Northbound on Ocean Drive (CR 621) in Wildwood Crest
Ocean Drive begins in Cape May Point, and its southern terminus is split among two separate roads. One branch of Ocean Drive begins on Sunset Boulevard (CR 606) at its dead end and travels for 0.5 miles. The second branch of Ocean Drive begins on Cape Avenue (CR 651) at Lincoln Avenue, and travels for 0.7 miles. The two branches meet at an intersection, and Ocean Drive continues along CR 606 into Cape May. At the end of CR 606, Ocean Drive turns south along Broadway (CR 626), then heads east along Beach Avenue (CR 604). Ocean Drive travels along the coast to Pittsburgh Avenue (CR 622), and heads north along CR 622 to its terminus at Washington Street (Route 109), and continues north again.[3][4]
It crosses the Cape May Canal into Lower Township and makes a right turn onto CR 621. At this point, Ocean Drive signage begins. It then crosses over the Middle Thorofare Bridge (toll southbound) and continues north into Wildwood Crest. Ocean Drive follows CR 621 through the length of The Wildwoods, passing through Wildwood Crest, Wildwood (where it intersects Route 147), and finally continuing into North Wildwood. In North Wildwood, CR 621 ends and Ocean Drive follows Route 147 into Middle Township.[3][4]
View north on Ocean Drive (CR 619) between 40th Street and 39th Street in downtown Sea Isle City
It turns right onto CR 619 and crosses over the Grassy Sound Bridge (toll northbound) and then the Stone Harbor Bridge into Stone Harbor. Ocean Drive follows CR 619 north through Stone Harbor's 3rd Avenue and into Avalon on Ocean Drive (at 80th Street. 3rd Avenue turns into Ocean Drive). It crosses over the Townsends Inlet Bridge (toll southbound) and continues north through Sea Isle City. It then heads through the Strathmere section of Upper Township before crossing the Strathmere Bascule Bridge (toll northbound) and Corson's Inlet Bridge into Ocean City.[3][4]
Ocean Drive continues to follow CR 619 north through Ocean City before meeting CR 623. It follows CR 623 for several blocks to the northwest on 34th Street before following CR 656 (Bay Avenue) through Downtown Ocean City, where it crosses the intersection with 9th Street, which provides access to Route 152. Ocean Drive crosses the Ocean City-Longport Bridge (toll southbound) over the Great Egg Harbor Bay into Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County.[3][4]
Upon entering Atlantic County, Ocean Drive follows the northern approach of the Ocean City-Longport Bridge to Route 152. At this point, Ocean Drive signage ends. It then makes a right turn on Route 152 and follows it to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway into Longport. Ocean Drive heads north on Atlantic Avenue through Longport, Margate City and Ventnor City. Atlantic Avenue continues into Atlantic City, and Ocean Drive terminates at the end of Atlantic Avenue in Uptown Atlantic City at North Maine Avenue.[3][4]
Tolls
Middle Thorofare Bridge
The five toll bridges on Ocean Drive charge $2.50 for cars, which can be paid in cash or with E-ZPass. The Middle Thorofare, Townsends Inlet, and Ocean City-Longport bridges have tolls in the southbound direction while the Grassy Sound and Corsons Inlet bridges have northbound tolls.[5] The tolls were slated to rise to $2.50 in February 2023 and $3 in February 2024.[6]
When the Ocean Drive bridges were first built, the toll for cars was 25 cents, charged in both directions at the Middle Thorofare, Grassy Sound, Townsends Inlet, Corsons Inlet, and Ocean City-Longport bridges. Toll hikes occurred in 1978, 1984, and 1988 in order to fund construction projects to the bridges. Following the rebuilding of the Ocean City-Longport Bridge in 2002, that bridge was converted to one-way tolling, with a $1 toll charged to cars in the southbound direction. The other bridges would be converted to one-way tolling by 2002.[7] Tolls were raised to $1.50 on February 1, 2009.[6]
History
Northbound on Ocean Drive (CR 619) past CR 601 in Avalon
The Cape May County Bridge Commission was created by the county in 1934 in order to build a series of toll bridges linking the coastal communities of Cape May County. With the creation of this agency, the bridges were to receive federal funding through the New Deal. The road would mostly be designated over existing streets and bridges, however, some new ones would have to be built. Work on these began in 1939. In June 1940, these opened, and included the Middle Thorofare Bridge, the Strathmere Bascule Bridge, and Townsends Inlet Bridge. Soon after, the alignment through Cape May was competed The rest of the original construction was delayed because of World War II. In 1946, the Ocean City-Longport Bridge, predating the road by a few years (it was built in 1927) and built as part of an entirely separate project by a separate agency that when bankrupt in 1934, was purchased by the commission and designated as part of the road.[7] From 1947 to 1948, the Corsons Inlet Bridge was built. With the completion of this span, the road and provided a continuous link between Cape May and Atlantic City.[8]
In 1947, a major renovation began on the Ocean City-Longport Bridge, the first such work on the road. This was necessary due to the bridge being such a financial failure that the previous owner had lacked the funds necessary to undertake regular maintenance, resulting in the bridge becoming structurally deficient after only 20 years. The work consisted of replacing the deck, adding new hand rails, reconstructing the sidewalk from a single wide one into two smaller ones, installing marine cables. The last of the work was completed in 1950.[7][8]
In 1952, most of Ocean Drive was designated as part of several county routes. The route between Sunset Beach and Cape May became CR 6 while the spur into Cape May Point became CR 51. Within Cape May, Ocean Drive became CR 26, CR 4, and CR 22 before it joined US 9. Past US 9, it became CR 21 and part of CR 585 before heading through Wildwood Crest and Wildwood along Atlantic Avenue. In North Wildwood, the route became CR 7/CR 585 before turning north into Middle Township and following CR 18/CR 585. Ocean Drive turned north and followed CR 30 through Stone Harbor and Avalon and CR 19 through Sea Isle City and into Ocean City. In Ocean City, Ocean Drive continued north from CR 19 onto Wesley Avenue and Gardens Parkway.[3][9]
The portion across the Cape May Canal between Cape May Canal and Lower Township was initially designated as part of Route 4 before that route was removed as part of the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering, witch saw state routes concurrent with more important highways removed in an effort to simplify identification.[10][11][12]
In 1955, the Ocean City-Longport Bridge received a minor improvement; its operator room was renovated with new doors and windows, while a steel deck was installed on the draw span.[8] This made it consistent with the other bridges.
The current Cape May Canal Bridge, a girder bridge, was opened to traffic in 1960, replacing the original Cape May Canal Bridge, which was swing bridge from the early 1940s, and had resulted in major congestion. The bridge was initially meant to be named, though this did not occur.[13]
In 1965, a replacement of the draw bridge connecting to Longport began construction. This was completed by 1967. It is designated as the JFK Memorial Bridge.
Ocean Drive (CR 656) northbound past CR 623 in Ocean City
The state proposed transferring the maintenance of a portion in Atlantic County to NJDOT in 1968. This was approved in 1969.[citation needed] With this, a short portion of road in Altantic County that was formerly designated as CR 20,[3][14] was redesignated as Route 152.[15]
In 1971, the portion of road leading into North Wildwood was designated as part of Route 147. In addition, multiple changes were made to the county route designations. CR 585 had been removed from the road and the remaining county routes in Cape May and Atlantic counties were given numbers in the 600-series. As a result, CR 6 became CR 606, CR 51 became CR 651, CR 26 became CR 626, CR 4 became CR 604, CR 22 became CR 622, CR 21 and CR 7 became CR 621, CR 30 and CR 19 became CR 619,and CR 29 became CR 629.[16]
The portion of road between Cape May Canal and Lower Township was to be redesignated as Route 109, with US 9 being realigned to travel to Delaware; this occurred in 1972.[17]
In 1977, the original toll plaza at the Ocean City-Longport Bridge was demolished and a wider one built in its place. This was done to meet increased traffic demands.[8]
In 1991, the Grassy Sound Bridge was given an upgraded draw opening system.[8]
In 1993, the Ocean City-Longport Bridge was repainted, given a upgraded draw opening system, had its deadman replaced, and was given a modernized electric system on top of replaced safety gates and warning signals.[8]
In 1994, the current fixed-span steel girder bridge on the section concurrent with NJ 147 was built.[18] This was done to protect the road from flooding, as well as so that the only direct connection to North Wildwood was four lanes wide.[citation needed] As a result of the bridge replacement, the road was realigned off the former drawbridge, and the original alignment became CR 665.[19] This project also rebuilt the intersection between CR 621 and NJ 147 to meet with the new alignment.[citation needed] By this point, by the Route 147 concurrency had been extended to New York Avenue in North Wildwood, replacing a short portion of CR 621. In addition, the road was realigned as to travel on CR 621 for its entire length in the Wildwoods, while also being designated to run with CR 656 through the northern part of Ocean City.[20]
In 1998, major renovations were made to the Corsons Inlet Bridge. Additionally, the Middle Thorofare Bridge, Strathmere Bascule Bridge, and Townsend’s Inlet Bridge were all repainted, and steel and fender repairs were made to all five toll bridges.[7]
As part of improvements to the Rio Grande Avenue, the intersection with NJ 47 in Wildwood received improvements to make it reminisce the doo wop atmosphere the town is known for in 2001.[21]
By the late 1980s, it had become apparent the Ocean city-Longport bridge was far to structurally unsafe for continued operation, and needed to be replaced. The new bridge began construction in 1999, and opened in September 2002.[22] The new bridge is a fixed span high rise structure. Unlike the old bridge and other bridges along the route, its toll plaza is located on the road rather than the bridge itself. A portion of the old bridge became a fishing pier. The bridge featured a new toll plaza that only served one direction. All of the other bridges along the route were also converted to one way tolling by May 2005.[7]
In November 2005, major renovations were completed at the Townsends Inlet Bridge and Corsons Inlet Bridge, while all four of the bascule toll bridges were given reconstructed toll sheds and minor repairs.[7]
On November 7, 2009, the Cape May Canal Bridge was officially named the Cape May County Veterans Memorial Bridge, honoring all veterans.[13]
The Middle Thoroughfare Bridge underwent emergency scour repairs following Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.[23]
In 2013, the Grassy Sound Bridge became toll free during nighttime hours. This was done in an effort to save money that would have otherwise been spent on toll collectors. There is little demand or the bridge at night.
In 2016, the intersection with NJ 109 was rebuilt to increase safety.
In 2017 the Cape May County Freeholders approved the purchase of E-ZPass equipment to be installed on the five toll bridges.[24] The introduction of E-ZPass was originally planned for June 2017 but was then delayed multiple times. E-ZPass was implemented at the Ocean City-Longport Bridge on April 30, 2018, the Middle Thorofafe Bridge on May 7, 2018, the Grassy Sound Bridge on May 14, 2018, and the Corsons Inlet Bridge and the Townsends Inlet Bridge on May 21, 2018.[25][26] With this, tickets were discontinued.
On September 17, 2018, the Townsends Inlet Bridge closed for a $8.6 million project that reconstructed part of the bridge. Work was expected to open to traffic on May 22, 2019,[27] however, this project was postponed due to more extensive work needing to be done.[28] The original Townsends Inlet Bridge reopened on July 25, 2019.[29]
In 2020, work was completed on renovations to the Middle Thorofare Bridge. The fender system was rebuilt, new piles and walers were built, and the bridge railing was replaced.[30]
On August 18, 2024, the Middle Thorofare Bridge was closed after the drive shaft motor that is used to open the bridge failed and could not be repaired. The Cape May County Bridge Commission looked for a replacement for the motor, and the closure was expected to last at least several weeks.[31] However, on August 21, 2024, the bridge reopened to traffic after getting a new motor and repairs were made.[32]
In November 2024, the Cape May County Bridge Commission announced it was planning to implement all-electronic tolling along the its five toll bridges, with them supporting E-ZPass or toll-by-plate. It is set to go live on April 1, 2025.[33]
In May 2021, plans were announced to replace the Townsends Inlet Bridge with a new girder bridge. Despite its numerous repairs, it is deteriorating at a rapid rate, and is functionally obsolete.[34] As of 2024, this has been expanded to include replacing the Corsons Inlet Bridge as well, as it is unable to lift its draw due to serious deterioration, this is in spite of being the second newest.[35] There have also been plans proposed to replace the Middle Thoroughfare Bridge and Grassy Sound Bridge with new girder spans, as well as to replace the fenders on the Ocean city-Longport Bridge. There are not as urgently needed, though are likely to be necessary in the future.[23]
Cape May County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Much of the county is located on the Cape May peninsula, bound by the Delaware Bay to its west and the Atlantic Ocean to its south and east. Adjacent to the Atlantic coastline are five barrier islands that have been built up as seaside resorts. A consistently popular summer destination with 30 miles (48 km) of beaches, Cape May County attracts vacationers from New Jersey and surrounding states, with the summer population exceeding 750,000. Tourism generates annual revenues of about $6.6 billion as of 2018, making it the county's single largest industry. The associated leisure and hospitality industries are Cape May's largest employers. Its county seat is the Cape May Court House section of Middle Township. The county is part of both the Jersey Shore and South Jersey regions of the state.
Route 47 is a state highway in the southern part of New Jersey. It runs 75.2 mi (121.02 km) from Atlantic Avenue in Wildwood, Cape May County, north to US 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 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.
Route 49 is a state highway in the southern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It runs 53.80 mi (86.58 km) from an interchange with the New Jersey Turnpike, Interstate 295 (I-295), and U.S. Route 40 (US 40) in Deepwater, Salem County, southeast to Route 50/County Route 557 in Tuckahoe, Cape May County. The route serves Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic, and Cape May counties, passing through rural areas and the communities of Salem, Bridgeton, and Millville along the way. It is a two-lane, undivided road for most of its length.
Route 109 is a 3.06-mile (4.92 km) state highway located in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. The route runs from Jackson Street in Cape May north to an intersection with U.S. Route 9 in Lower Township. It crosses one of two road bridges over the Cape May Canal and provides access to the southern end of the Garden State Parkway and County Route 621 as well as to Cape May. Only the section of road in Lower Township is state maintained; the rest is maintained by Cape May County and signed as County Route 633, which extends 0.34 mi (0.55 km) past the southern terminus along Jackson Street and Perry Street to CR 626 in West Cape May.
The Atlantic City Expressway, officially numbered, but unsigned, as Route 446 and abbreviated A.C. Expressway, ACE, or ACX, and known locally as the Expressway, is a 44.1-mile (70.97 km) controlled-access toll road in the U.S. state of New Jersey, managed and operated by the South Jersey Transportation Authority. It runs from Route 42 from Turnersville southeast to Atlantic City. The Atlantic City Expressway is signed as east–west, though the mileage and exits decrease as if one is travelling north–south. It connects Philadelphia and the surrounding Philadelphia metro area with Atlantic City and other Jersey Shore resorts, and also serves other South Jersey communities, including Hammonton and Mays Landing. The expressway intersects many major roads, including Route 73 in Winslow Township, Route 54 in Hammonton, Route 50 in Hamilton Township, the Garden State Parkway in Egg Harbor Township, US 9 in Pleasantville, and the Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector near the eastern terminus in Atlantic City.
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, New York.
Route 147 is a 4.20-mile (6.76 km) state highway located in Cape May County in New Jersey, United States. It is a short connector between U.S. Route 9 in Middle Township and North Wildwood at New York Avenue. West of US 9, the road continues to Route 47 as County Route 618 ; this route along with Route 147 provides an alternate route to The Wildwoods from Route 47. East of New York Avenue, the route continues south through The Wildwoods as CR 621. The route passes through mostly marshland along its journey, intersecting the Garden State Parkway at a partial interchange and CR 619.
Route 152 is a 3.16-mile-long (5.09 km) state highway in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. Route 152 begins at Bay Avenue in Somers Point as a continuation of County Route 620 (CR 620). The route heads along two causeways, ending at the foot of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in Egg Harbor Township, where the state turns maintenance back to Atlantic County as CR 629 to Longport.
E-ZPass is an electronic toll collection system used on toll roads, toll bridges, and toll tunnels in the Eastern, Midwestern, and Southeastern United States. The E-ZPass Interagency Group (IAG) consists of member agencies in several states, which use the same technology and allow travelers to use the same transponder on toll roads throughout the network.
County Route 585 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from MacArthur Boulevard in Somers Point to Absecon Boulevard in Absecon.
County Route 563 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends 43.87 miles (70.60 km) from CR 629 in Margate City, Atlantic County north to Route 72 in Woodland Township, Burlington County. In Atlantic County, the road runs through a mix of suburban and rural areas, passing through Northfield, Egg Harbor Township, and Egg Harbor City. North of Egg Harbor City into Burlington County, CR 563 runs through the heavily forested Pine Barrens. Between Margate and Northfield, CR 563 runs along the Downbeach Express, a toll bridge that is maintained by Ole Hansen & Sons, Inc.
U.S. Route 9 (US 9) is a United States Numbered Highway in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, running from Laurel, Delaware, to Champlain, New York. In New Jersey, the route runs 166.80 miles (268.44 km) from the Cape May–Lewes Ferry terminal in North Cape May, Cape May County, where the ferry carries US 9 across the Delaware Bay to Lewes, Delaware, north to the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, Bergen County, where the route along with Interstate 95 (I-95) and US 1 continue into New York City. US 9 is the longest U.S. Highway in the state.
Ludlam Island is a barrier island in southern New Jersey, on which Sea Isle City and Strathmere, a part of Upper Township, are located.
U.S. Route 322 is a spur of U.S. Route 22, running from Cleveland, Ohio, east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The easternmost segment of the route in New Jersey runs 62.64 miles (100.81 km) from the Commodore Barry Bridge over the Delaware River in Logan Township, Gloucester County, where it continues southeast to Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City, Atlantic County. The portion of the route between the Commodore Barry Bridge and Route 42 in Williamstown is mostly a two-lane undivided road that is concurrently signed with County Route 536 (CR 536), passing through Mullica Hill and Glassboro. From Williamstown, US 322 follows the Black Horse Pike, a four-lane road, southeast to Atlantic City. In Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, US 322 forms a concurrency with U.S. Route 40, continuing with that route all the way to Atlantic City. US 322 intersects several major roads including U.S. Route 130 and Interstate 295 (I-295) in Logan Township, the New Jersey Turnpike in Woolwich Township, Route 55 in Harrison Township, Route 42 in Williamstown, Route 50 and U.S. Route 40 in Hamilton Township, the Garden State Parkway in Egg Harbor Township, and U.S. Route 9 in Pleasantville.
U.S. Route 30 is a U.S. highway running from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the U.S. state of New Jersey, US 30 runs 58.26 miles (93.76 km) from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge at the Delaware River in Camden, Camden County, while concurrent with Interstate 676 (I-676), southeast to Virginia Avenue in Atlantic City, Atlantic County. Most of the route in New Jersey is known as the White Horse Pike and is four lanes wide. The road runs through mostly developed areas in Camden County, with surroundings becoming more rural as the road approaches Atlantic County. US 30 runs through several towns including Collingswood, Berlin, Hammonton, Egg Harbor City, and Absecon.
U.S. Route 40 is a U.S. highway running from Silver Summit, Utah east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The easternmost segment of the route runs 64.32 miles (103.51 km) through the southern part of New Jersey between the Delaware Memorial Bridge over the Delaware River in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where it continues into Delaware along with Interstate 295 (I-295), east to Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City, Atlantic County. The route passes through Salem, Gloucester, and Atlantic counties as well as the boroughs of Woodstown, Elmer, Newfield, and Buena. The route encounters a mix of rural, suburban, and urban environs throughout its journey across South Jersey.
The Southern Shore Region is located in the South Jersey region of New Jersey. The area includes Cape May County and Cumberland County. The coast is along the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay, while the inland areas are part of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. It is one of seven tourism regions established by the New Jersey State Department of Tourism; the others are the Gateway Region, Greater Atlantic City, the Delaware River Region, the Shore Region, Central Jersey Region, and the Skylands Region.
Great Egg Harbor Bay is a bay between Atlantic and Cape May counties along the southern New Jersey coast. The name derives from Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen May's description of the plentiful birds laying eggs, naming the waters Eyren Haven, which translates to Egg Harbor in English. The bay has a total area of 8.5 sq mi (22 km2). Its depth ranges from shallow waters in the southern extension, called Peck Bay, to a 33 ft (10 m) deep channel.
Townsends Inlet is an inlet connecting Townsend Sound with the Atlantic Ocean in Cape May County, New Jersey.
↑ "397". ROUTE NO. ----. Beginning at or in the vicinity of the westerly abutment line of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge over Risley Channel in Atlantic county and thence proceeding toward Somers Point in said county and being presently designated as Atlantic County Route No. 20. New Jersey State Legislature. 1968.
↑ State of New Jersey, Laws of 1971, Chapter 23, Section 1.
↑ Federal Highway Administration (2012). "NBI Structure Number: 0517151". National Bridge Inventory. Federal Highway Administration.
↑ "Route 147 Straight Line Diagram"(PDF). Ewing, New Jersey: New Jersey Department of Transportation. 2007. p.2. Archived from the original(PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
↑ United States-Canada-Mexico Road Atlas (Map). Rand McNally. 1996.
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