New Jersey Route 63
Encyclopedia
Route 63 is a short, 3.09 miles (5 km) long state highway
in Hudson
and Bergen Counties
in New Jersey
. The route is known as Bergen Boulevard and concurrent with County Route 501
for most of its alignment. The southern terminus is at Kennedy Boulevard and County Route 501 in the community of North North Bergen
. The route crosses the county line and heads along the boulevard through the communities of Ridgefield
, Palisades Park
, and Fort Lee
before reaching its northern terminus at an interchange with U.S. Routes 1, 9
and 46
in Fort Lee.
Route 63 originated in 1927 as the alignment of Route S1, which ran along the current alignment as a spur of New Jersey Route 1. The designated route's southern terminus was at Hudson County West Boulevard (now Kennedy Boulevard), northward to State Highway Route 1, State Highway Route 6 and U.S. Routes 1-9 and 46. The route had one suffixed spur, State Highway Route S-1-A, (now an alignment of New Jersey Route 67) until the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering
on January 1 of that year. That day, Route S-1 was decommissioned and replaced by Route 63.
and Kennedy Boulevard in the community of North Bergen
in Hudson County. The route progresses northward, concurrent with County Route 501, from the intersection along Bergen Boulevard, passing through a large residential and commercial community, passing to the east of the Fairview Cemetery, located in Fairview. After crossing into Bergen County, Routes 63 and 501 continue further, intersecting with County Route 16 (Fairview Avenue). Bergen Boulevard passes through the partial-residential/commercial community for a distance, becoming a divided highway until an intersection with Cliff Street. At Cliff Street, the right-of-ways come back together, and the highway itself passes the Mount Moriah Cemetery near a large high-rise.
Routes 63 and 501 continues northward, passing a small set of tankers near the cemetery. There, the route returns to the commercial-residential split it once was, continuing through Ridgefield
and into Fort Lee
. At an intersection with New Jersey Route 5, Routes 63 and 501 fork, with both routes heading to the west while a second Bergen Boulevard heads to the east. The two designated routes continue northward through the residential communities as Bergen Boulevard, entering the municipality of Palisades Park
soon afterwards. Routes 63 and 501 continue northward, passing local businesses and residenecs on its way to the terminus of Route 63 at an interchange with U.S. Route 1/9
and U.S. Route 46
. County Route 501 continues towards New Jersey Route 93.
by the New Jersey State Highway Department, the alignment of current-day Route 63 was designated as State Highway Route S-1, a spur off of New Jersey Route 1. The route began at the Hudson County West Boulevard (now Kennedy Bouelvard), heading northbound to Ridgefield, where it would meet NJ 1, NJ 6, U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 9 and U.S. Route 46. Both intersections are now the termini to Route 63. Two years later, a remade legislation was performed in the New Jersey State Legislature, redefining the alignment for State Highway Route S-1, with the southern terminus changing to Hudson County Boulevard, a rename to the original southern terminus. Also, the northern terminus was then defined as being in Fort Lee
.
State Highway Route S-1 remained intact for the next two decades, and along with a suffixed spur, State Highway Route S-1-A, the two routes were thoroughfares through the southern Palisades
. On January 1, 1953, the New Jersey State Highway Department went ahead with a second state highway renumbering
. Route S-1 and its suffixed spur, Route S-1-A, were decommissioned in favor of new designations. State Highway Route S-1 became Route 63 while its suffixed spur became Route 67. Route 63 follows the same alignment as Route S-1 with no change in termini since the 1953 renumbering.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Hudson
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
and Bergen Counties
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The route is known as Bergen Boulevard and concurrent with County Route 501
County Route 501 (New Jersey)
County Route 501 is a county highway in New Jersey in two sections spanning Middlesex, Hudson and Bergen Counties. The southern section runs from South Plainfield to Perth Amboy, the northern section runs from Bayonne to Rockleigh, and the two sections are connected by New York State Route 440...
for most of its alignment. The southern terminus is at Kennedy Boulevard and County Route 501 in the community of North North Bergen
North Bergen, New Jersey
North Bergen is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 60,773. Originally founded in 1843, the town was much diminished in territory by a series of secessions. Situated on the Hudson Palisades, it is one...
. The route crosses the county line and heads along the boulevard through the communities of Ridgefield
Ridgefield, New Jersey
There were 4,020 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone...
, Palisades Park
Palisades Park, New Jersey
Palisades Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 19,622....
, and Fort Lee
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
before reaching its northern terminus at an interchange with U.S. Routes 1, 9
U.S. Route 1/9
U.S. Route 9 is a U.S. highway in the northeast United States, running from Laurel, Delaware north to the Canadian border near Champlain, New York...
and 46
U.S. Route 46
U.S. Route 46 is an east–west U.S. Highway, running for , completely within the state of New Jersey. The west end is at an interchange with Interstate 80 and Route 94 in Columbia, Warren County on the Delaware River...
in Fort Lee.
Route 63 originated in 1927 as the alignment of Route S1, which ran along the current alignment as a spur of New Jersey Route 1. The designated route's southern terminus was at Hudson County West Boulevard (now Kennedy Boulevard), northward to State Highway Route 1, State Highway Route 6 and U.S. Routes 1-9 and 46. The route had one suffixed spur, State Highway Route S-1-A, (now an alignment of New Jersey Route 67) until the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering
1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering
On January 1, 1953, the New Jersey Department of Transportation renumbered many of the State Routes. A few rules were followed in deciding what to renumber:...
on January 1 of that year. That day, Route S-1 was decommissioned and replaced by Route 63.
Route description
Route 63 begins at an intersection between County Route 501County Route 501 (New Jersey)
County Route 501 is a county highway in New Jersey in two sections spanning Middlesex, Hudson and Bergen Counties. The southern section runs from South Plainfield to Perth Amboy, the northern section runs from Bayonne to Rockleigh, and the two sections are connected by New York State Route 440...
and Kennedy Boulevard in the community of North Bergen
North Bergen, New Jersey
North Bergen is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 60,773. Originally founded in 1843, the town was much diminished in territory by a series of secessions. Situated on the Hudson Palisades, it is one...
in Hudson County. The route progresses northward, concurrent with County Route 501, from the intersection along Bergen Boulevard, passing through a large residential and commercial community, passing to the east of the Fairview Cemetery, located in Fairview. After crossing into Bergen County, Routes 63 and 501 continue further, intersecting with County Route 16 (Fairview Avenue). Bergen Boulevard passes through the partial-residential/commercial community for a distance, becoming a divided highway until an intersection with Cliff Street. At Cliff Street, the right-of-ways come back together, and the highway itself passes the Mount Moriah Cemetery near a large high-rise.
Routes 63 and 501 continues northward, passing a small set of tankers near the cemetery. There, the route returns to the commercial-residential split it once was, continuing through Ridgefield
Ridgefield, New Jersey
There were 4,020 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone...
and into Fort Lee
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
. At an intersection with New Jersey Route 5, Routes 63 and 501 fork, with both routes heading to the west while a second Bergen Boulevard heads to the east. The two designated routes continue northward through the residential communities as Bergen Boulevard, entering the municipality of Palisades Park
Palisades Park, New Jersey
Palisades Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 19,622....
soon afterwards. Routes 63 and 501 continue northward, passing local businesses and residenecs on its way to the terminus of Route 63 at an interchange with U.S. Route 1/9
U.S. Route 1/9
U.S. Route 9 is a U.S. highway in the northeast United States, running from Laurel, Delaware north to the Canadian border near Champlain, New York...
and U.S. Route 46
U.S. Route 46
U.S. Route 46 is an east–west U.S. Highway, running for , completely within the state of New Jersey. The west end is at an interchange with Interstate 80 and Route 94 in Columbia, Warren County on the Delaware River...
. County Route 501 continues towards New Jersey Route 93.
History
During the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering
In 1927, New Jersey's state highways were renumbered. The old system, which had been defined in sequence by the legislature, was growing badly, as several routes shared the same number, and many unnumbered state highways had been defined...
by the New Jersey State Highway Department, the alignment of current-day Route 63 was designated as State Highway Route S-1, a spur off of New Jersey Route 1. The route began at the Hudson County West Boulevard (now Kennedy Bouelvard), heading northbound to Ridgefield, where it would meet NJ 1, NJ 6, U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 9 and U.S. Route 46. Both intersections are now the termini to Route 63. Two years later, a remade legislation was performed in the New Jersey State Legislature, redefining the alignment for State Highway Route S-1, with the southern terminus changing to Hudson County Boulevard, a rename to the original southern terminus. Also, the northern terminus was then defined as being in Fort Lee
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
.
State Highway Route S-1 remained intact for the next two decades, and along with a suffixed spur, State Highway Route S-1-A, the two routes were thoroughfares through the southern Palisades
Palisades
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.Palisade or Palisades also may refer to:-Geology:United States...
. On January 1, 1953, the New Jersey State Highway Department went ahead with a second state highway renumbering
1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering
On January 1, 1953, the New Jersey Department of Transportation renumbered many of the State Routes. A few rules were followed in deciding what to renumber:...
. Route S-1 and its suffixed spur, Route S-1-A, were decommissioned in favor of new designations. State Highway Route S-1 became Route 63 while its suffixed spur became Route 67. Route 63 follows the same alignment as Route S-1 with no change in termini since the 1953 renumbering.