Noticed South Jersey has a lot more “straight” roads compared to North Jersey

Submitted by darkflame927 t3_11v9z6o in newjersey

I’m from Morris County, lived here since I moved to the country so I’m used to the relatively hilly & curvy roads. I’ve been driving back and forth to Atlantic County a lot because my SO lives down there, and I’m always surprised to see how different the roads are.

I’m talking about roads like Black Horse Pike (the 322 part at least) and Mays Landing Rd (Rt 73). Like, perfectly flat, completely straight roads with barely any curves or elevation changes to the point where you have enough visibility to see the next mile or two. I’ve barely run into any of these type of roads in North Jersey in the almost-decade that I’ve lived here.

I’m assuming the cause is the hilly/mountainous terrain of North Jersey but it’s still very fascinating to see.

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Rusty_Ferberger t1_jcs5wdj wrote

Some places are hilly. Some places are flat. Some places are populated. Some places are not. It's kind of a worldwide phenomenon. Maybe even universal.

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DarthRathikus t1_jcs5rj5 wrote

That long southern stretch of turnpike that’s just miles of straightness is a nightmare to drive when tired

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ianisms10 t1_jcsmik7 wrote

Driving to/home from Philadelphia from Bergen County at night is not something I would enjoy doing alone

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DerSturmbannfuror t1_jct6alo wrote

Pretty easy and non eventful on the turnpike. Actually a better ride than the parkway, 80 or 78 imho

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DerSturmbannfuror t1_jct65sp wrote

The turnpike barely has any curves up north. The big difference between the 2 areas is how developed the north is compared to the south of jersey

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NevermoreShandy t1_jctbedy wrote

Age also plays a factor - North Jersey settlement in general is a bit older than South Jersey settlement. The joke I heard is that the roads up here are based on the old wagon routes, which were based on old Native American footpaths, which were sometimes based off of old deer trails - so you can get weird bends because five hundred years ago a deer stopped to look at something interesting!

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css555 t1_jctr7a7 wrote

Many routes followed rivers, since rivers naturally followed a flatter path. Look at Route 23, Hamburg Tpk, the NYS&W Railroad, in the West Milford and Butler area...they all follow the Pequannock River.

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tashabunn t1_jcspw8i wrote

Plus Atlantic county is coastal. Our coast tends to be pretty flat.

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sutisuc t1_jcu573m wrote

Yup you nailed it OP. North jersey is basically all hills so the roads have to weave around them, especially in the northwest part of the state. South jersey is flat as a pan so they could just build the roads straight

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SnooWords4839 t1_jcsko4x wrote

I think it's 553? you have to make turns to stay on it or end up at the Salem Nuclear plant, it's been years since I was on the backroads, Glassboro to Bridgeton area.

I drive from Mount Laurel to Morris Plains once a week, so wish driving on 287 would be better.

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Available_Survey8834 t1_jcs6u1v wrote

I find it hard driving Paramus area, roads are packed and tight with some weird intersections near IKEA

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Jimmytowne t1_jcti5hd wrote

It was easier to cut through farm land to create roads than it was to cut through Victorian estates in the north

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alttabdeletedie t1_jctv8h6 wrote

Yes and no, I'm from Cumberland and live in Camden county now. Yes, some parts are very straight, but especially going to the shore, through the forests, etc it can get curvey/have some interesting roads. Not as much as the northwestern part of the state, but it honestly just depends.

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Meetybeefy t1_jcvadcc wrote

A lot of the straight roads in Atlantic County are the ghosts of Egg Harbor City. It was planned to a major metropolis and port city along the Mullica River, and grid-style roads were platted from the Hammonton to Galloway borders. Most of the roads were never built, but a number of “main” roads were.

Those roads are identifiable because they all have German names (like Leipzig Avenue or Duerer Street).

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