Overview

The Route 21 (McCarter Highway) study analyzes the highway's needs from Murray Street (milepost 1.10) to Edison Place (milepost 2.15) in Newark. It includes conceptual improvements and relevant community outreach and environmental documentation.

An urban north-south artery, Route 21 (McCarter Highway) serves as the major link from I-78, Route 1 & 9, Route 22 and Newark Liberty International Airport to Newark's central business district. Along with the Northeast Corridor rail line, the highway forms the border between Newark's South Broad Street and Central Business District neighborhoods to the west and the Ironbound neighborhood to the east.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and its consultant team are working with the City of Newark and other local stakeholders to develop a Preferred Alternative that will undergo an environmental assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

The goal of the Preferred Alternative is to improve the safety and operation of Route 21 (McCarter Highway) in an area that has substantial physical and environmental constraints. It will balance the need for better traffic operations with the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods.

Community organizations will help NJDOT to provide information, solicit input and arrive at a concensus for this project. Input from the community will be considered in designing this project. Information will be available online, at meetings and from publications.

(click on image to view an enlarged pdf file 3.4 mb)

Route 21 (McCarter Highway) is an essential corridor for bringing the city's residents and commuters to business, educational, cultural and recreational destinations. While this stretch of Route 21 (McCarter Highway) is primarily home to small commercial properties, the nearby streets that intersect or run parallel to it are residential areas ranging from large apartment houses to single and multi-family residences.

This project has the potential to incorporate aesthetic enhancements at the same time that it improves the safety and operation of traffic.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF files which is available at our state Adobe Acrobat Access page.