring 2019
Jon Bon Jovi (formerly Cheesequake)	Sayreville	124.0	199.6	Both	Food, restrooms, and fuel
Colonia South	Woodbridge	132.79	213.70	Southbound	Fuel, convenience stores, and restrooms	Not operated by Turnpike Authority
Colonia North		133.45	214.77	Northbound	Fuel, convenience stores, and restrooms	Not operated by Turnpike Authority
Whitney Houston (formerly Vaux Hall)	Union	142.0	228.5	Northbound	Food, restrooms and fuel	Rebuilt from 2022 to 2023^[136]
Connie Chung (formerly Brookdale South)	Bloomfield	153.3	246.7	Southbound	Food, restrooms and fuel	Rebuilt from 2022 to 2023^[137]
Larry Doby (formerly Brookdale North)		153	246	Northbound	Fuel and convenience store	Rebuilt in 2019
James Gandolfini (formerly Montvale)	Montvale	171	275	Both	Food, restrooms, fuel, and information

 

Assurance sign to the Bruce Willis Service Area (formerly Ocean View at the time of photo seen here)

In the 1950s, four petroleum companies were hired to provide gasoline and vehicular necessities—Esso, Texaco, Atlantic, and Cities Service. The Cities Service company was the petroleum provider at Monmouth, Forked River, Atlantic City (Absecon at the time) and Ocean View (Seaville at the time) and offered a service where female employees were hired for those service area showrooms, wore uniforms and were known as the Park-ettes. Their duties included providing directions and other information to motorists as well as rendering odd bits of service such as sewing a missing button on a patron's coat.^[138]

On July 27, 2021, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority unanimously voted in favor of renaming the service areas along the Garden State Parkway after New Jerseyans who were inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.^[139][140] The Ocean View service area was originally slated to be named after Toni Morrison, but the NJTA never received written consents and releases; this prompted the New Jersey Hall of Fame to request the service area be named after Bruce Willis instead.^[141]

On January 2, 2022, two service areas that were operated by McDonald's in Brookdale and Union were closed after their contract expired in 2021. These services areas were replaced by 2023.^[142]

Picnic areas

 

The John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly picnic area

One of the objectives of the parkway was to become a state park its entire length, and its users would enjoy park-like aesthetics with minimal intrusion of urban scenery. Along the ride, users were permitted to stop and picnic along the roadway to further enjoy the relaxation qualities the parkway had to offer. All picnic areas had tall trees that provided shade and visual isolation from the roadway. Grills, benches, running water, and restrooms were provided. Over time as the parkway transformed into a road of commerce, the picnic areas were closed for a variety of reasons. Their ramp terminals became insufficient to accommodate the high-speed mainline traffic and in addition to the decreasing number of users, the picnic areas were becoming more effective as maintenance yards and were converted as such or closed altogether.^[143]

The one remaining picnic area, John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly in Upper Township, is closed from dusk to dawn. Posted signs within the picnic area prohibit fires and camping.^[143]

There were ten operational picnic areas:

Name	Location	Milepost^[1]	Direction	Opened	Closed	Notes
John B. Townsend Shoemaker Holly	Upper Township	22.7 miles (36.5 km)	Both	October 20, 1965^[144]	–	John B. Townsend was a physician from Ocean City who became the New Jersey Highway Authority's second Vice Chairman in 1955. The word Shoemaker comes from the last name of the landowner in the way of the parkway's alignment during its initial construction. The term Holly comes from the holly tree that was on Shoemaker's property. The tree is presumed to be 300 years old and one of, if not, the oldest holly tree in the United States. The bathrooms at Shoemaker Holly were demolished in August 2014.^[145]
Stafford Forge	Stafford Township	61.6 miles (99.1 km)	Both	May 27, 1955^[37]	1990s^[143]^[146]
Oyster Creek	Lacey Township	71.3 miles (114.7 km)	Both	May 27, 1955^[37]	1980s^[143]^[147]	The murder of Maria Marshall orchestrated by her husband Robert O. Marshall occurred in the Oyster Creek picnic area on the night of September 7, 1984.^[148] The story was made into a novel and television movie on NBC.
Double Trouble	Double Trouble	79.0 miles (127.1 km)	Southbound	June 1955^[149]	February 23, 1961^[150]	The NJHA chose to abandon the picnic area due to the outbreak of mosquitoes from a nearby cranberry bog.^[150]
Polhemus Creek	Brick Township	82.0 miles (132.0 km)	Northbound	June 4, 1955^[149]	1980s–1990s^[143]
Herbertsville	Wall Township	94.65 miles (152.32 km)	Southbound	May 27, 1955^[37]	1980s^[143]	Converted to a maintenance yard of the same name and heavy vehicle weigh station.
Telegraph Hill	Holmdel Township	115.85 miles (186.44 km)	Both	April 24, 1957^[151]	2010s^[143]	The picnic area was off exit 116, next to the PNC Bank Arts Center.
Glenside	Woodbridge Township	130.2 miles (209.5 km)	Southbound		October 23, 1987^[147]	Closed due to illegal use for sex and drugs.^[147]
Madison Hill	Woodbridge Township	134.9 miles (217.1 km)	Northbound	November 1, 1950^[15]	1980s–1990s^[143]	Madison Hill was an overlook constructed as part of the original Route 4 Parkway.^[15]
Tall Oaks	Cranford	137.0 miles (220.5 km)	Southbound		July 1988^[152]	Closed due to illegal use for sex and drugs;^[152] converted to maintenance yard^[143]

Emergency assistance

On the Garden State Parkway, the emergency assistance number is #GSP, which is #477 in number form. Towing and roadside assistance are provided from authorized garages. The New Jersey State Police is the primary police agency that handles calls for service on the parkway.^[153] New Jersey State Police Troop D serves the Garden State Parkway, with stations in Galloway, Holmdel, and Bloomfield.^[154] Other emergency services such as fire and first aid are usually handled by the jurisdictions in which that section of the parkway passes.^[153]

Exit list

The parkway was the first highway in the United States to use mileage-based exit numbers.^[155] Historically, the exit numbers on the northbound and southbound roadways were not symmetrical. The New Jersey Highway Authority considered each as a separate road and as a result, many exits had non-matching numbers.^[156]

County	Location	mi^[1]	km	Old exit	New exit	Destinations	Notes^[157]
Cape May	Lower Township	0.00	0.00		–	Route 109 south – Cape May	Southern terminus; at-grade intersection
					0	Route 109 north to US 9 – North Cape May	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; to Cape May–Lewes Ferry
	Middle Township	3.90	6.28		4	Route 47 – The Wildwoods, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Rio Grande	Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance; signed as exits 4A (south) and 4B (north) southbound; The Wildwoods signed northbound; Wildwood and Wildwood Crest signed southbound
		6.54	10.53		6	Route 147 – North Wildwood, Whitesboro	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		8.40	13.52		9	Shell Bay Avenue to US 9	Former at-grade intersection
		9.90	15.93		10	Cape May Court House, Stone Harbor	Former at-grade intersection; access via CR 657
		11.04	17.77		11	Crest Haven Road (CR 609) to US 9	Former at-grade intersection; serves Cape May County Park & Zoo
		11.80	18.99		12	US 9 south	Southbound entrance
		13.60	21.89		13	To US 9 – Swainton, Avalon	Access via CR 601; southbound left entrance
	Dennis Township	17.50	28.16		17	Sea Isle City, Dennis Township	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 625
	Upper Township	19.38	31.19	Cape May Toll Plaza (northbound)
		20.25	32.59		20	US 9 / Route 50 north – Upper Township	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; southern terminus of Route 50
		25.34	40.78		25	US 9 south – Ocean City	Southern terminus of US 9 concurrency; access via CR 623; serves Corson's Inlet State Park
Great Egg Harbor Bay		27.77	44.69	Great Egg Harbor Bridge
Atlantic	Somers Point	28.78	46.32	Great Egg Toll Plaza (southbound)
		28.90	46.51		29	US 9 north – Somers Point, Ocean City	Northern terminus of US 9 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance
		30.00	48.28		30	Somers Point, Ocean City	Southbound exit (tolled) and northbound entrance;^[61] access via West Laurel Drive
	Egg Harbor Township	35.82	57.65		36	US 40 / US 322 – Northfield, Pleasantville	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 563 and CR 651
		36.08	58.07			CR 563 south – Northfield, Margate City	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		36.59	58.89		37	To US 40 / US 322 – Pleasantville	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 608; to CR 563 north
		37.23	59.92		38	A.C. Expressway – Atlantic City, Camden	Signed as exits 38A (east) and 38B (west); former eastern terminus of A.C. Expressway; exits 7S-N (A.C. Expressway)^[158]
	Galloway Township	40.04	64.44		40	US 30 east – Absecon, Atlantic City	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		41.70	67.11		41	CR 561 – Galloway, Pomona	Serves Stockton University
		43.98	70.78		44	CR 575 / CR 561 Alt. – Pomona, Port Republic, Smithville	Serves Stockton University
	Port Republic	48.29	77.72		48	US 9 south – Port Republic, Smithville	Southern terminus of US 9 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance
Burlington	Bass River Township	50.67	81.55		50	US 9 north – New Gretna, Tuckerton	Northern terminus of US 9 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance
		52.70	84.81		52	New Gretna	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 654
		53.54	86.16	New Gretna Toll Plaza (northbound)
Ocean	Little Egg Harbor Township	58.69	94.45		58	CR 539 – Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton, Whiting
	Stafford Township	64.11	103.18		63	Route 72 – Long Beach Island, Pemberton	Signed as exits 63A (east) and 63B (west) northbound
	Barnegat Township	67.81	109.13		67	CR 554 – Barnegat, Pemberton	Signed as exits 67A (east) and 67B (west) southbound;^[159] Pemberton not signed northbound
		68.61	110.42	Barnegat Toll Plaza (southbound)
	Ocean Township	70.45	113.38		69	CR 532 – Waretown	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Lacey Township	75.34	121.25		74	Forked River	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 614
	Berkeley Township	77.40	124.56		77	Berkeley	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 618 / CR 619
	South Toms River	80.85	130.12		80	US 9 south / CR 619 south / CR 530 – Beachwood, South Toms River	Southern terminus of US 9 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Toms River	81.85	131.72		81	Lakehurst Road (CR 527) – Toms River
		82.35	132.53		82	Route 37 – Seaside Heights, Lakehurst	Signed as exits 82 (east) and 82A (west); serves Island Beach State Park
		84.10	135.35		83	US 9 north / CR 571 / Route 166 south – Lakewood	Northern terminus of US 9 concurrency; no southbound exit
		84.72	136.34	Toms River Toll Plaza
	Lakewood Township	89.36	143.81	88	89A	Route 70 – Lakehurst, Brick, Point Pleasant	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 89A (east) and 89B (west) southbound
		90.18	145.13		89B (NB) 89C (SB)	CR 528 – Lakewood	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Brick Township	91.10	146.61		90	CR 549 south – Brick	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		92.62	149.06		91	CR 549 – Lakewood, Brick, Herbertsville, Point Pleasant	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 91B (south) and 91A (north) southbound
Monmouth	Wall Township	98.23	158.09	96-97A	98	I-195 west / Route 138 east / Route 34 – Belmar, Trenton	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; northbound access to route 34 via NJ 138 exits 35 A-B; southbound access to I-195 via Route 34 north; exit 36 (Route 138)^[160]^[161]
	Tinton Falls	101.24	162.93	100	100A	Route 33 east – Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach	Bradley Beach not signed southbound
		101.49	163.33	100A	100B	Route 66 east – Asbury Park	Northbound exit and southbound entrance^[85]
		101.74	163.73	100A (SB) 100B (NB)	100B (SB) 100C (NB)	Route 33 west – Freehold
		103.15	166.00		102	Neptune, Asbury Park	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 16
		103.96	167.31	Asbury Park Toll Plaza (northbound)
		104.20	167.69	South end of the local-express lanes split
		106.12– 106.39	170.78– 171.22		105	Route 18 / Route 36 north – New Brunswick, Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls	Tolled northbound entrance; southbound exit and northbound entrance from express and local lanes; no northbound access to Route 18 south; no expressway access to Route 18; all trucks must exit; Exit 15 (Route 18); New Brunswick signed northbound only; Tinton Falls signed southbound only
	Middletown Township	110.14	177.25		109	CR 520 – Red Bank, Lincroft	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Middletown–Holmdel township line	113.88	183.27		114	Holmdel, Middletown	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 52;^[162]
	Holmdel Township	115.85	186.44		116	PNC Bank Arts Center	Exit number only signed at gore; to New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial
		117.00	188.29	Crossover between express and the local roadways
	Hazlet	118.50	190.71		117	Route 35 / Route 36 south – Hazlet, Keyport	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; southbound exit and northbound entrance from express lanes; northern terminus of NJ 36
	Aberdeen Township	118.79	191.17	117A^[163]	118	Aberdeen	Access via CR 3; southbound exit (tolled) and entrance
Middlesex	Old Bridge Township	121.13	194.94		120	Laurence Harbor, Matawan	Access via CR 626; to Cheesequake State Park
	Sayreville	124.64	200.59		123	US 9 south – Sayreville, Old Bridge	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		124.99	201.15		124	Main Street (CR 670)	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		125.28	201.62	North end of the local-express lanes split
		125.68	202.26	Raritan Toll Plaza (southbound)
		126.36	203.36		125	US 9 south / Route 35 – Sayreville, South Amboy Chevalier Avenue	E-ZPass-only toll for southbound exit;^[164] US 9, Route 35, and South Amboy signed northbound; Chevalier Avenue signed southbound
	Raritan River	127.33	204.92	Driscoll Bridge
	Woodbridge Township	128.22	206.35	127A^[165]	127	US 9 north / Route 440 to I-287 north – Woodbridge, Staten Island	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		129.50	208.41	128	129	I-95 / N.J. Turnpike – New York City, Trenton, Philadelphia	Exit 11 (I-95 / Turnpike);^[166] Trenton signed northbound; Philadelphia signed southbound
						US 9 / Route 440 south to I-287 north – Woodbridge, Perth Amboy	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		130.63	210.23		130	US 1 – Trenton, Newark	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 130A (north) and 130B (south)
		131.33	211.36		131A	Wood Avenue South (CR 649)	Signed as exit 131 southbound
		131.83	212.16		131B	Metropark	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 657
		131.97	212.39	131^[167]	132	Route 27 – Iselin, Metuchen
Union	Clark	136.22	219.22		135	Clark, Westfield	Access via CR 613
	Cranford	137.59	221.43		136	Linden, Roselle	Access via CR 607 / CR 615
		138.74	223.28		137	Route 28 – Roselle Park, Elizabeth, Cranford	Elizabeth signed northbound; Roselle Park signed southbound
	Kenilworth	140.34	225.86		138	CR 509 – Kenilworth
	Union Township	141.10	227.08		139A	Roselle Park	Northbound exit and entrance; access via CR 619
		141.26	227.34	139B (NB) 140 (SB)	139B (NB) 140A (SB)	Route 82 west – Union	Route 82 not signed northbound
		141.70	228.04	140A	140B	US 22 / Route 82 east – Elizabeth, Somerville, Hillside	Signed as exit 140 northbound; Elizabeth and Somerville signed southbound; Hillside signed northbound
		142.10	228.69		141	Vauxhall Road (CR 630)	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Hillside	142.66	229.59	Union Toll Plaza (northbound)
		142.80– 142.90	229.81– 229.98		142	I-78 to I-95 / N.J. Turnpike – Springfield, Newark Airport, Newark	Tolled northbound entrance; signed as exits 142A (east) and 142B (west); exit 52 (I-78); to Holland Tunnel
		143.00	230.14	142A^[156]	142C	Maplewood	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via North Union Avenue
Essex	Irvington	144.0	231.7		143	To Route 124 west – Irvington, Maplewood, Hillside	Access via CR 602 and CR 603; signed as exits 143A (Hillside), 143B (Maplewood) and 143C (Route 124) southbound
		145.98	234.93		144	CR 510 (South Orange Avenue)	Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance
	East Orange	146.93– 147.15	236.46– 236.81	145–145A	145	I-280 / CR 508 – Newark, The Oranges	Tolled southbound entrance; exit 12B (I-280)^[168]
				146		Springdale Avenue – East Orange, Newark Area^[169]	Former northbound exit and southbound entrance; closed January 12, 1966 ^[62]
		148.44	238.89		147	East Orange	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via Springdale Avenue
	Bloomfield	149.2	240.1		148	CR 506 Spur / CR 509 – Bloomfield, Glen Ridge	Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance; Glen Ridge not signed southbound
		150.22	241.76	148A^[170]	149	CR 506 – Glen Ridge, Belleville	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		150.66	242.46	Essex Toll Plaza (southbound)
		151.1	243.2	149A^[170]	150	Hoover Avenue (CR 651)	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		152.45	245.34		151	Montclair, Nutley	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 655
Passaic	Clifton	154.06– 154.45	247.94– 248.56		153	Route 3 to US 46 west – Secaucus, Wayne	Tolled southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 153A (east) and 153B (west) northbound; no southbound access to Route 3 west; to Meadowlands Sports Complex and Lincoln Tunnel
		155.91	250.91		154	US 46 east – Clifton	Northbound exit and southbound entrance^[171]
						US 46 west – Clifton	Southbound exit and northbound entrance^[171]
		156.4	251.7	155P	155A	Route 19 north to I-80 west – Paterson	Northbound left exit and southbound entrance
		156.68	252.15	155	155B	Passaic	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 702
		158.19	254.58		156	Route 20 north – Elmwood Park	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via US 46
Bergen	Elmwood Park	158.87	255.68		157	US 46 east – Garfield	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
						US 46 west to Route 20 north – Garfield	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Saddle Brook	160– 160.35	260– 258.06	158	159	I-80 – Saddle Brook, Paterson, George Washington Bridge	No northbound access to I-80 west; tolled northbound exit; Paterson signed southbound; George Washington Bridge signed northbound; exit 62A (I-80); access to CR 67^[59]
		160.46	258.24	Bergen Toll Plaza (northbound)
	Paramus	161.53	259.96		160	To Route 208 north – Fair Lawn, Hackensack	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 62
		161.88	260.52		161	Route 4 east / Route 17 – Paramus	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; Route 17 not signed
		163.06– 163.29	262.42– 262.79		163	Route 17 to Route 4 – Paramus, George Washington Bridge, Mahwah	Same-directional access only; to Meadowlands Sports Complex
		164.94	265.45		165	Ridgewood, Oradell	Tolled northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 80;^[172] signed as exits 165A (Oradell) and 165B (Ridgewood)
		165.93	267.04		166	Washington, Westwood	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via CR 110^[172]
	Washington Township	166.25	267.55	Pascack Valley Toll Plaza (southbound)
		167.46	269.50		168	CR 502 – Washington, Westwood	Northbound exit and southbound entrance^[172]
	Woodcliff Lake	170.15	273.83		171	Woodcliff Lake, Saddle River	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR S73
	Montvale	171.52	276.03		172	Montvale, Park Ridge	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via CR 94
		172.40	277.45		–	I-87 / I-287 / New York Thruway – Tappan Zee Bridge, New York, New York City, New England	New Jersey state line; access via Garden State Parkway Connector
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Closed/former       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access        Tolled

See also

•   U.S. Roads portal
•   New Jersey portal

References

1. "Garden State Parkway straight line diagram" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
2. Cauchon, Dennis (February 5, 2008). "Drivers to see major toll hikes". USA Today. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
3. Google (April 22, 2018). "Overview Map of the Garden State Parkway (NJ 444)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
4. Google (September 16, 2016). "Google Street View imagery of Garden State Parkway" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
5. "N.J.A.C. 19:9-1.2" (PDF).
6. "N.J.A.C. 19:9-1.9(b)" (PDF).
7. Federal Highway Administration. National Highway System: New Jersey (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
8. Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (June 20, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
9. "2019 New Jersey Turnpike Authority Bridge Inspection Program" (PDF). New Jersey Turnpike Authority. August 2, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
10. New Jersey Department of Transportation (2019). Monmouth County National Highway System Routes - MAP - 21 (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Trenton: New Jersey Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
11. "Minimizing congestion and supporting riverfront development". Mott MacDonald. Retrieved December 24, 2019. With 15 travel lanes, the Driscoll Bridge, which carries the Garden State Parkway over the Raritan River, is the world's widest highway bridge. It is also one of the busiest, crossed by about 400,000 drivers each day.
12. State of New Jersey, Laws of 1946, Chapter 117.
13. 1927 New Jersey Road Map (Map). State of New Jersey. from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
14. Laurie, Maxine N.; Mappen, Marc (2004–2005). "Garden State Parkway". Encyclopedia of New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. p. 305.
15. "First Section of Route 4 Parkway is Completed". The Central New Jersey Home News. October 29, 1950. p. 1, 32. Retrieved April 14, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Route 4 Parkway Section Now Open". The Record. June 29, 1950. p. 2. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Last Link of New Parkway Opened Yesterday A. M." The Daily Register. November 2, 1950. p. 2. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "First Section of Freeway Opens Today". Press of Atlantic City. June 29, 1951. p. 15. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
19. United States Geological Survey (1957). Stone Harbor, NJ (Map). 1:24000. Renton, Virginia: United States Geological Survey.
20. "Toms River Bypass To Open Today". Courier-Post. July 3, 1952. p. 2. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
21. Ahlers, Bob (July 19, 2011). "Funding Failed, Tolls Imposed to Pay for Garden State Parkway". Cape May County Herald. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
22. "Cranford-Union Section of Parkway Opens Today". July 16, 1953 – via Newspapers.com.^{[full citation needed]}
23. "First Tolls Being Taken on Parkway". The Herald-News. January 15, 1954. p. 14. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Parkway Opens In Ocean County". The Daily Register. July 15, 1954. p. 17. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "42-Mile Shore Parkway Link Opens Tomorrow". Asbury Park Press. July 29, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "New Garden State Link. Raritan Bridge Is Opened for Northbound Traffic". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 31, 1954. Retrieved March 18, 2009. The New Jersey Highway Authority today opened a new link in the Garden State Parkway -- the high-level bridge over the Raritan River for northbound traffic.
27. "Raritan River Bridge on Parkway to Open". The Bayonne Times. July 29, 1954. p. 13. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "State Parkway Link Opened". The Courier-News. August 5, 1954. p. 3. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "Parkway Open to New Gretna". Press of Atlantic City. August 8, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Atlantic Co. Section of Parkway Opens". Press of Atlantic City. August 12, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Pike-Mullica G.S. Parkway Section Open". Press of Atlantic City. August 21, 1954. p. 13. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
32. "New Parkway Stretch Opens". The Courier-News. September 23, 1954. p. 15. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
33. "Garden State Parkway Links 113 Unbroken Miles Tomorrow". The Daily Journal. August 27, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Parkway Open to Wildwood by Labor Day". Press of Atlantic City. August 26, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Cape Parkway Strip Opened". Press of Atlantic City. September 4, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Parkway Now Links Irvington, Cape May". Press of Atlantic City. October 11, 1954. p. 10. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
37. "Parkway Picnic Area Stymied". The Asbury Park Press. May 27, 1955. p. 19. Retrieved April 14, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
38. "Parkway to Open Two More Service Areas". The Asbury Park Press. June 25, 1955. p. 7. Retrieved April 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
39. "Garden State Parkway Now Completely Divided Highway". Ridgewood Herald-News. November 3, 1955. p. 10. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
40. "New Great Egg Harbor Bay Bridge to Be Dedicated by Parkway with Pageant Today". Press of Atlantic City. June 16, 1956. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
41. Higgins, Columb (November 18, 2016). "Last of Beesleys Point Bridge Blasted". The Press of Atlantic City. Gazette of Upper Township. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
42. State of New Jersey, Laws of 1929, Chapter 105, Page 386, Section 1.
43. "Parkway Road Open for Use". The Record. July 3, 1957. p. 6. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
44. "New Thruway Link Ready For Travel". The Record. August 29, 1957. p. 43. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
45. "Work Begins on Clifton Interchange of Parkway". The Herald-News. Passaic, New Jersey. May 2, 1958. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved August 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
46. "Clifton's New Parkway Ramps Open Tuesday". The Herald-News. Passaic, New Jersey. December 25, 1958. p. 24. Retrieved August 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
47. "Parkway Work to Expand Interchange at Route 46". The Herald-News. Passaic, New Jersey. May 29, 1958. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved August 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
48. "Parkway to Build 2 New Rt. 46 Ramps in Spring". The Herald-News. Passaic, New Jersey. December 12, 1957. p. 2. Retrieved August 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
49. "1,500,000 Cars Have Used New Parkway-Route 46 Links". The Herald-News. Passaic, New Jersey. February 29, 1960. p. 38. Retrieved August 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
50. "Garden State Parkway to Ban Motorcycles on 1st". The Daily Record. Long Branch, New Jersey. January 6, 1961. p. 3. Retrieved October 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
51. "Road Costs Told for Bell Project". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. June 23, 1961. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved August 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
52. "New Interchange Set for Middletown". The Daily Record. Long Branch, New Jersey. March 31, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved August 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
53. "New Parkway Interchange at Red Hill Road Approved". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. November 28, 1961. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved August 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
54. "County Planners Protest Closing". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. May 29, 1962. pp. 1–2. Retrieved August 9, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
55. "OK $50,000 for Parkway Ramp Plans". The Asbury Park Evening Press. December 15, 1961. p. 2. Retrieved August 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
56. "Issue Still Alive". The Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. July 30, 1962. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved August 9, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
57. "Parkway Opens Interchange in Monmouth". The Paterson Evening News. December 20, 1962. p. 24. Retrieved August 9, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
58. "N.J. Closing Exit 12 Of Cape Parkway For Safety Reasons". Press of Atlantic City. June 27, 1963. p. 3. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
59. "Garden State Parkway Projects Near Finished". The Daily Record. Long Branch, New Jersey. December 12, 1963. p. 27. Retrieved January 18, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
60. "Exit 38, July 30, 1964". The Millville Daily. July 30, 1964. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
61. "Parkway Interchange to be Closed". The Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. March 4, 1965. p. 6. Retrieved January 21, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
62. "Tolls Start Jan. 12 on New Parkway Interchanges". The Paterson Daily News. December 29, 1965. p. 20. Retrieved March 27, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
63. Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
64. "Paramus, Highway Authority Agree to Joint Road Construction Program". The Herald-News. Passaic, New Jersey. May 4, 1966. p. 65. Retrieved August 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
65. "Garden State Parkway Opens Entrance Ramps". The Herald-News. Passaic, New Jersey. November 30, 1966. p. 59. Retrieved August 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
66. "Use of Interchange to Cost Dime Soon". The Bergen Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. February 10, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved August 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
67. "Parkway Ramps to Go Into Use". The Paterson Morning Call. December 29, 1966. p. 27. Retrieved August 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
68. "Court Bars Barricades; Interchange 166 Opens". The Paterson Daily News. September 23, 1967. p. 23. Retrieved August 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
69. "Pike Linked To Parkway". The Courier-News. September 18, 1969. p. 15. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
70. "New Routes Cause P'way Confusion". Press of Atlantic City. November 26, 1970. p. 24. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
71. "Parkway Traffic to Change Lanes Tuesday". Asbury Park Press. August 15, 1971. p. 11. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
72. "Open Second Parkway Span at Raritan River". The Daily Register. September 3, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
73. "The Garden State Parkway Crossing the Great Egg Harbor Bay" (PDF). New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
74. "Exit 117A, February 21, 1974". Asbury Park Press. February 21, 1974. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
75. "Parkway express lane section open". The Daily Register. August 5, 1974. p. 5. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
76. Karey, Gerald (October 31, 1975). "Cyclists Back on Parkway at Midnight After 14 Years". The Asbury Park Press. p. 45. Retrieved October 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
77. "Forbes Takes Cycle Ban Fight to Washington". The Courier-News. Plainfield, New Jersey. September 8, 1973. p. 3. Retrieved October 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
78. Sullivan, Ronald (February 20, 1977). "Turnpike Drops Cross-State Road". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
79. Mansnerus, Laura (May 7, 2000). "Road and Rail; Seeking a Line in the Sand". The New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
80. "Hugin: Extend Route 55 in South Jersey". Insider NJ. October 2, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
81. Barlow, Bill (February 1, 2018). "Safety Cited in Push for Route 55 Extension". Cape May County Herald. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
82. Garden State Parkway Hov Lane (Abridgment). National Academy of Sciences. 1983. ISBN 978-0-309-03520-0.
83. "Parkway Ramp Debuts Monday". The Central Jersey Home News. October 23, 1982. p. 3. Retrieved April 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
84. Brackett, Georgia (July 26, 1985). "Parkway Exit Finally Opens". The Bergen Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. p. 3. Retrieved July 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
85. "Parkway Opens New Exit". The Asbury Park Press. December 24, 1986. p. 21. Retrieved January 21, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
86. "Garden State Parkway". NYCRoads. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
87. (PDF). Internet Archives WayBack Machine. New Jersey Department of Transportation. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
88. "Request for Bid" (PDF). New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
89. "Driscoll Bridge". Structurae. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
90. Yurasko, William (May 21, 2009). "Garden State Parkway's Driscoll Bridge now 15 lanes". Retrieved September 11, 2019.
91. Rispoli, Michael (September 16, 2009). "Garden State Parkway, Route 78 connection to end commuter merry-go-round". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
92. "NJDOT announces completion of project fully linking I-78 and the Garden State Parkway" (Press release). New Jersey Department of Transportation. September 21, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
93. Santiago, Katherine (September 17, 2009). "New link at Garden State Parkway, Route 78 to save commuters 10 minutes daily". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
94. "N.J. to consider allowing trucks on Garden State Parkway north of exit 105". The Star-Ledger. Associated Press. April 18, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
95. "N.J. won't allow trucks on Garden State Parkway north of exit 105". The Star-Ledger. Associated Press. April 18, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
96. Weaver, Donna (May 26, 2011). "Parkway widening project in Ocean County to be ready for motorists today". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
97. "Garden State Parkway Widening (Phase 2)". Atkins Global. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
98. Russell, Mike (August 20, 2014). "Project to eliminate traffic lights on New Jersey's Parkway nears halfway mark". WHYY. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
99. . Middle Township New Jersey. Middle Township Municipality. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
100. Auble, Amanda (February 18, 2019). "Garden State Parkway bridge construction nearing a close". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved September 16, 2019.

January 01, 1970