View source for U.S. Route 46

{{short description|Highway in New Jersey}}
{{redirect2|New Jersey Route 6|NJ 6|the Route 6 that existed before 1927|New Jersey Route 6 (pre-1927)|the congressional district|New Jersey's 6th congressional district}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox road
|state = NJ
|type = US
|route = 46
|alternate_name = United Spanish–American War Veterans Memorial Highway
|maint = [[New Jersey Department of Transportation|NJDOT]] and [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey|PANYNJ]]
|map = {{maplink-road|from=U.S. Route 46.map}}
|map_custom = yes
|map_notes = US&nbsp;46 highlighted in red
|length_mi = 75.34
|length_ref = <ref name=SLD>{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000046__-.pdf |title = US 46 straight line diagram |publisher = [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] |access-date = March 17, 2020 }}</ref>
|established = 1936
|direction_a = West
|direction_b = East
|terminus_a = {{Jct|state=NJ|I|80|NJ|94}} in [[Columbia, New Jersey|Columbia]]
|terminus_b = {{Jct|state=NY|I|95|US|1-9}} at the [[New York (state)|New York]] state line
|browse = {{Us browse|previous_type=US|previous_route=45|next_type=US|next_route=48|route=[[List of United States Numbered Highways|US]]}}{{pa browse|previous_type=PA|previous_route=45|route=[[Pennsylvania State Route System|PA]]|next_type=PA|next_route=46}}
{{nj browse|previous_type=NJ|previous_route=45|route=[[State highways in New Jersey|NJ]]|next_type=NJ-old|next_route=46}}
{{nj browse|previous_type=NJ|previous_route=5|route=Route 6|next_type=NJ|next_route=7}}
|counties = [[Warren County, New Jersey|Warren]], [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris]], [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex]], [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic]], [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen]]
|junction =
*{{Jct|state=NJ|I|80|US|206}} in [[Netcong, New Jersey|Netcong]]
*{{Jct|state=NJ|NJ|15}} in [[Dover, New Jersey|Dover]]
*{{Jct|state=NJ|I|287|US|202|CR|511}} in [[Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey|Parsippany–Troy Hills]]
*{{Jct|state=NJ|I|80|I|287}} in Parsippany–Troy Hills
*{{Jct|state=NJ|I|80|NJ|23}} in [[Wayne, New Jersey|Wayne]]
*{{Jct|state=NJ|NJ|21}} in [[Clifton, New Jersey|Clifton]]
*{{Jct|state=NJ|GSP2||NJ|20|CR|630|county3=Passaic}} in Clifton
*{{Jct|state=NJ|NJ|17}} in [[Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey|Hasbrouck Heights]]
*{{Jct|state=NJ|I-Toll|95|NJTP2||CR|39|county3=Bergen}} in [[Ridgefield Park, New Jersey|Ridgefield Park]]
*{{Jct|state=NJ|US|1-9}} in [[Palisades Park, New Jersey|Palisades Park]]
*{{Jct|state=NJ|I|95|NJTP||US|9W|NJ|4}} in [[Fort Lee, New Jersey|Fort Lee]]
}}
'''U.S. Route&nbsp;46''' ('''US&nbsp;46''') is an east–west [[U.S. Highway]] completely within the state of [[New Jersey]], and runs for {{convert|75.34|mi|km|2|abbr=on}}. The west end is at an interchange with [[Interstate 80 in New Jersey|Interstate&nbsp;80]] (I-80) and [[New Jersey Route 94|Route&nbsp;94]] in [[Columbia, New Jersey|Columbia]], [[Warren County, New Jersey|Warren County]], on the [[Delaware River]]. The east end is in the middle of the [[George Washington Bridge]] over the [[Hudson River]] in [[Fort Lee, New Jersey|Fort Lee]], [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]], while the route [[concurrency (road)|runs concurrently]] with [[Interstate 95 in New Jersey|I-95]] and [[U.S. Route 1/9|US&nbsp;1/9]]. Throughout much of its length, US&nbsp;46 is closely paralleled by I-80. US&nbsp;46 is a major local and suburban route, with some sections built to or near [[Controlled-access highway|freeway]] standards and many other sections [[arterial road|arterials]] with [[jughandle]]s. The route runs through several communities in the northern part of New Jersey, including [[Hackettstown, New Jersey|Hackettstown]], [[Netcong, New Jersey|Netcong]], [[Dover, New Jersey|Dover]], [[Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey|Parsippany–Troy Hills]], [[Wayne, New Jersey|Wayne]], [[Clifton, New Jersey|Clifton]], [[Ridgefield Park, New Jersey|Ridgefield Park]], [[Palisades Park, New Jersey|Palisades Park]], and [[Fort Lee, New Jersey|Fort Lee]]. It [[List of crossings of the Upper Passaic River|crosses over the Upper Passaic River]] at [[Route 46 Passaic River Bridge|several points]]. The road has been ceremonially named the '''United Spanish–American War Veterans Memorial Highway'''.<ref name=SLD/>

What is now US&nbsp;46 was originally designated as three separate routes. Pre-1927 Route&nbsp;5 was created in 1916 to follow the road from [[Delaware, Warren County, New Jersey|Delaware]] to [[Denville, New Jersey|Denville]], pre-1927 Route&nbsp;12 in 1917 to follow the route between Hackettstown and [[Paterson, New Jersey|Paterson]], and [[Pre-1927 Route 10 (New Jersey)|pre-1927 Route&nbsp;10]] in 1917 to run between Paterson and [[Edgewater, New Jersey|Edgewater]]. In 1927, '''Route&nbsp;6''' was legislated to run from Delaware east to the George Washington Bridge, replacing portions of Routes&nbsp;5 and&nbsp;12 and paralleling the former Route&nbsp;10, which itself became [[New Jersey Route 5|Route&nbsp;5]] and [[New Jersey Route 10N|Route&nbsp;10N]], the latter being shortly removed from the state highway system. In 1936, US&nbsp;46 was designated to run from [[U.S. Route 611]] in [[Portland, Pennsylvania]], east to the George Washington Bridge. The route replaced [[Pennsylvania Route 987 (1920s)|Pennsylvania Route&nbsp;987]] (PA&nbsp;987) to the [[Darlington's Bridge at Delaware Station|Delaware Bridge]] over the Delaware River, and from there followed Route&nbsp;6 across New Jersey. In 1953, the Route&nbsp;6 designation was removed from US&nbsp;46 in New Jersey, and later that year, the route was realigned to end at US&nbsp;611 in Columbia, New Jersey, replacing a part of Route&nbsp;94. US&nbsp;611 had been brought into New Jersey by two new bridges over the Delaware River, following a freeway between them that became a part of I-80. In 1965, US&nbsp;611 was aligned back into its original Pennsylvania route (which from 1953 until 1965 was [[U.S. Route 611 Alternate (Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania)|US&nbsp;611 Alternate]]), and US&nbsp;46's western terminus remained as an interchange ramp with I-80 and Route&nbsp;94. Its number is out of place since US&nbsp;46 lies north of US&nbsp;22, US&nbsp;30 and US&nbsp;40. US 46 is the shortest 2-digit US Highway.

==Route description==

===Warren County===
[[File:2018-06-28 15 37 30 View west along U.S. Route 46 (Main Street) at Grand Avenue in Hackettstown, Warren County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|left|View west along US&nbsp;46 at Grand Avenue in Hackettstown]]
US&nbsp;46 begins at a complex interchange with [[Interstate 80 in New Jersey|I-80]] and [[New Jersey Route 94|Route&nbsp;94]] near the [[Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge]] leading to [[Pennsylvania Route 611|PA&nbsp;611]] in the community of [[Columbia, New Jersey|Columbia]] in [[Knowlton Township, New Jersey|Knowlton Township]], Warren County. From this interchange, the route heads southeast along the east bank of the [[Delaware River]] as a four-lane [[dual carriageway|divided highway]] briefly before narrowing into a two-lane undivided road. The road passes through wooded mountainous areas before reaching the community of [[Delaware, Warren County, New Jersey|Delaware]]. In Delaware, US&nbsp;46 intersects [[New Jersey Route 163|Route&nbsp;163]], the approach to the former Delaware Bridge, before passing a few commercial establishments. From here, the route continues alongside the river, passing more rural areas of woods and farms with occasional development as it enters [[White Township, New Jersey|White Township]]. US&nbsp;46 makes a sharp turn to the east away from the Delaware River, widening into a four-lane divided highway again as it bypasses the town of [[Belvidere, New Jersey|Belvidere]] and has a few businesses on it. The road turns back into a two-lane undivided road and comes to a crossroads with [[County Route 519 (New Jersey)|County Route&nbsp;519]] (CR&nbsp;519). Past this intersection, US&nbsp;46 continues through rural sectors with some business before coming to the northern terminus of [[New Jersey Route 31|Route&nbsp;31]].<ref name=SLD/><ref name=Google>{{google maps |url = http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=40.928,+-75.094&daddr=US-46+E+to:US-46+E+to:Main+St%2FUS-46+E+to:US-46+E+to:US-46+E+to:US-46+E+to:US-46+E+to:US-46+E+to:US-46+E+to:US-46+E+to:George+Washington+Bridge&geocode=FQCDcAIdECiG-w%3BFRETbwIdpquH-w%3BFaL-bwIdjkuM-w%3BFerVbwIdcOON-w%3BFfj0bwIdsBCP-w%3BFeTCbwIdqAOQ-w%3BFTyEbwId4vqQ-w%3BFdTDbwIdglSS-w%3BFVbTbwIdqKCT-w%3BFfrUbwIdmq2U-w%3BFQPpbwIdOGiV-w%3BFcZYbwId-JSX-ykjaltFvPbCiTGFpjdhsoDE1Q&hl=en&mra=ls&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10&sll=40.854072,-73.985624&sspn=0.029669,0.055189&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=9 |title = Overview of U.S. Route&nbsp;46 |access-date = November 24, 2009 }}</ref>

From this point, the route continues east through dense woods prior to turning northeast into [[Liberty Township, New Jersey|Liberty Township]]. The road passes through the community of [[Townsbury, New Jersey|Townsbury]] before crossing into [[Independence Township, New Jersey|Independence Township]]. Here, US&nbsp;46 enters more agricultural areas and turns east again, with development increasing along the road as it passes through [[Great Meadows-Vienna, New Jersey|Great Meadows-Vienna]]. It continues southeast before entering [[Hackettstown, New Jersey|Hackettstown]], where the road becomes Main Street. In Hackettstown, the route crosses [[NJ Transit]]'s [[Morristown Line]] and [[Montclair-Boonton Line]] before coming to an intersection with [[County Route 517 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;517]]. Here, CR&nbsp;517 forms a [[concurrency (road)|concurrency]] with US&nbsp;46, and the two routes continue southeast through the downtown area. At the intersection with the northern terminus of [[New Jersey Route 182|Route&nbsp;182]], CR&nbsp;517 splits from US&nbsp;46 by heading south on that route while US&nbsp;46 continues to the east.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=Google/>

===Morris and Essex counties===
[[File:2018-07-30 10 04 40 View west along U.S. Route 46 just west of Hercules Road and Hillside Avenue in Roxbury Township, Morris County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|US&nbsp;46 westbound in Roxbury Township]]
Shortly after the Route&nbsp;182 intersection, the route crosses the [[Musconetcong River]] into [[Washington Township, Morris County, New Jersey|Washington Township]], Morris County, where it heads back into rural surroundings. About a mile into Morris County, US&nbsp;46 divides and becomes a four-lane highway with a wide median. The road passes a median [[park and ride]] lot as it turns north and crosses over a mountain. It continues into [[Mount Olive Township, New Jersey|Mount Olive Township]], taking a sharp turn to the east before the road becomes undivided while remaining four lanes. The road passes rural areas and development as it goes through [[Budd Lake, New Jersey|Budd Lake]]. In this community, the route passes to the south of the namesake lake as it begins to turn northeast and then north. The road heads northeast again before it enters [[Netcong, New Jersey|Netcong]] and becomes a divided highway as it comes to an interchange with I-80/[[U.S. Route 206|US&nbsp;206]]. Within this interchange, the lanes of US&nbsp;46 split. From this point, the route narrows back into a two-lane undivided road and runs through developed areas of Netcong a short distance to the south of NJ Transit's Morristown Line/Montclair-Boonton Line. US&nbsp;46 meets [[New Jersey Route 183|Route&nbsp;183]] at an intersection (formerly Netcong Circle) before widening into a four-lane undivided road and leaving Netcong for [[Roxbury, New Jersey|Roxbury]]. Here, the road passes through wooded areas, meeting I-80 at another interchange and briefly becoming a divided highway at the crossing under I-80 and again at the actual interchange. US&nbsp;46 remains a divided highway with [[jughandle]]s past this point, continuing southeast into the [[Ledgewood, New Jersey|Ledgewood]] area.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=Google/>

At a three-way intersection which was formerly [[Ledgewood Circle]], [[New Jersey Route 10|Route&nbsp;10]] begins straight while US&nbsp;46 turns left to continue east as a two-lane undivided road through more development, crossing the [[Dover and Rockaway River Railroad]]'s [[High Bridge Branch]]. Upon crossing the Dover and Rockaway River Railroad's Chester Branch and passing through [[Kenvil, New Jersey|Kenvil]], the road enters [[Mine Hill, New Jersey|Mine Hill]], where the road becomes three lanes with two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane. The route passes through [[Wharton, New Jersey|Wharton]] at its southern tip before continuing into [[Dover, New Jersey|Dover]]. US&nbsp;46 narrows back into two lanes, becoming Blackwell Street as it passes St. Clare's Dover General Hospital. The road widens to four lanes as Blackwell Street splits from it at an eastbound exit and westbound entrance prior to a bridge over the [[Rockaway River]] and NJ Transit's Morristown Line/Montclair-Boonton Line. A short distance later, US&nbsp;46 intersects the southern terminus of [[New Jersey Route 15|Route&nbsp;15]] and passes over the Dover and Rockaway River Railroad's Dover and Rockaway Branch. From here, the route continues on McFarland Street. US&nbsp;46 continues east, entering [[Rockaway Township, New Jersey|Rockaway Township]], where there is an intersection with [[County Route 513 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;513]]. Past CR&nbsp;513, the road narrows to two lanes as it heads northeast through [[Rockaway, New Jersey|Rockaway Borough]] before turning east and crossing the Rockaway River and the Dover and Rockaway River Railroad's Dover and Rockaway Branch. The route continues northeast, entering wooded residential areas as it heads into [[Denville, New Jersey|Denville]] and has a limited interchange with I-80, where it can only be entered to and from the westbound lane and where US&nbsp;46 east can only be entered from the eastbound lane and to the eastbound lane. As it crosses under I-80, US&nbsp;46 becomes a six-lane divided highway.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=Google/>

[[File:2018-07-30 09 07 25 View west along U.S. Route 46 just west of Chapin Road in Montville Township, Morris County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|left|US&nbsp;46 westbound past Route&nbsp;159 in Montville Township]]
The road is lined with a moderate number of businesses, most with [[right-in/right-out]] (RIRO) access, as it continues southeast through Denville, narrowing to four lanes before coming to an interchange with [[New Jersey Route 53|Route&nbsp;53]]. From this interchange, the route continues east before curving southeast and entering [[Mountain Lakes, New Jersey|Mountain Lakes]]. In Mountain Lakes, US&nbsp;46 crosses under the Montclair-Boonton Line before continuing into [[Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey|Parsippany–Troy Hills]]. Here, the road comes to [[U.S. Route 202 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;202]]/[[County Route 511 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;511]] before passing under [[Interstate 287|I-287]]. At this point, the westbound direction of US&nbsp;46 has a ramp to northbound Interstate 287, with access to and from southbound I-287 provided by US&nbsp;202. Past the I-287 crossing, the road comes to another partial interchange with I-80 near the western terminus of [[Interstate 280 (New Jersey)|I-280]]. Past this interchange, US&nbsp;46 widens to six lanes and enters [[Montville, New Jersey|Montville]]. In Montville, the route narrows back to four lanes, and has traffic light-controlled intersections with New Road and Hook Mountain Road/Chapin Road. It then has an interchange with [[New Jersey Route 159|Route&nbsp;159]] and makes a turn to the northeast. Upon [[Route 46 Passaic River Bridge|crossing the Passaic River]] at [[Pine Brook, Morris County, New Jersey|Pine Brook]], US&nbsp;46 enters [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex County]] into [[Fairfield Township, Essex County, New Jersey|Fairfield Township]]. A short distance into Essex County, US&nbsp;46 has another interchange with Route&nbsp;159 (Clinton Road), providing access to that route and to its continuation as [[County Route 627 (Essex County, New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;627]] (Plymouth Street). Shortly farther along US&nbsp;46, Route&nbsp;159 and CR&nbsp;627 meet it at a traffic light-controlled intersection, providing cross-traffic and turns onto US&nbsp;46. Past this point, US&nbsp;46 remains a surface road with RIRO-accessed driveways, but has several intersections controlled by interchanges. Within Fairfield, US&nbsp;46 has interchanges with Hollywood Avenue and Passaic Avenue as well as two [[trumpet interchange]]s providing access to Fairfield Road, which runs a short distance to the south of US&nbsp;46.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=Google/>

===Passaic County===
[[File:2020-08-23 09 44 47 View west along U.S. Route 46 at the exit for New Jersey State Route 62 and Passaic County Route 646 (Union Boulevard, Totowa, Little Falls) in Totowa, Passaic County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|US&nbsp;46 westbound at exit for Route 62 and CR 646 in Totowa]]
The route crosses the Passaic River again into [[Wayne, New Jersey|Wayne]], Passaic County.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=Google/> The median splits as the road passes to the north of the [[Willowbrook Mall (New Jersey)|Willowbrook Mall]], with an exit serving the shopping mall, before reaching the Spaghetti Bowl interchange with partial access to I-80 and full access to [[New Jersey Route 23|Route&nbsp;23]].<ref name=SLD/><ref name=Google/><ref name=pvt>{{cite news |last = Boud |first = Tom |title = Spaghetti Bowl project complete |publisher = Passaic Valley Today |date = September 15, 2008 }}</ref> Within this interchange, US&nbsp;46 passes under the Montclair-Boonton Line again. From here, it passes businesses and many shopping centers with RIRO access as a six-lane highway, heading into [[Totowa, New Jersey|Totowa]]. In this area, the route has interchanges with CR&nbsp;640 and [[New Jersey Route 62|Route&nbsp;62]]/CR&nbsp;646. The road turns southeast, crossing the Passaic River a third time into [[Little Falls, New Jersey|Little Falls]]. At this point, US&nbsp;46 runs along the Little Falls/[[Woodland Park, New Jersey|Woodland Park]] border, interchanging with CR&nbsp;639 and Browertown Road. After the exit for Lower Notch Road, the route enters more wooded surroundings, interchanging with Notch Road/Rifle Camp Road before entering [[Clifton, New Jersey|Clifton]]. Upon reaching Clifton, US&nbsp;46 has an interchange with the western terminus of [[New Jersey Route 3|Route&nbsp;3]] and Valley Road (CR&nbsp;621), with the Valley Road exit stitched into the Route&nbsp;3 side of the highway fork.<ref name=SLD/> Prior to reconstruction of the interchanges, the Valley Road ramp exited before Route&nbsp;3 began, and Route&nbsp;3 branched off immediately after Valley Road.<ref name=Google/>

Past Route&nbsp;3, the highway narrows to four lanes, continuing east-northeast as a limited-access divided highway with some RIRO-accessed businesses still on it, though many roads are accessed through over and underpasses. US&nbsp;46 has an exit for Van Houten Avenue/Grove Street before coming to a large interchange with the southern terminus of the [[New Jersey Route 19|Route&nbsp;19]] freeway, [[County Route 509 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;509]], and the [[Garden State Parkway]]. After this, the road passes over [[Norfolk Southern]]'s Newark Industrial Track line and NJ Transit's [[Main Line (NJ Transit)|Main Line]] and has an exit for Hazel Street/Paulison Avenue. US&nbsp;46 then begins a brief concurrency with Piaget Avenue in Clifton with a series of connector streets and three intersections controlled by stoplights. After the third, at Day Street near Christopher Columbus Middle School, the two roads split at a fork, marked as an exit, with US&nbsp;46 continuing eastbound to the left and Piaget Avenue continuing to the right. Vehicles traveling west on Piaget Avenue have access to US&nbsp;46 westbound through use of a one way underpass that carries US&nbsp;46 eastbound over it, and also have access to US&nbsp;46 eastbound by a right-turn only lane near the intersection of Piaget Avenue and Fourth Street.

After the split, US&nbsp;46 turns into a limited-access road again and passes under Main Avenue/CR 601 and Norfolk Southern's Passaic Spur line before coming to an interchange with the northern terminus of the [[New Jersey Route 21|Route&nbsp;21]] freeway. From this interchange, the route turns north along the west bank of the Passaic River, crossing the Garden State Parkway again before widening to six lanes and meeting the southern terminus of [[New Jersey Route 20|Route&nbsp;20]] at an interchange near the border of [[Paterson, New Jersey|Paterson]].<ref name=SLD/><ref name=Google/>

===Bergen County===
[[File:2018-07-21 08 59 44 View west along U.S. Route 46 just west of Savoie Street in Lodi, Bergen County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|US&nbsp;46 westbound in Lodi]]
US&nbsp;46 turns east and crosses the Passaic River a fourth and final time, entering [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]] in [[Elmwood Park, New Jersey|Elmwood Park]]. Immediately after the river, the route has an interchange for [[County Route 507 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;507]]. Passing through more RIRO-accessed business areas, the road narrows to four lanes and has a partial interchange with the Garden State Parkway. Past the parkway, US&nbsp;46 continues as a road with some jughandles and other traffic light-controlled intersections (but still largely maintaining RIRO access to driveways and side streets), crossing [[New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway]]'s Dundee Branch line and passing through a small corner of [[Garfield, New Jersey|Garfield]] before crossing into [[Saddle Brook, New Jersey|Saddle Brook]]. Within Saddle Brook, the road turns more to the southeast and crosses over NJ Transit's [[Bergen County Line]]. Continuing east, US&nbsp;46 has an exit for with Outwater Lane and crosses into [[Lodi, New Jersey|Lodi]]. Through this area, there is no access across the median of US&nbsp;46, as it interchanges with Main Street. The route continues into [[Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey|Hasbrouck Heights]], where it turns more south-southeast, interchanging with Boulevard. A short distance later, US&nbsp;46 reaches an interchange with [[New Jersey Route 17|Route&nbsp;17]] and crosses NJ Transit's [[Pascack Valley Line]] near the [[Teterboro station]].<ref name=SLD/><ref name=Google/>

From here, US&nbsp;46 enters [[Teterboro, New Jersey|Teterboro]] and interchanges with Green Street before continuing southeast as a six-lane highway through industrial areas, passing to the north of [[Teterboro Airport]]. The road continues into [[Little Ferry, New Jersey|Little Ferry]], where it passes suburban residential and commercial areas and narrows into a four-lane undivided road called Sylvan Avenue, turning to the east and crossing [[County Route 503 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;503]]. After intersecting the [[Bergen Turnpike]] at the modified [[Little Ferry Circle]], which US&nbsp;46 runs through, the route crosses the [[Hackensack River]] into [[Ridgefield Park, New Jersey|Ridgefield Park]] on the [[Route&nbsp;46 Hackensack River Bridge]], passing over New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway's New Jersey Subdivision line and [[CSX]]'s [[River Subdivision (CSX Transportation)|River Subdivision]] railroad line before the bridge ends. In Ridgefield Park, the route is called Winant Avenue and becomes a four-lane divided highway before briefly becoming undivided again. Upon turning back into a divided highway, US&nbsp;46 comes to a large interchange with [[Interstate 95 in New Jersey|I-95]]/[[New Jersey Turnpike]]. Past this interchange, the route widens to six lanes and crosses the [[Overpeck Creek]] into [[Ridgefield, New Jersey|Ridgefield]], where it passes over CSX's [[Northern Running Track]] railroad line into the [[Morsemere, New Jersey|Morsemere]] neighborhood.<ref>{{Cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=OqXpCAAAQBAJ&dq=morsemere+erie+railroad&pg=PA475 |title = The WPA Guide to New Jersey: The Garden State |author = Federal Writers' Project |date = October 31, 2013 |publisher = Trinity University Press |isbn = 9781595342287 |via = Google Books }}</ref> Upon entering [[Palisades Park, New Jersey|Palisades Park]], the road has an interchange with [[New Jersey Route 93|Route&nbsp;93]] before reaching a [[diamond interchange]] with [[U.S. Route 1/9|US&nbsp;1/9]].<ref name=SLD/><ref name=Google/>

[[File:2020-07-24 07 24 56 View south along U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 9 and west along U.S. Route 46 at the exit for New Jersey State Route 63 in Fort Lee, Bergen County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|left|US&nbsp;1/9 southbound and US&nbsp;46 westbound at Route&nbsp;63 interchange in Fort Lee]]
US&nbsp;46 continues southeast as a four-lane divided highway, with the US&nbsp;1/9 ramps following the route a short distance before merging into the route. At this point, US&nbsp;1/9 runs concurrently with US&nbsp;46 and the highway makes a sharp turn to the north-northeast. The road has an interchange to the 5th Street and 6th Street frontage roads, which parallel the highway through residential areas and provide access to [[County Route 501 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;501]]. US&nbsp;1-9/US&nbsp;46 continues into [[Fort Lee, New Jersey|Fort Lee]], where it has access to a couple commercial areas via RIRO before encountering the northern terminus of [[New Jersey Route 63|Route&nbsp;63]] at a westbound exit and eastbound entrance. From here, the highway continues past more businesses and homes with RIRO access, angling northeast as it comes to an exit for Main Street. Immediately past this point, the road turns east and encounters a complex interchange with I-95, the eastern terminus of [[New Jersey Route 4|Route&nbsp;4]], and the southern terminus of [[U.S. Route 9W|US&nbsp;9W]].<ref name=Google/><ref name=1SLD>{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000001__-.pdf |title = US 1 straight line diagram |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |access-date = November 25, 2009 }}</ref> Here, US&nbsp;1-9/US&nbsp;46 all join I-95 (although US&nbsp;46 is unsigned east of this interchange) and continue to the southeast along a multilane freeway with [[local-express lanes|local-express lane]] configuration consisting of four local lanes and four express lanes in each direction, passing numerous high-rise buildings. The road has an interchange with [[New Jersey Route 67|Route&nbsp;67]] at [[George Washington Bridge Plaza|GWB Plaza]] before coming to an interchange for the [[Palisades Interstate Parkway]]. After the Palisades Interstate Parkway, the road crosses the [[Hudson River]] on the George Washington Bridge, which has eight lanes total on the upper deck (formed from the express lanes) and six lanes total on the lower deck (formed from the local lanes). At the New Jersey–[[New York (state)|New York]] state line on the bridge, US&nbsp;46 ends while I-95 and US&nbsp;1-9 continue into the borough of [[Manhattan]] in [[New York City]].<ref name=Google/><ref name="095sld">{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000095__-.pdf |title = Interstate 95 straight line diagram |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |access-date = March 26, 2007 }}</ref>

==History==

=== Before 1916 ===
What is now US&nbsp;46 west of Netcong was part of the Manunkachunk Trail, an old Lenape trail running from the Great Minisink Trail in Netcong west to Manunkachunk Village, now Belvidere. Another Lenape trail extended from Netcong to what is now Parsippany and [[Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey|Springfield Township]].<ref>Snyder, John (1969). "[https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries 1606-1968]"</ref> In 1809, the '''Parsippany and Rockaway Turnpike''' was chartered to extend from the [[Newark-Pompton Turnpike]] to the Union Turnpike; the section east from Denville was later named Bloomfield Avenue. A branch of the Union Turnpike was chartered in 1813 to run west from Dover to the Morris Turnpike; it was locally known as the '''Dover Turnpike'''. By 1920, the portion of the modern route west of Hackettstown was signed as an easterly extension of the [[Lackawanna Trail]], running through [[Pennsylvania]] to [[Binghamton, New York]].<ref>{{cite map |author = ((Rand McNally and Co.)) |title = Rand McNally Official 1920 Auto Trails Map: New York City and Vicinity |location = Chicago |publisher = Rand McNally and Co. |year = 1920 |via = Library of Congress |url = https://www.loc.gov/item/88695915/ |LCCN= 88695915 }}</ref> This designation was removed by 1924, when the state of Pennsylvania rerouted the highway south to [[Philadelphia]].<ref name="wph">[https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us22.cfm U.S. 22 - The William Penn Highway]</ref>

===Routes 5, 10 and 12: 1916&ndash;1927===
[[File:NJ 5 1920s bridge stamp.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A stamp on a bridge reading State Highway Route 5|Bridge stamp for pre-1927 Route&nbsp;5 along Route&nbsp;163 (former US&nbsp;46)]]
Prior to 1927, what is today US&nbsp;46 was followed by three different routes. The first route was pre-1927 Route&nbsp;5, which was first legislated in 1916. It began by crossing the Delaware River from Pennsylvania at the community of Delaware. Several undercrossings of the [[Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad]] near Delaware were bypassed with a short new road on the southwest side of the railroad. From there, Route&nbsp;5 used the existing Delaware Road to north of Belvidere, then the Buttzville-Belvidere Road to [[Buttzville, New Jersey|Buttzville]], the Buttzville Road to [[Great Meadows, New Jersey|Great Meadows]], and the Danville Mountain Road to Hackettstown.<ref name=1916report>{{cite book |title = Annual Report |publisher = New Jersey State Highway Department |date = 1916 }}</ref>

From Hackettstown to Denville, Route&nbsp;5 ran concurrently with pre-1927 Route&nbsp;12, which was first legislated in 1917.<ref name=ttmap>{{cite map |url = http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/maps/1927tt1.jpg |title = Map of New Jersey |year = 1927 |publisher = Tydol Trails |access-date = December 30, 2008 }}</ref><ref name=1917report>{{cite book |title = Annual Report |publisher = New Jersey State Highway Department |date = 1917 }}</ref> A mostly-new road (now eastbound US&nbsp;46) was built from Hackettstown east to Netcong to avoid steep [[grade (slope)|grades]] on the existing roads. Portions of the existing Budd's Lake Road were used between Budd Lake and Netcong. From Netcong the route used the old [[Morris Turnpike]] to Ledgewood and the [[Dover Turnpike]] to Dover, running into Dover on Blackwell Street. Blackwell Street led to Rockaway Road, becoming Main Street in Rockaway, from which it used the old [[Parsippany and Rockaway Turnpike]] to Denville.<ref name=1916report/>

At Denville, Route&nbsp;5 turned south, while Route&nbsp;12 continued east along the Parsippany and Rockaway Turnpike to [[Pine Brook, Morris County, New Jersey|Pine Brook]].<ref name=ttmap/> The route left the old turnpike there to head northeast towards Paterson, starting with the Pine Brook Road (now Fairfield Road and Little Falls Road) to Little Falls. A bypass was planned around the south side of Little Falls, taking it under the [[Erie Railroad]] at Union Boulevard. From there Route&nbsp;12 would use Union Boulevard, Totowa Road and McBride Avenue into Paterson. [[Pre-1927 Route 10 (New Jersey)|Pre-1927 Route&nbsp;10]], which was legislated in 1917, continued east on Market Street on the other side of Paterson to [[Edgewater, New Jersey|Edgewater]], where it connected to the Fort Lee Ferry across the [[Hudson River]]. The new alignments were generally built as planned, except at Little Falls, where a bypass was to be built for Route&nbsp;12.<ref name=1917report/>

===Route 6: 1927&ndash;1953===
{{infobox road small
|state=NJ
|type=NJ 1926
|county=
|route=6
|location= [[Delaware, Warren County, New Jersey|Delaware]]&ndash;[[Fort Lee, New Jersey|Fort Lee]]
|length_mi=
|length_round=
|length_ref=
|formed=1927
|deleted=1953
}}
The expansion of the highway system followed the opening of the [[George Washington Bridge]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Over the New Span |work = The New York Times |date = October 18, 1931 |url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/10/18/96209869.pdf |access-date = January 30, 2017 }}</ref>

In the [[1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering|1927 renumbering]], Route&nbsp;6 was assigned to the route across northern New Jersey, using the old Route&nbsp;5 from Delaware to Netcong, Route&nbsp;12 from Hackettstown to Paterson, and a generally new alignment parallel to Route&nbsp;10 from Paterson to the proposed George Washington Bridge; the old Route&nbsp;10 alignment between Paterson and Edgewater was to become [[New Jersey Route 5|Route&nbsp;5]]. In Paterson, Route&nbsp;6 was marked along McBride Avenue, Spruce Street and Market Street.<ref name=nj1927>State of New Jersey, Laws of 1927, Chapter 319.</ref><ref name="Map">{{cite map |url = http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |title = 1927 New Jersey Road Map |publisher = State of New Jersey |access-date = October 8, 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071031111034/http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |archive-date = October 31, 2007 }}</ref>

[[File:2021-07-27 14 45 50 View west along U.S. Route 46 from the overpass for Roff Avenue in Palisades Park, Bergen County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|left|US 46 westbound in Palisades Park]]
Route&nbsp;6 was redefined in 1929 to use none of the old road east of Paterson (it had formerly been planned to use Market Street west of roughly where [[New Jersey Route 17|Route&nbsp;17]] now crosses it), and Route&nbsp;5 was cut back to run only east from [[Ridgefield, New Jersey|Ridgefield]].<ref name=nj1929>State of New Jersey, Laws of 1929, Chapter 126.</ref> The portion of pre-1927 Route 10 that was bypassed by Route&nbsp;6 was designated [[New Jersey Route 10N|Route&nbsp;10N]], but was eventually removed from the state highway system.<ref name=nj1939>State of New Jersey, Laws of 1939, compiled.</ref> In addition, Route&nbsp;6 was redefined to bypass Paterson to the south. The new route would enter Paterson just south of Market Street, but then turn south and southwest before heading back west to rejoin the old route at the east end of the Little Falls bypass at the Union Boulevard crossing. The old road along Union Boulevard towards Paterson was assigned [[New Jersey Route S6|Route&nbsp;S6]], as a spur of Route&nbsp;6.<ref name=nj1929/> Route&nbsp;S6 became Route&nbsp;62 in the [[1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering|1953 renumbering]], and has since been truncated to a short piece between US&nbsp;46 and [[Interstate 80 in New Jersey|I-80]] in Totowa.<ref name="nj1953">{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140119132256/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1953_New_Jersey_state_highway_renumbering |archive-date = January 19, 2014 |url = https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1953_New_Jersey_state_highway_renumbering |title = 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering |via = [[Wikisource]] }}</ref><ref name=nyt1953>{{cite news |access-date = July 20, 2009 |title = New Road Signs Ready in New Jersey |work = [[The New York Times]] |date = December 16, 1952 |url = http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/6933/19521216newroadsignsreaiu6.jpg }}</ref>

[[File:Rt 6 Highway Stamp.jpg|thumb|Original Route 6 highway stamp in Totowa]]
In December 1937, a section of highway was opened from the Passaic River at [[Clifton, New Jersey|Clifton]] to [[Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey|Hasbrouck Heights]], marking the completion of Route&nbsp;6 with the exception of the Paterson bypass.<ref name="sears">{{cite map |publisher = Mid-West Map Co. |title = Map of Pennsylvania and New Jersey |year = 1937 |url = http://www.mapsofpa.com/roadcart/1937_1044m.jpg |access-date = March 29, 2009 }}</ref> In 1938, a spur of Route&nbsp;6 called [[New Jersey Route 6A|Route&nbsp;6A]] was legislated to run from Route&nbsp;6 in Dover north to US&nbsp;206/[[New Jersey Route S31|Route&nbsp;S31]] in [[Lafayette Township, New Jersey|Lafayette Township]]; this became Route&nbsp;15 in 1953.<ref name="nj1953"/><ref name=nyt1953/><ref name=nj1938>State of New Jersey, Laws of 1938, Chapter 47</ref> A realignment at the Passaic River crossing near Pine Brook was built in the 1940s, along with a new road for a short distance west from Pine Brook.<ref name="mwm">{{cite map |publisher = Mid-West Map Co. |title = Map of Pennsylvania and New Jersey |year = 1941 |author = [[Gousha|H.M. Gousha]] |url = http://www.mapsofpa.com/roadcart/1941_1467m.jpg |access-date = March 29, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="1947quad">{{cite map |url = http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/250k/txu-pclmaps-topo-us-newark-1947.jpg |title = Newark, New Jersey 1:250,000 quadrangle |publisher = [[United States Geological Survey]] |year = 1947 |access-date = November 28, 2009 }}</ref> Also in the 1940s, the road was widened west into Denville, and a bypass of downtown Denville, including an [[Interchange (road)|interchange]] at [[Route 5N (New Jersey)|Route&nbsp;5N]] (now Route&nbsp;53) was built.<ref name="mwm"/> The Route&nbsp;6 designation was dropped in favor of US&nbsp;46 in the 1953 renumbering.<ref name="nj1953"/><ref name=nyt1953/>

By Joint Resolution No. 1, approved April 14, 1941, the [[New Jersey Legislature]] designated the highway as the United Spanish War Veterans Memorial Highway in honor of the [[United Spanish War Veterans]].<ref>State of New Jersey; ''Laws of 1941, Joint Resolution No. 1''</ref>

===U.S. Route 46: 1936&ndash;present===
[[File:2020-08-23 09 32 03 View west along U.S. Route 46 at the exit for Broad Street (Clifton) in Clifton, Passaic County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|US&nbsp;46 westbound at exit for CR&nbsp;509 southbound in Clifton]]
In 1925, the US&nbsp;46 designation was first proposed for a route in [[Colorado]] connecting [[Grand Junction, Colorado|Grand Junction]] to [[Limon, Colorado|Limon]], but it instead became [[U.S. Highway 40S|US 40S]].<ref name="1925map">{{cite book |author = Joint Board on Interstate Highways |year = 1925 |chapter-url = https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Report_of_Joint_Board_on_Interstate_Highways_October_30,_1925#53 |chapter = Appendix VI: Descriptions of the Interstate Routes Selected, with Numbers Assigned |title = Report of Joint Board on Interstate Highways, October 30, 1925, Approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, November 18, 1925 |type = Report |location = Washington, DC |publisher = United States Department of Agriculture |page = 53 |id = {{OCLC|733875457|55123355|71026428}} |access-date = November 14, 2017 |via = Wikisource }}</ref><ref name="USHM">{{cite map |author1 = [[Bureau of Public Roads]] |author2 = [[American Association of State Highway Officials]] |date = November 11, 1926 |title = United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials |url = https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_System_of_Highways_Adopted_for_Uniform_Marking_by_the_American_Association_of_State_Highway_Officials.jpg |scale = 1:7,000,000 |location = Washington, DC |publisher = [[United States Geological Survey]] |oclc = 32889555 |access-date = November 7, 2013 |via = [[Wikimedia Commons]] |name-list-style = amp }}</ref>
The current US&nbsp;46 was marked in 1936 between [[Portland, Pennsylvania]], and the George Washington Bridge. At the time, the new Route&nbsp;6 had not been completed from [[New Jersey Route 2|Route&nbsp;2]] (now [[New Jersey Route 17|Route&nbsp;17]]) west to [[New Jersey Route S6|Route&nbsp;S6]] (now [[New Jersey Route 62|Route&nbsp;62]]), and so US&nbsp;46 was marked through Paterson until this portion was completed by the 1940s.<ref name="mwm"/><ref name="1947quad"/> At the west end of Route&nbsp;6, US&nbsp;46 continued over the Delaware River on the Delaware Bridge into Pennsylvania, replacing [[Pennsylvania Route 987 (1920s)|PA&nbsp;987]] north to Portland, where it ended at [[U.S. Route 611]]. The [[Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge]] and its associated freeway to Columbia (now I-80) opened in December 1953, as did the new [[Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge]].<ref name=pctb>{{cite web |url = http://www.drjtbc.org/default.aspx?pageid=75 |title = Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge |publisher = [[Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission]] |access-date = November 19, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110526223552/http://www.drjtbc.org/default.aspx?pageid=75 |archive-date = May 26, 2011 }}</ref><ref name=dwgtb>{{cite web |url = http://www.drjtbc.org/default.aspx?pageid=87 |title = Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge |publisher = [[Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission]] |access-date = November 19, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110526223437/http://www.drjtbc.org/default.aspx?pageid=87 |archive-date = May 26, 2011 }}</ref><ref name=nyt>{{cite news |title = New Span Crosses Delaware River; Fine, Driscoll at Ceremonies for Water Gap Bridge—Road to Link Poconos and New York |work = The New York Times |date = December 17, 1953 |page = 51 }}</ref>

Following this, US&nbsp;611 was rerouted to cross the river twice in order to use the freeway through the [[Delaware Water Gap]], and US&nbsp;46 was moved to former Route&nbsp;94 (pre-1953 [[New Jersey Route 8|Route&nbsp;8]]) to end at the Columbia, New Jersey side of the Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge.<ref name="PennDOT 1960">{{cite map |publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation|PennDOT]] |title = Pennsylvania State Transportation |url = http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_PDF_FILES/MAPS/Statewide/Historic_OTMs/1960fr.pdf |year = 1960 |section = 1 |access-date = January 15, 2010 |archive-date = October 24, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161024161133/http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_PDF_FILES/MAPS/Statewide/Historic_OTMs/1960fr.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=aasho1952>{{AASHTO minutes |year=1952 |page=111 |access-date=October 28, 2020 }}</ref> The former approaches to the Darlington's Bridge, which itself was dismantled by the [[Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission]] in 1954, became [[New Jersey Route 163|Route&nbsp;163]] in New Jersey and State Route&nbsp;1039 in Pennsylvania.<ref name=Google/><ref name="bridgebook">{{cite book |last = Dale |first = Frank T. |title = Bridges Over The Delaware River: A History of Crossings |publisher = [[Rutgers University]] Press |year = 2003 |isbn = 978-0-8135-3213-4 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dDDDUlaQUYgC&q=Shohola+-+Barryville+Bridge&pg=PA141 |access-date = June 23, 2009 }}</ref> The US 611 freeway was designated I-80 by 1960, and US 611 was moved back to its old all-Pennsylvania alignment in 1965, leaving US 46 to end at I-80 and Route 94.<ref name="PennDOT 1960"/><ref name=1965news>{{cite news |title = R. 611 Switch Cuts Need for 2 Tolls |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14981484/611611_alt_march_26_1965/ |access-date = November 8, 2017 |work = The Morning Call |date = March 26, 1965 |location = Allentown, Pennsylvania |page = 7 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

[[File:Rt 46.jpg|thumb|left|Highway stamp from 1950 in Totowa]]
In 1964, the approach to the George Washington Bridge, shared with US&nbsp;1-9, was rebuilt into a freeway that became a part of I-95.<ref>{{cite book |title = Arterial Progress 1959-1965 |publisher = [[Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority]] |year = 1965 }}</ref> Since then, many changes have occurred to US&nbsp;46. A traffic circle served the intersection with Route&nbsp;23 until the construction of I-80, and a [[Spaghetti junction|spaghetti interchange]] was constructed to replace it.<ref>{{cite web |last = Havemann |first = Paul |title = THE ROUTE 23/46 INTERCHANGE, WAYNE NJ (1964) |url = http://www.paulhavemann.com/the-route-23-46-interchange-wayne-nj-1964 |date = August 14, 2018 }}</ref> The Little Ferry Circle, initially constructed in 1933, was modified in 1985 to allow US&nbsp;46 to run straight through the circle.<ref name=bcr>{{cite news |last = Furschein |first = Merry |title = DOT Releases New Plan to Fix Little Ferry Circle |work = [[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] |date = March 30, 2007 }}</ref> In 1998, the Ledgewood Circle at the western terminus of Route&nbsp;10 was replaced with a signalized T-intersection.<ref name=rnj>{{cite web |author = Balston, Mottel |url = http://www.roxburynewjersey.com/history.htm |title = A Short History of Roxbury Township, Morris County, New Jersey |publisher = Roxbury, New Jersey |access-date = January 2, 2009 }}</ref> In 2007, the NJDOT announced that they would eliminate the Little Ferry Circle by turning it into a straight intersection; work ran through 2014.<ref name=bcr/> The Netcong Circle at Route&nbsp;183 was replaced with a signalized intersection a cost of $13.3 million in 2013. A temporary junction opened in January of that year with the permanent configuration completed the following August.<ref name="netcong circle">{{cite web |url = http://www.nj.gov/transportation/capital/stip0710/sec3/counties/morris.pdf |title = FY 2007-10 Capital Improvement Projects |year = 2006 |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |pages = 15 |access-date = July 5, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=mdr8513>{{cite news |title = Netcong Circle construction project advances with opening of new intersection |work = Daily Record |location = Morristown, New Jersey |date = August 5, 2013 |url = http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20130806/NJNEWS/308060005/Netcong-Circle-construction-project-advances-opening-new-intersection |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130816004847/http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20130806/NJNEWS/308060005/Netcong-Circle-construction-project-advances-opening-new-intersection |url-status = dead |archive-date = August 16, 2013 |access-date = August 15, 2013 }}</ref> In addition, the interchange between US 46 and the western terminus of Route 3 is planned to be reconstructed. This project will reconfigure ramps, bring bridges up to standard, and will provide for three-lane connections between Route&nbsp;3 and US&nbsp;46. It was announced in 2003 and is projected to cost over $250 million. Construction on the first contract began in December 2015 with completion by October 2019. Construction on the second contract began in February 2020.<ref name=njdot>{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/studies/rt46/ |title = Route 46/Route 3/Valley Road and Notch Road Interchanges |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |access-date = November 17, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.nj.gov/transportation/commuter/roads/rt46/faq.shtm |title = Route 46/Route 3/Valley Road and Notch Road Interchanges - Frequently Asked Questions |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |access-date = October 31, 2020 }}</ref>

The Little Ferry Circle was reconstructed in 1985, creating a through road to let Route 46 traffic pass through the circle without causing congestion.<ref name=Record2007>Furschein, Merry. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MTAyMDk1 DOT releases new plan to fix Little Ferry circle]. ''[[The Record (Bergen County)]]'', March 30, 2007</ref>

In 1988 the Legislature resolved that "The Commissioner of Transportation shall designate that portion of United States Highway Route 46 located between Hope Road and Barkers Mill Road in the township of Independence, Warren County as 'Clifford Jones Avenue'," honoring [[United States Army]] [[Specialist (rank)|Specialist]] Clifford Jones, Jr., a resident of Independence Township who had been killed in action in 1968 during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>State of New Jersey; ''Laws of 1988, Joint Resolution No. 1''</ref>

The Little Ferry Circle was widened in 1998; this involved condemnation of adjacent properties and led to a 73-page court decision.<ref>http://www.schepisi.com/pdf/Schepisi-1-3-11.pdf{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In March 2007, the [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] proposed its latest plan to address issues at the circle. The plan would realign the circle into a straight intersection, complete with turning lanes; prohibit left turns onto many residential streets; and would include construction of a pump station to move water off the oft-flooded highway and into the Hackensack River.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/capital/stip0710/sec3/routes/rt46.pdf FY 2007-10 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], accessed April 2, 2007</ref><ref name=Record2007/>

The circle's redesign was completed in 2016. However, according to the Little Ferry police and business owners at the new intersection, car accidents still occur, though they are less deadly than before.<ref name=crashes>{{cite news |last = Cichowski |first = John |date = March 25, 2017 |title = Little Ferry crashes soar at old 'circle' |url = https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/columnists/john-cichowski/2017/03/25/road-warrior-little-ferry-crashes-soar-old-circle/99597816/ |work = NorthJersey.com |location = New Jersey |access-date = December 10, 2018 }}</ref> The proprietors at the site also claim to have lost a significant amount of business due to reduced accessibility to their establishments, caused by the redesign and loss of the former circle.<ref name=crashes/>

==Major intersections==
{{Jcttop|exit|length_ref=<ref name=SLD/><ref name=1SLD/><ref name="095sld"/>}}
{{NJint|exit
|county=Warren
|cspan=6
|location=Knowlton Township
|lspan=2
|mile=0.00
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|80|NJ|94|to3=yes|PA|611|city1=Columbia|city2=Blairstown|location3=[[New York City]]|location4=[[Delaware Water Gap]]|location5=[[Portland, Pennsylvania|Portland, PA]]}}
|notes=Western terminus; access to Columbia via Decatur Street; Route 94 south not signed; exit 4B on I-80
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=2.86
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|NJ|163|dir1=north|noshield1=yes|name1=Lackawanna Road}}
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=8.86
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|519|name1=Bridgeville Road|city1=Blairstown|city2=Hope|city3=Alpha}}
|location=White Township
|lspan=2
|notes=
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=10.03
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|31|dir1=south|city1=Trenton|city2=Washington}}
|notes=Northern terminus of Route 31
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Hackettstown
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=21.26
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|517|dir1=north|name1=High Street|to2=to|I|80}}
|notes=Western end of CR 517 concurrency
}}
{{NJint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=21.70
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|182|dir1=south|CR|517|dir2=south|to3=to|NJ|57|name2=Mountain Avenue|city1=Phillipsburg}}
|notes=Eastern end of CR 517 concurrency
}}
{{NJint|exit
|county=Morris
|cspan=14
|location=Netcong
|lspan=2
|mile=29.45
|mile2=29.47
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|80|dir1=east|name1=[[U.S. Route 206]] south|city1=Denville|location2=[[New York City]]}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit 26 on I-80
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=30.21
|mile2=30.29
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|183|to2=to|US|206|city1=Netcong|city2=Newton|city3=Somerville|city4=Princeton}}
|notes=Former Netcong Circle
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Roxbury Township
|lspan=2
|type=incomplete
|mile=31.48
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|80|location1=[[Lake Hopatcong]]|city2=Landing}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; exit 28 on I-80
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=33.33
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|10|dir1=east|city1=Whippany}}
|notes=Western terminus of Route 10 
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Dover
|lspan=2
|mile=37.91
|type=incomplete
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|659|county1=Morris|noshield1=yes|dir1=east|name1=Blackwell Street|city1=Dover}} Business Area
|notes=Interchange; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=38.17
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|15|dir1=north|name1=West Clinton Street|city1=Sparta}}
|notes=Southern terminus of Route 15 
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Rockaway Township
|mile=39.85
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|513|name1=West Main Street / Dover Rockaway Road|city1=Rockaway|city2=Chester}}
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Denville
|lspan=2
|mile=42.36
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|80|dir1=west|city1=Netcong|city2=Delaware Water Gap}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; exit 38 on I-80
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=43.03
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|80|dir1=east|NJ|53|dir2=south|cuty1=Denville Township|city2=Mount Tabor|city3=Morristown}}
|notes=Interchange; I-80 not signed; northern terminus of Route 53; access to Denville via East Main Street
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Parsippany–Troy Hills
|lspan=4
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|654|dir1=south|county1=Morris|name1=Cherry Hill Road|to2=yes|I|80|city1=Delaware Water Gap|city2=Paterson|location3=[[New York City]]}}
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=46.33
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|287|US|202|name2=Parsippany Boulevard|city1=Butler|city2=Whippany|city3=Mahwah}}
|type=incomplete
|notes=No eastbound access to I-287 north; exit 42 on I-287
}}
{{NJint|exit
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|80|dir1=east|I|287|dir2=north}}
|notes=Access via Smith Road; exit 43B on I-80; exit 41A on I-287
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=49.21
|mile2=49.39
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|80|to2=to|I|287|city1=Delaware Water Gap|city2=Paterson|location3=[[New York City]]}}
|notes=Same-directional access only; exit 47 on I-80
|type=incomplete
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Montville
|type=incomplete
|mile=51.54
|mile2=51.57
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|159|dir1=east|name1=Bloomfield Avenue|location1=[[The Caldwells]]|city2=Newark}}
|notes=Interchange; no westbound exit; western terminus of Route 159
}}
{{NJint|exit
|county=Essex
|cspan=4
|location=Fairfield Township
|ctdab=Essex
|lspan=4
|mile=52.54
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|159|dir1=west|name1=Clinton Road}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of Route 159
}}
{{NJint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=53.10
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|615|county1=Essex|noshield1=yes|name1=Fairfield Road}}
|notes=Interchange; westbound exit and entrance
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=53.92
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|625|county1=Essex|name1=Hollywood Avenue}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=54.48
|mile2=54.69
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|615|county1=Essex|noshield1=yes|name1=Fairfield Road|CR|613|county2=Essex|noshield2=yes|name2=Two Bridges Road / Passaic Avenue|city1=Lincoln Park|city2=The Caldwells}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=55.61
|road=[[Willowbrook Mall (New Jersey)|Willowbrook]] Boulevard
|county=Passaic
|cspan=19
|location=Wayne
|lspan=2
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=55.98
|mile2=56.37
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|80|NJ|23|city1=Verona|city2=Delaware Water Gap|city3=Butler}}
|notes=Interchange; no westbound access to I-80 east; exit 53 on I-80
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=57.02
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|640|county1=Passaic|name1=Riverview Drive|city1=Little Falls|city2=Wayne}}
|location=Totowa
|lspan=2
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=57.58
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|62|dir1=north|CR|646|county2=Passaic|name2=Union Boulevard|city1=Totowa|city2=Little Falls}}
|notes=Interchange; southern terminus of Route 62
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=58.04
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|639|county1=Passaic|name1=Paterson Avenue / McBride Avenue|city1=Little Falls|city2=Woodland Park}}
|location=Little Falls
|lspan=5
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=58.73
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|635|county1=Passaic|noshield1=yes|name1=Browertown Road|city1=Woodland Park|city2=Little Falls}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=59.06
|road=Lower Notch Road
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=59.34
|road=[[Great Notch, New Jersey|Great Notch]], [[Cedar Grove, New Jersey|Cedar Grove]], [[Little Falls, New Jersey|Little Falls]]
|notes=Interchange; access via [[County Route 633 (Passaic County, New Jersey)|CR 633]]
}}
{{NJint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=59.63
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|620|county1=Passaic|noshield1=yes|name1= Clove Road|city1=Little Falls|city2=Montclair|location3=[[Montclair State University]]}}
|notes=Interchange; eastbound exit and entrance
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Clifton
|lspan=10
|mile=60.06
|mile2=60.24
|mspan=2
|type=incomplete 
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|3|dir1=east|to2=to|GSP2||dir2=south|city1=Secaucus}}
|notes=Interchange; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; western terminus of Route 3
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=none
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|621|county1=Passaic|noshield1=yes|name1=Valley Road}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=60.91
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|614|county1=Passaic|noshield1=yes|name1=Van Houten Avenue|CR|623|county2=Passaic|noshield2=yes|name2=Grove Street|city1=Clifton|city2=Passaic}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=61.30
|mile2=61.39
|mspan=2
|road={{jct|state=NJ|GSP2||dir1=north}}
|type=toll
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit 154 on G.S. Parkway
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=none
|road={{jct|state=NJ|GSP2||dir1=south|NJ|19|dir2=north|CR|509|name3=Broad Street|city1=Clifton|city2=Paterson}}
|notes=Interchange; no eastbound access to G.S. Parkway; exit 154 on G.S. Parkway
|type=incomplete
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=61.75
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|618|county1=Passaic|noshield1=yes|name1=Paulison Avenue|CR|702|county2=Passaic|noshield2=yes|name2=Hazel Street}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=62.36
|mspan=2
|place=Western end of freeway section
}}
{{NJint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=none
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|628|county1=Passaic|noshield1=yes|dir1=east|name1=Piaget Avenue|CR|601|county2=Passaic|noshield2=yes|name2=Main Avenue|to2=yes|location1=[[Clifton, New Jersey#Geography|Botany Village]]}}
|notes=No westbound exit
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=63.27
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|21|dir1=south|city1=Newark|road|Lexington Avenue}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; northern terminus of Route 21
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=63.58
|mile2=63.85
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|GSP2||dir1=south|NJ|20|dir2=north|road|Crooks Avenue ([[County Route 630 (Passaic County, New Jersey)|CR 630]] west)|to4=to|I|80|city1=Paterson}}
|notes=Southern terminus of Route 20; no eastbound access to GSP/CR 630; exit 156 on G.S. Parkway
}}
{{NJint|exit
|county=Bergen
|cspan=22
|location=Elmwood Park
|lspan=4
|mile=64.07
|mspan=2
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|507|name1=River Drive|city1=Garfield|city2=Ridgewood}}
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=none
|place=Eastern end of freeway section
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=64.41
|mspan=2
|type=toll
|road={{jct|state=NJ|GSP2||dir1=south}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; exit 157 on G.S. Parkway
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=none
|type=toll
|road={{jct|state=NJ|GSP2||dir1=north}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit 157 on G.S. Parkway
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Saddle Brook
|mile=66.03
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|42|county1=Bergen|noshield1=yes|name1=Outwater Lane|city1=Garfield|city2=Passaic}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Lodi
|mile=66.56
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|61|county1=Bergen|noshield1=yes|name1=Main Street|city1=Lodi|city2=Rochelle Park}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Hasbrouck Heights
|lspan=3
|type=incomplete
|mile=67.62
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|57|dir1=north|county1=Bergen|noshield1=yes|name1=Boulevard|to2=to|NJ|17}}
|notes=Interchange; eastbound exit and entrance
}}
{{NJint|exit
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|road|Terrace Avenue|city1=Hackensack|city2=Mahwah}}
|notes=Interchange; eastbound exit and entrance
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=68.01
|mile2=68.11
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|17|city1=Newark|city2=Paramus}}
|notes=Interchange; no eastbound exit
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Teterboro
|mile=68.27
|road={{jct|state=NJ|road|Green Street|city1=Hackensack}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Little Ferry
|mile=69.52
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|503|name1=Liberty Street|city1=Hackensack|city2=Moonachie}}
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Ridgefield Park
|mile=70.68
|mile2=70.97
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I-Toll|95|NJTP2||dir1=south|dir2=south|road|Teaneck Road|name3={{jct|state=NJ|CR|39|county1=Bergen|noshield1=yes}}|to4=yes|I|80|dir4=west}}
|notes=Interchange; no eastbound access to I-80; exit 68 on I-95 / Turnpike
}}
{{NJint|exit
|location=Palisades Park
|lspan=3
|mile=71.65
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|93|name1=Grand Avenue}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=71.94
|mile2=72.09
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|1-9|dir1=south|name1=Broad Avenue}}
|notes=Interchange; western end of US&nbsp;1-9 concurrency
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=72.61
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|501|name1=East Central Boulevard|city1=Palisades Park}}
|notes=Interchange; access via 5th/6th Streets
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=73.17
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|63|dir1=south|name1=Bergen Boulevard}}
|location=Fort Lee
|lspan=7
|notes=Interchange; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; northern terminus of Route 63
|type=incomplete
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=73.71
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|56|county1=Bergen|noshield1=yes|name1=Main Street|city1=Fort Lee|city2=Leonia}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=74.18
|mspan=2
|place=Western end of freeway section
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=none
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|9W|dir1=north|NJ|4|dir2=west|to3=to|PIP||dir3=north|city1=Fort Lee}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; Route 4 not signed
}}
{{NJint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=74.33
|exit=72B
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|95|dir1=south|NJTP||dir2=south|NJ|4|dir3=west|to4=yes|I|80|dir4=west|GSP||city1=Hackensack|city2=Paterson}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; southern end of I-95 concurrency; northern terminus of N.J. Turnpike; eastern terminus of Route 4
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=74.49
|exit=73
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|67|road|Hudson Terrace|name2={{jct|state=NJ|CR|505|noshield=yes}}|US|9W|PIP||dir4=north|to3=yes|city1=Fort Lee}}
|notes=Signed for US 9W/Hudson Terrace southbound, Palisades northbound; last northbound exit before toll
}}
{{NJint|exit
|mile=74.84
|exit=74
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|PIP||dir1=north}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance from express lanes; southern terminus of Palisades Parkway
}}
{{jctbridge|exit
|river=[[Hudson River]]
|lspan=2
|mile=75.34
|mspan=2
|line=yes
|type=toll
|bridge=[[George Washington Bridge]] (eastbound toll; [[Video tolling|Pay-by-Plate]] or [[E-ZPass]])
}}
{{NYint|exit
|mile=none
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=NY|I|95|US|1-9|dir1=north|dir2=north|city1=New York City}}
|notes=Continuation into [[New York (state)|New York]] at the river’s center; eastern end of I-95/US 1-9 concurrency
}}
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=incomplete,concur,toll}}

==See also==
{{Portal|U.S. Roads|New Jersey}}
* [[New Jersey Route 6M]]
{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|U.S. Route 46}}
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
* [http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000046__-.pdf US 46] [[straight line diagram]] ([[PDF]])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231253/http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/route05.htm NJ 1920s Route 5]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041129033817/http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/route12.htm NJ 1920s Route 12]
* [http://www.bergenscanner.com/rt46.shtml Police Scanner Frequencies for Route 46]
* [http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/traffic_orders/speed/rt46.shtm Speed Limits for Route 46]
* [http://usends.com/46.html Endpoints of US 46]
* [https://www.eastcoastroads.com/states/nj/state/us46 US 46 (East Coast Roads)]

{{US Highways}}
{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U.S. Route 046}}
[[Category:U.S. Route 46|U.S. Route 46]]
[[Category:United States Numbered Highway System|46]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in New Jersey|46]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Pennsylvania|46]]
[[Category:Transportation in Bergen County, New Jersey|U.S. Route 46]]
[[Category:Transportation in Essex County, New Jersey|U.S. Route 46]]
[[Category:Transportation in Morris County, New Jersey|U.S. Route 46]]
[[Category:Transportation in Passaic County, New Jersey|U.S. Route 46]]
[[Category:Transportation in Warren County, New Jersey|U.S. Route 46]]
[[Category:Limited-access roads in New Jersey]]