A forgotten relic of the highway system. That’s what Former NJ Route 58 is. It whispers stories of bygone eras. Stories of roaring engines and bustling traffic.
Former NJ Route 58 isn’t just any abandoned road. It’s a piece of Newark and Harrison’s history. It once served as a vital artery connecting these two New Jersey towns. A four-lane freeway it cut a swathe across the landscape. It connected Newark to Harrison via the William A Stickel Memorial Bridge. This bridge better known as the Stickel Bridge was a marvel of engineering in its time.
The story of Former NJ Route 58 begins much earlier than its 1953 designation. It started life as Route 25A a suffixed spur of State Highway Route 25. This was in 1939. Its purpose was clear to connect Jersey City to Clifton Avenue in Newark. The route crossed through Kearny and Harrison utilizing the Bridge Street Bridge over the Passaic River. Imagine the scene the cars trundling across the old Bridge Street Bridge.
But Route 25A was destined for bigger things. In 1949 a new four lane bridge was constructed. This was renamed the Stickel Bridge after a local engineer. The growth of traffic necessitated a larger bolder road. The new freeway which would soon swallow up Route 25A was proposed in 1948. Its aim was to reduce congestion on State Highway Route 10.
In 1953 Route 25A was renumbered as Route 58. The Essex Freeway was planned to alleviate traffic. It’s a testament to the foresight of the era. It was not long before Route 58 would undergo another transformation. The need for a freeway was clear. Interstate 280 was chosen to take on the mantle of the Essex Freeway. The alignment of Route 58 was deemed perfect for the project.
Construction began on the extended Essex Freeway in 1958. Route 58 officially became Interstate 280. Despite this re-designation Route 58 persisted on maps and diagrams. It lingered until the 1990s when it was finally removed. Today only a short section of unused concrete remains near Hecker and Orange Streets a ghost of its former self. A concrete reminder of the bustling freeway it once was. It’s a powerful symbol of change. A reminder of the ever-shifting landscape of transportation.
Stand here today. On the edge of this forgotten road. Consider the vehicles that once sped along this route. Hear the faint hum of their engines in the distance. It’s a journey back in time. A trip down memory lane for a vital part of New Jersey history.