Route 49 is a state highway in the southern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It runs 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 and 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 49 was established in 1927 to run from Salem to Clermont, running along its present alignment between Salem and Millville, following current Route 47 between Millville and South Dennis, and running along present-day Route 83 between South Dennis and Clermont. It replaced a branch of pre-1927 Route 6 between Salem and Bridgeton and a part of pre-1927 Route 15 between Bridgeton and South Dennis. In 1953, Route 49 was routed onto its current alignment, replacing a part of Route 44 between Salem and Deepwater and following the former alignment of Route 47 between Millville and Tuckahoe. In the 1960s, a freeway was planned for Route 49 between Deepwater and Millville; it was never built. In the 2000s, many improvements have been or are being made to bridges along Route 49.
Route description
Salem County
Route 49 heads southwest on Broadway from an interchange with the New Jersey Turnpike, I-295, and US 40 in the community of Deepwater in Pennsville Township, Salem County near the Delaware Memorial Bridge. North of here, the road continues to the north as US 130. Route 49 passes through residential and commercial areas of Pennsville, turning to the south-southeast and passing west of Pennsville Memorial High School. The route intersects County Route 630 (Fort Mott Road) before it continues into farmland. Route 49 then intersects the southern terminus of County Route 551 (Hook Road and County Route 632 (Lighthouse Road). It crosses the Salem River into Salem and becomes Front Street.
In Salem, the route intersects County Route 657 (Griffith Street) at a crossing of the SMS Rail Lines' Salem Branch line and makes a right turn. It turns left onto Broadway and forms the main business district of the town. In downtown Salem, Route 49 intersects County Route 625 (Chestnut Street), the southern terminus of Route 45 (Market Street), and County Route 665 (Walnut Street). It crosses County Route 658 (Keasbey Street/York Street) and enters Quinton Township, becoming Main Street and heading into agricultural areas. Route 49 heads east, meeting County Route 650 (Hancocks Bridge Road) and County Route 653 (Action Station Road). It crosses the Alloway Creek into the community of Quinton, where it intersects the southern terminus of County Route 581 (Quinton Alloway Road) and County Route 654 (Sickler Street). The route leaves Quinton and intersects County Route 626 (Jericho Road), continuing southeast into wooded areas, where Route 49 crosses County Route 667 (Pecks Corner Road) and County Route 647 (Telegraph Road/Jericho Road).
Cumberland County
Route 49 crosses a stream, Sarah Run, into Stow Creek Township, Cumberland County and heads into farmland as Shiloh Pike. Here, it crosses County Route 624 (Jericho Road) and County Route 617 (Columbia Highway). The route then intersects County Route 635 (Old Cohansey Road) and continues south along the border of Stow Creek Township to the west and Hopewell Township to the east, entering Shiloh at the intersection with Mill Road. In Shiloh, Route 49 meets County Route 620 (Roadstown Road) and County Route 753 (East Avenue/West Avenue) in the center of town and heads southeast, crossing County Route 695 (Maple Avenue/Randolph Road). The route enters Hopewell Township and intersects County Route 661 (Barretts Run Road).
Past this intersection, Route 49 enters a more suburban landscape, crossing County Route 621 (W. Park Drive). The route enters Bridgeton and becomes West Broad Street. In Bridgeton, it intersects County Route 607 (West Avenue), County Route 650 (Fayette Street), and County Route 697 (Atlantic Street). Route 49 crosses the Cohansey River and comes to an intersection with Pearl Street, which heads to the north as Route 77 and to the south as County Route 609. Past Pearl Street, Route 49 intersects County Route 670 (East Commerce Street/Buckshutem Road) and crosses a Winchester and Western Railroad line as it continues to the east on East Commerce Street. It crosses County Route 638 (N. Burlington Road) and enters Fairfield Township.