Union County sure gets creatively ugly with its shields (both southbound). At that size, the little LGS shield is pointless - it's supposed to span the height of the sign.


Yet another Union County monstrosity, as CR 509 turns from Hillside Ave.


A bit blurry, but you can sort of see the old font in the first photo, one that's dying in Irvington. The second photo is less blurry, also of an old sign, and also southbound.


We jump a bit, from Exit 142 to Exit 148 on the Parkway, and now are on Franklin Ave. SB. in Bloomfield. The route to the Parkway NB is via Montgomery St., cutting the corner of a triangle.


I'll just throw the penultimate survivor of an Essex County Highway System shield in the middle of this page. This until very recently was on Washington St. EB at Franklin St., just east of Bloomfield Ave.; click for closeup.


The stamp on the back of that 509 sign, which Lou Corsaro pointed out to me: L.B. Seely Co., Eatontown NJ, Distributors for Ferro Enameling Co., Oakland, California. Yep, that's enamel from California here. There is still ONE original embossed shield left, and I want it badly.


SB signs at Mountain Ave. and Overlook Terr. in the Brookdale section of Bloomfield, approaching West Passaic Ave. The traffic signal at that intersection isn't terribly odious, but I guess some people can't wait the 30 seconds.


Speaking of West Passaic, here I am NB at that intersection (it's CR 622), where CR 509 turns left to avoid crossing the Garden State Pkwy. The white parts of the sign are cracked, and the numerals are cut out of the shields (instead of being black digits like they should be). This is a more modern version of standard Essex County signage.


The northernmost example yet of directions within arrows, Broad St. SB at Allwood Road (the original NJSHR S-3, back when 3 followed what is now NJ 120 toward Paterson).


Skipping over the short NJ 19 duplex (19 begins while part of 509, then branches off as a freeway), this is where Broad St. turns into Grove St. in Clifton. CR 509 SB simply follows the "divided highway" (really a small concrete island) and then turns left onto NJ 19 SB, whereas 509 NB has to use a left ramp a little further north. The straight arrow is telling traffic to follow Grove St. to the US 46 EB onramp, although that onramp has unfortunately been closed for repairs for many months.


The beginning of Valley Rd. SB from Marshall St., which is what Broad becomes in Paterson. Starting in Kenilworth (Parkway Exit 138), CR 509 never strays far from the original intent of the Parkway, following the GSP faithfully to Exit 155P and then the intended Paterson spur (but NJ 19 was built as a free highway) right on up. When NJ 19 dies and CR 509 is left alone, it quickly and quietly ends as well. Until we get to that point, though, NJ 19 and I-80 signs (the latter being reached via the former) will be omnipresent. Look! Behind you! Another one!


Oh, and of course, there will be Parkway shields as well, this older one on Slater St. at Marshall St., which is what CR 509 SB uses to jog over from Main St.


The Main St. bridge across the Passaic River, under construction but still CR 509.

Onto NJ 19 and the NJ 19/CR 509 duplex

Onto the Garden State Parkway
Onto NJ 3
To US 46
To I-80
Into Bloomfield
Into Essex County
Back to NJ Roads
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