New Jersey Route 47

Route 47 is a state highway in the southern part of New Jersey, United States. It runs 75.20 mi (121.02 km) from Atlantic Avenue in Wildwood, Cape May County north to U.S. Route 130 in Brooklawn, Camden County. It is also referred to as Delsea Drive, as it connects the Delaware River near Brooklawn to the Atlantic Ocean (the sea) in Wildwood. This name was assigned by the New Jersey Legislature in 1933. The route runs through rural areas of Cape May and southern Cumberland counties as a two-lane road. Traffic jams along this portion of Route 47 are commonplace in the summer vacation season and can stretch for miles due to the missing southern section of Route 55, where all Jersey Shore-bound traffic enters the small two-lane road. North of here, the route runs through the cities of Millville and Vineland before entering Gloucester County, where it passes through more rural areas as well as Clayton and Glassboro. Past Glassboro, it heads through suburban areas in Washington and Deptford townships before running through Westville and Brooklawn. Route 47 is the longest signed state route in New Jersey.[1]

Route 47
Delsea Drive
Route information
Maintained by NJDOT and Cape May County
Length	75.20 mi[1] (121.02 km)
Existed	1927–present
Tourist routes	Bayshore Heritage Byway Pine Barrens Byway
Major junctions
South end	Atlantic Avenue in Wildwood
	G.S. Parkway in Middle Township US 9 in Middle Township Route 55 in Maurice River Township Route 55 in Vineland Route 56 in Vineland US 40 in Franklin Township US 322 in Glassboro Route 55 in Deptford Township I-295 in Westville CR 551 in Westville
North end	US 130 / CR 551 / CR 753 in Brooklawn
Location
Counties	Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Camden
Highway system
New Jersey State Highway Routes Interstate U.S. State Scenic Byways ← Route 46 → Route 48 ← CR 660 → CR 662

What is now Route 47 was originally designated as part of pre-1927 Route 15 between Rio Grande in 1917 and as a branch of pre-1927 Route 20 between Millville and Westville in 1923. In 1927, Route 47 was designated to run from Tuckahoe to Brooklawn, following current Route 49 south of Millville. Meanwhile, current Route 47 was a part of Route 49 between South Dennis and Millville and Route S49 between Rio Grande and South Dennis. The latter was extended to Wildwood in 1938. Route 47 and Route 49 were shifted onto their current alignments south of Millville in 1953. Since then, Route 47 has seen a few improvements and modifications including realignment in Millville and the reconstruction of the intersection with Route 83 in Dennis Township.

Route description

Cape May County

Route 47 southbound in Lower Township approaching the bridge to Wildwood

Route 47 begins at a traffic light with Atlantic Avenue in the Jersey Shore city of Wildwood in Cape May County, heading to the northwest on Rio Grande Avenue, a four-lane divided highway that is county maintained and signed as County Route 661.[1][2] From this intersection, Rio Grande Avenue continues southeast a block to an intersection with Ocean Avenue near the Wildwood Boardwalk.[3] The road passes through residential and commercial areas before crossing County Route 621 (Ocean Drive), where it becomes a four-lane undivided road. Upon crossing Park Boulevard, the route passes businesses and intersects Susquehanna Avenue.[1][3] Here, Route 47 becomes signed and maintained by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, turning into a divided highway again a short distance later at the intersection with County Route 624 (West Rio Grande Boulevard).[1] At this intersection, the route enters Lower Township and crosses over the Grassy Sound via the George Reading Wildwood Bridge, which is a drawbridge.[1][3] The road turns more to the west-northwest and runs through wetlands with some homes to the south of the road, with the Wildwoods Welcome Center accessible from the southbound lanes.[3] Route 47 enters Middle Township and continues past more marshland as well as some marinas adjacent to the Richardson Sound on the south side of the road.[1][3] The route turns northwest again and comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with the Garden State Parkway.[1] Past this interchange, Route 47 heads into a commercial district in the Rio Grande section of Middle Township.[1][3] At the intersection with Fifth Street, the route becomes a three-lane undivided road with a center left-turn lane and continues to an intersection with U.S. Route 9 (Shore Road).[1]

Route 47 southbound past the southern terminus of Route 347 in Dennis Township

Past the U.S. Route 9 intersection, Route 47 becomes Delsea Drive and continues past more businesses, crossing the Cape May Seashore Lines railroad before intersecting County Route 626.[1][3] Here, the route becomes a two-lane road and heads into more residential areas with some commercial establishments.[3] At the intersection with County Route 654, Route 47 turns north and leaves the Rio Grande area, heading into woods with some farm fields. It passes homes again and intersects County Route 603 in Green Creek.[1][3] From here, the road continues past homes with some areas of forests and farms.[3] Route 47 comes to an intersection with County Route 618 which, along with Route 147, provides an alternate route to The Wildwoods.[1][4] Past this intersection, the road passes more rural dwellings and enters the community of Dias Creek, where it intersects County Route 612. The route crosses over Bidwell Creek near wetlands and heads into forests. It reaches the residential community of Goshen, where there is an intersection with County Route 615.[1][3] Past Goshen, Route 47 turns northeast and heads through rural woods and farms with some homes and wetlands.[3]

Upon crossing Sluice Creek, the route enters Dennis Township and heads into residential areas in the community of South Dennis.[1][3] Here, the road intersects County Route 657 and turns to the north. Route 47 briefly widens into a two-lane divided highway as it intersects the western terminus of Route 83.[1] Past this intersection, the road heads through marshland and crosses over the Dennis Creek. It continues into Dennisville, where the route intersects County Route 610 before turning west near Johnson Pond and intersecting County Route 611 (Tyler Road). Route 47 passes more homes before coming to the southern terminus of County Route 557. Past the County Route 557 intersection, the road runs through woodland before coming to the southern terminus of Route 347.[1][3] Here, Route 47 turns to the west and passes a mix of residences, woods, and fields.[3] It turns northwest and crosses East Creek before coming to an intersection with County Route 550 Spur. Past this intersection, the road intersects Old State Highway, a connector road to County Route 550 Spur, before turning west into wooded areas.[1][3]

Cumberland County

Route 47 southbound past Schooner Landing Road in Maurice River Township

Upon crossing West Creek, Route 47 enters Maurice River Township, Cumberland County and continues west through more forests. It enters a mix of residences and woodland as it makes a turn to the north past the intersection with County Route 651.[1][3] The route runs through more woods, with a clearing for Bayside State Prison to the east of the road.[3][5] The road comes to an intersection with County Route 550 and County Route 710 to the east of Leesburg and continues north. Route 47 reaches an intersection with County Route 670 in a commercial area prior to Route 347 merging back into the route.[1][3] Here, Route 47 splits into a brief one-way pair with the northbound direction heading east on County Route 670 and north on Route 347, and the southbound direction remaining on Delsea Drive.[3] From here, Route 47 continues north on Delsea Drive through forested areas with some homes before crossing over the Muskee Creek. It continues into the community of Port Elizabeth, where it meets the western terminus of County Route 548. Just past this intersection, the route crosses the Manumuskin River and continues north through woodland with some development.[1][3] The route intersects the southern terminus of Route 55, where that route continues north along the road and Route 47 turns off at a jughandle.[1] South of the Route 55 intersection, Route 47 is part of a major road linking the Philadelphia area with the Jersey Shore resorts of Cape May County. During the summer months, it sees regular traffic jams from traffic coming off Route 55. A proposal to extend Route 55 south to Cape May County, on hold for decades due to environmental concerns, would relieve traffic along Route 47.[6]

View north along Route 47 at Rutgers Drive in Vineland

From here, Route 47 continues through a mix of trees and residences, intersecting Schooner Landing Road, which provides access to and from northbound Route 55. Just past this intersection, the route crosses the Manantico Creek into Millville, where it becomes South Second Street, and continues past more woodland containing residences.[1][3] As the route continues north, residential development increases along with commercial and industrial establishments.[3] Route 47 reaches the commercial downtown of Millville, where it crosses Route 49/County Route 555 and becomes North Second Street.[1][3] County Route 555 parallels Route 47 a block to the east as the road crosses a Winchester and Western Railroad line and intersects County Route 552 Spur.[1] Past this intersection, County Route 555 heads farther to the east and Route 47 crosses the Winchester and Western Railroad line a second time, passing a mix of residences, businesses, and industrial buildings. The road becomes three lanes with a center-left turn lane as it heads through commercial areas in the northern part of Millville. Upon intersecting High Street, the route widens to five lanes before entering Vineland, where the name becomes Delsea Drive again and it intersects Route 55 at a partial cloverleaf interchange.[1][3]

Past this interchange, Route 47 passes the Cumberland Mall on the east side of the road as a six-lane divided highway. Past the mall, the route becomes a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane again and passes more commercial establishments in the southern part of Vineland, before heading into wooded residential areas with some farmland. It crosses County Route 552 and becomes a two-lane road, running through business areas with some homes.[1][3] As Route 47 continues north through the city, it comes to an intersection with Chestnut Avenue, where it gains a center left-turn lane.[1] From here, it passes more commercial buildings before crossing Landis Avenue, which heads to the west as Route 56.[1][3] Past this intersection, the road crosses a Winchester and Western Railroad line before intersecting County Route 540.[1] Route 47 continues north through a mix of dwellings and businesses in the northern part of Vineland, narrowing back into a two-lane road at the crossing of County Route 681. The road heads through predominantly residential areas as it comes to an intersection with County Route 674.[1][3] Past this intersection, the route passes near Kroelinger Airport and continues through mostly rural inhabited areas with some businesses.[3] It crosses County Route 690 (Weymouth Road) before passing through wooded sectors with some homes and farms.[1][3]

Gloucester and Camden counties

Route 47 northbound in Glassboro

Route 47 crosses into Franklin Township, Gloucester County, where it passes more farms, woods, and homes before coming to an intersection with U.S. Route 40 in the community of Malaga. Here, U.S. Route 40 and Route 47 form a concurrency and head northeast through populated areas as a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane, crossing over Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Vineland Secondary railroad line.[1][3] Immediately after this crossing, U.S. Route 40 splits from Route 47 by heading southeast on Harding Highway while Route 47 turns northwest to continue along Delsea Drive, a two-lane road.[1] Route 47 leaves Malaga and passes through a mix of dwellings and businesses with some areas of farms and woods, running a short distance to the east of the railroad line.[3] The road heads into more forested areas before it comes to an intersection with County Route 612 in the residential and business community of Iona. Route 47 continues past homes and commercial establishments as it comes to a crossroads with County Route 538, where it turns to the north. The route passes more development with some farmland before it enters Clayton.[1][3]

Here, the road heads through residential areas with some commercial establishments, crossing County Route 610 in the center of town.[1][3] As the road continues north, it heads through a mix of homes and farmland with a few commercial areas.[3] Route 47 enters inhabited areas again as it crosses into Glassboro. The road continues north and enters business areas before heading into neighborhoods and coming to an intersection with High Street, which runs east as U.S. Route 322/County Route 536 and west as County Route 641.[1][3] Here, U.S. Route 322 and County Route 536 join Route 47 for a concurrency.[1] The three routes head through commercial areas before U.S. Route 322 and County Route 536 turn to the west on West Street.[1][3] Past this intersection, Route 47 continues north as a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane, passing more buildings.[3] The route intersects County Route 553 and forms a concurrency with that route which lasts until County Route 553 turns north onto Woodbury Avenue.[1] Along this concurrency, the road widens to five lanes as it passes a couple shopping centers.[3] Past the concurrency, Route 47 runs north through suburban localities as a two-lane road, entering Washington Township at the crossing of Kressey Lake.[1][3] In Washington Township, the road passes more populated areas as well as businesses.[3] Route 47 runs to the east of Bethel Mill County Park before entering more residential areas, crossing County Route 635.[1][3] The road passes through a mix of homes and commercial establishments with some farmland and wooded areas as it continues through more of Washington Township.[3]

Route 47 northbound past the southern terminus of Route 41 in Deptford Township

At the border with Deptford Township, Route 47 reaches an intersection known as Five Points.[1][7] Here, the road meets Route 41, County Route 603, and County Route 630.[1] Route 47 turns northwest as this intersection and runs through wooded areas with some dwellings, with Route 55 intersecting the route at a cloverleaf interchange a short distance later.[1][3] Past this interchange, the road continues through wooded inhabited areas, eventually turning due north.[3] It comes to an intersection with the western terminus of County Route 534 as the route heads through more suburban homes along with businesses. Past this intersection, Route 47 passes businesses before crossing over the New Jersey Turnpike without an interchange. From here, it heads through more inhabited areas before entering Westville.[1][3] Upon entering Westville, the route has a partial cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 295.[1] Past this interchange, the road runs through neighborhoods, intersecting County Route 621 (Almonesson Road) and County Route 551. The latter forms a concurrency with Route 47 and these two routes run northeast through commercial areas as a four-lane undivided road, crossing the Big Timber Creek into Brooklawn, Camden County. Here, it comes to a traffic circle with U.S. Route 130 and County Route 753, where Route 47 ends and County Route 551 continues on to Camden, forming a brief concurrency with U.S. Route 130.[1][3]

History

Route S49 (1927-1953)

The portion of Route 47 south of Port Elizabeth was a part of the Cohanseu trail, a Lenape trail running from Swedesboro to Cape May.[8] North of Port Elizabeth, the road was maintained by several turnpikes: the Westville and Glassboro Turnpike, chartered in 1852, following Tanyard Road and Woodbury Road south of New Sharon; the Glassboro and Malaga Turnpike, chartered in 1851; the Millville and Malaga Turnpike, chartered in 1852; and the Port Elizabeth and Millville Turnpike, chartered in 1852. The modern road north of Port Elizabeth and from Dennisville to Goshen was incorporated into the Cape May Way, an auto trail running from Camden to Cape May.[9]

Route 47 southbound approaching split with Route 347 in Maurice River Township

The road was originally designated as a segment of pre-1927 Route 15 between Rio Grande and Millville in 1917, and as one of two branches of pre-1927 Route 20 between Millville and Westville in 1923.[10][11] In the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering, Route 47 was legislated to run from Route 50 in Tuckahoe to Brooklawn, following present-day Route 49 between Tuckahoe and Millville and its current alignment north of Millville. Meanwhile, the present-day alignment of Route 47 between the current Route 83 intersection in South Dennis and Millville was designated a part of Route 49 while the current alignment between South Dennis and U.S. Route 9/Route 4 in Rio Grande became Route S49, a spur of Route 49.[12][13] In 1933, the New Jersey Legislature named Route 47 Delsea Drive after a reporter for the Woodbury Times joked how the road connected the DELaware River to the Atlantic SEA.[14] Route S49 was extended from Rio Grande to Park Boulevard in Wildwood in 1938.[15] In the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering, Route 47 and Route 49 switched alignments south and east of Millville and Route 47 replaced Route S49 south to Wildwood.[16][17]

By the 1980s, Route 47 was moved from High Street to North Second Street through the northern part of Millville.[18][19] An alternate route of Route 47 was eventually created to the east along county routes in Cape May and Cumberland counties; this eventually became Route 347 by the 1990s.[19][20] In the 2000s, Rio Grande Avenue in Wildwood received improvements to make it reminisce the doo wop atmosphere the beach resort is known for.[21] The Route 47 bridge over Dennis Creek in Dennis Township and the Route 83 intersection received improvements that were completed in July 2007. The Route 47 bridge over the creek was structurally deficient and in need of replacing. The job was completed with wider shoulders and a wider sidewalk on the new bridge. The intersection between Route 47 and Route 83 was also realigned and had signals installed.[22]

In 2018, a $10 million construction project began to improve the section of Route 47 along Rio Grande Avenue at the entrance to Wildwood, which added a center left-turn lane, raised the road by 30 inches (76 cm), and added new lighting and signs. The project was completed in 2020.[23][24] A dedication ceremony marking the completion of the project was held on July 1, 2020, with local officials in attendance. As part of the project, Rio Grande Avenue leading into Wildwood was to be renamed to Beach Ball Boulevard following a contest to rename the roadway.[25] However, on July 10, 2020, it was announced that the Wildwood city commissioners decided to keep the road name as Rio Grande Avenue after receiving input from residents that the road name should not change.[26]

Major intersections

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Cape May	Wildwood	0.00	0.00	Atlantic Avenue / Rio Grande Avenue	Southern terminus
		0.26	0.42	CR 621 / Ocean Drive (New Jersey Avenue)
	Middle Township	3.08– 3.15	4.96– 5.07	G.S. Parkway to A.C. Expressway – Philadelphia, Atlantic City	Exits 4 A-B (Garden State Parkway)
		3.76	6.05	US 9 (Shore Road) – Cape May, Cape May Court House
	Dennis Township	17.54	28.23	Route 83 east – Clermont, Sea Isle City, Avalon	Western terminus of Route 83
		20.20	32.51	CR 557 north (Washington Avenue) – Woodbine	Southern terminus of CR 557
		20.91	33.65	Route 347 north – Millville, Camden	Southern terminus of Route 347
		23.40	37.66	CR 550 Spur east (Paper Mill Road)	Western terminus of CR 550 Spur
Cumberland	Maurice River Township	29.53	47.52	CR 550 east (Leesburg Belleplain Road) – Belleplain	Western terminus of CR 550
		31.95	51.42	Route 347 south – Wildwood, Cape May	Northern terminus of Route 347
		33.83	54.44	CR 548 east (Broadway) – Tuckahoe	Western terminus of CR 548
		35.08	56.46	Route 55 north – Millville, Vineland	Southern terminus of Route 55
	Millville	40.20	64.70	Route 49 / CR 555 (Main Street) – Millville Business District
		40.66	65.44	CR 552 Spur east (Broad Street)	Western terminus of CR 552 Spur
	Vineland	42.47– 42.50	68.35– 68.40	Route 55 – Malaga, Cape May, Wildwood	Exit 27 (Route 55)
		43.75	70.41	CR 552 (West Sherman Avenue) to Route 55 – Bridgeton, Milmay
		46.55	74.91	Route 56 west (Landis Avenue) to Route 55	Eastern terminus of Route 56
		46.93	75.53	CR 540 (Park Avenue) – Centerton, Richland
Gloucester	Franklin Township	52.52	84.52	US 40 west (West Boulevard) to Route 55 – Elmer, Delaware Memorial Bridge	South end of US 40 overlap
		53.03	85.34	US 40 east (Harding Highway) to A.C. Expressway – Atlantic City	North end of US 40 overlap
		56.53	90.98	CR 538 (Coles Mill Road) – Monroeville, Cecil
	Glassboro	62.46	100.52	US 322 east (CR 536 east / High Street) to A.C. Expressway – Atlantic City	South end of US 322/CR 536 overlap
		62.84	101.13	US 322 west (CR 536 west / West Avenue) to N.J. Turnpike – Rowan University, Delaware Memorial Bridge	North end of US 322/CR 536 overlap
		63.82	102.71	CR 553 south (Donald Barger Boulevard) to CR 553 Alt. – Mantua	South end of CR 553 overlap
		64.12	103.19	CR 553 north (Woodbury Avenue) – Pitman, Woodbury	North end of CR 553 overlap
	Deptford Township	68.36	110.01	Route 41 north (Hurffville Road) – Runnemede	Southern terminus of Route 41
		69.36	111.62	Route 55 – Glassboro, Bellmawr	Exit 56 (Route 55)
		71.90	115.71	CR 534 (Cooper Street) – Clementon
	Westville	74.01	119.11	I-295 north to I-76 – Walt Whitman Bridge	Exit 25 (I-295); access to northbound I-295 and access from southbound I-295
		74.90	120.54	CR 551 south (Broadway)	South end of CR 551 overlap
Camden	Brooklawn	75.20	121.02	US 130 / CR 551 north	Traffic circle; northern terminus; north end of CR 551 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access       Tolled

See also

• Glassboro–Camden Line, a planned light rail line paralleling Route 47 from Brooklawn to Glassboro
•  U.S. Roads portal
•  New Jersey portal

References

1. "Route 47 straight line diagram" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
2. Signage for CR 661 along NJ 47 in Wildwood. Retrieved on 2009-09-14.
3. Google (2009-09-14). "overview of New Jersey Route 47" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
4. Signage for CR 618/NJ 147 alternate route to Wildwoods on NJ 47 southbound. Retrieved on 2009-08-13.
5. "Directions to Bayside State Prison" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Corrections. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
6. Mansnerus, Laura (May 7, 2000). "ROAD AND RAIL; Seeking a Line in the Sand". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
7. Bricketto, Martin C. (April 21, 2006). "State mapping out fixes to Five Points intersection". Gloucester County Times.
8. Snyder, John (1969). "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries 1606-1968"
9. Rand McNally and Co. "Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, South East Michigan, Southern Ontario, Western New York: District No. 4". Rand McNally Official Auto Trails Map, 3rd ed., 1924, pp. 168-169. David Rumsey Historical Map Collection, David Rumsey (curator), Cartography Associates, Accessed Nov 4, 2019, www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~201570~3000600:Auto-Trails-Map--Pennsylvania,-New-.
10. 1917 Annual Report (Report). New Jersey Department of Transportation. 1917.
11. 1923 Annual Report (Report). New Jersey Department of Transportation. 1923.
12. State of New Jersey, Laws of 1927, Chapter 319.
13. 1927 New Jersey Road Map (Map). State of New Jersey. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
14. "Little Known Facts". Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
15. State of New Jersey, Laws of 1938, Chapter 168.
16. "1953 renumbering". New Jersey Department of Highways. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2009. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
17. "New Road Signs Ready in New Jersey". The New York Times. December 16, 1952. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
18. Map of New Jersey (Map). Cartography by General Drafting. Esso. 1970.
19. State Farm Road Atlas (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally. State Farm Insurance. 1983.
20. United States-Canada-Mexico Road Atlas (Map). Rand McNally. 1996.
21. Sokolic, William H. (June 10, 2001). "Wildwood communities experiencing rebirth". The Courier-Post. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
22. "Dennis Road Project Finally Done". Cape May County Herald. July 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
23. Carroll, Lauren (September 20, 2019). "Wildwood to resume construction on Rio Grande Avenue next week". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
24. Rogish, Rachel (March 27, 2019). "Co. Engineer Gives Rio Grande Avenue Update". Cape May County Herald. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
25. Franklin, Chris; Hawk, Tim (July 1, 2020). "Wildwood unveils $13.7M road improvements for 'Beach Ball Boulevard'". NJ.com. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
26. "Wildwood to Keep Rio Grande Avenue". Cape May County Herald. July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.

External links

• New Jersey Roads: Route 47