New Jersey Route 139

Route 139

Company type	State highway
Industry	Transportation
Founded	1922
Founder	New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)
Headquarters	Jersey City , United States
Area served	Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
Products	Roadway infrastructure
Owner	New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)

Route 139 is a state highway located in Jersey City, New Jersey, extending eastward from the Pulaski Skyway over Tonnele Circle to the New Jersey-New York border via the Holland Tunnel, which passes beneath the Hudson River into New York City. The western portion consists of a two-tiered highway maintained by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) as two distinct roadways: the lower level (Route 139) runs from U.S. Route 1/9 (US 1/9) over Tonnele Circle to Interstate 78 (I-78) at Jersey Avenue, while the upper level (designated Route 139U or Hoboken Avenue) begins at County Route 501 (John F. Kennedy Boulevard), converging with the lower level at the 12th Street Viaduct and terminating at Jersey Avenue. Since 2005, the lower roadway has been recognized on both the federal and New Jersey state historic registers. The eastern section comprises the Holland Tunnel approach, sharing alignment with I-78 along one-way streets—12th Street eastbound and 14th Street westbound. Including concurrent segments, Route 139 measures .

Initially part of the northernmost stretch of the Route 1 Extension, it was redesignated as Route 25 during the 1927 state highway renumbering. The 1953 renumbering reverted Route 25 back to U.S. Route 1 after its 1931 rerouting over the George Washington Bridge. The segment spanning from Pulaski Skyway to the Holland Tunnel was then designated as U.S. Route 1/9 Business, which by the 1990s had been replaced by Route 139.

Rehabilitation efforts for both levels began in 2005 under NJDOT, with viaduct improvements on 12th and 14th Streets completed by 2010. Further enhancements to the upper level—including the Hoboken Avenue Viaduct—and upgrades to the lower level's Conrail Viaduct were expected to be finalized by 2016.

Route description

Route 139 is composed of three interconnected roadways: the upper level, lower level, and the Holland Tunnel approach (which runs concurrently with I-78). NJDOT treats the lower and upper levels as separate routes—the lower level is officially Route 139 (noted to coincide with I-78), while the upper level is designated as Route 139U, although this designation is not signed.

Lower level

The lower tier is a controlled-access freeway featuring four lanes, originating at U.S. Route 1/9 and continuing from the Pulaski Skyway above Tonnele Circle. The Tonnele Circle Viaduct provides an elevated ramp over Tonnele Circle that connects westbound traffic to southbound U.S. Route 1/9 Truck, facilitating swift access to Route 7, which leads to I-280. Conversely, northbound U.S. Route 1/9 Truck traffic flows through Tonnele Circle toward eastbound lanes. The Pulaski Skyway concludes with ramps at a cut through Bergen Hill, where this highway passes beneath John F. Kennedy Boulevard.

Proceeding southeast, Conrail's National Docks Branch and its Long Dock Tunnel span over the Bergen Arches, an abandoned railroad corridor. The highway then enters an open cut that is covered beneath the upper level of Route 139 within the Hudson Palisades, commonly referred to as the Depressed Highway. This covered section utilizes natural ventilation through broad openings along the southern side of eastbound lanes facing Bergen Arches and ventilation bays situated above westbound lanes. Emerging beneath Palisade Avenue, the roadway divides into separate eastbound and westbound viaducts that merge into I-78 just west of Jersey Avenue near the Holland Tunnel entrance.

Upper level

The upper segment of Route 139, also referred to as the State Highway and Hoboken Avenue Viaduct, originates at County Route 501 (Kennedy Boulevard), providing connections to Bayonne and Union City. It extends southeastward through densely populated residential and commercial areas as a four-lane undivided highway, intersecting with Collard Street. Shortly beyond this point, it transitions into a four-lane divided roadway, separated by ventilation structures from the lower level, with the eastbound lanes positioned above. This stretch runs between the Heights to the north and Journal Square to the south, crossing multiple county routes including 646 (St. Pauls Avenue), 617 (Summit Avenue), 663 (Central Avenue), and 644 (Oakland Street). At Concord Street, there is an eastbound left exit lane alongside a westbound intersection. Beyond Palisade Avenue, the upper level both diverges from and converges with the lower level via ramps serving westbound and eastbound traffic, including a westbound entry ramp from local Hoboken Avenue.

Viaducts

The Upper Route 139 is carried by two four-lane viaducts: the 12th Street Viaduct, completed in 1927, and the 14th Street Viaduct, finished in 1951. These structures span from Jersey Avenue at Boyle Plaza to the Bergen Hill cut beneath Palisade Avenue. Ramps at the western terminus of the 12th Street Viaduct provide access to the upper level at Palisade Avenue. The westbound ramp is delineated by a reinforced concrete retaining wall, while the eastbound ramp rests on reinforced concrete arch spans. Near the junction with the westbound 14th Street Viaduct, the western end of the 12th Street Viaduct shifts from two-way traffic to one-way eastbound flow.

Due to deteriorating steel beams and excessive concrete mass leading to structural deficiencies, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) committed $92 million towards extensive rehabilitation of these viaducts. The renovation encompassed replacing concrete decks, implementing seismic retrofits, repairing both substructures and superstructures, and adding a shoulder lane on the westbound 14th Street Viaduct. Decorative elements were integrated into the design to preserve their historic character. This thorough restoration was finalized in 2010.

I-78 concurrency

Westbound Interstate 78 departs from Route 139’s 14th Street Viaduct near Jersey Avenue. Eastbound I-78 runs adjacent to the southern side of the eastern section of the 12th Street Viaduct before merging with Route 139 at its eastern terminus. From this point onward, Route 139 shares its route with I-78 through commercial districts as a one-way pair: six lanes eastbound on 12th Street and six lanes westbound on 14th Street. This portion falls under the jurisdiction of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and is identified as Boyle Plaza. Major intersections along this corridor include Jersey Avenue (providing access to Downtown Jersey City and Hoboken), County Route 633 (Erie Street), County Route 635 (Grove Street), and County Route 637 (Luis Muñoz Marín Boulevard) near Newport Centre Mall. Eastbound traffic passes by the former Holland Tunnel toll plaza before entering the tunnel beneath the Hudson River, which accommodates two lanes in each direction. Route 139 terminates at the New Jersey–New York state boundary within the tunnel while I-78 continues onward into New York City.

During its concurrency with I-78 approaching the Holland Tunnel, Route 139 is unsigned; signage for Route 139 only appears at its divergence from westbound I-78 and prior to merging eastbound. In New York State near the tunnel entrance, only I-78 is indicated on signs.

Initial Development and Route Designations

The lower portion of today's Route 139 was initially incorporated into the northernmost stretch of the Route 1 Extension, authorized in 1922 to extend Route 1 from Elizabeth to the Holland Tunnel in Jersey City. When the U.S. Highway System was established in 1926, this segment also received the designation of U.S. Route 1. Following the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering, it became part of Route 25, which spanned from Camden’s Ben Franklin Bridge to the Holland Tunnel.

During the 1953 renumbering, Route 25 was redesignated as U.S. Route 1/9 Business between the Pulaski Skyway and the Holland Tunnel. By the 1990s, this stretch was renumbered as NJ Route 139. Together with the Pulaski Skyway, much of Route 139’s lower level was recognized as a contributing element to the Route 1 Extension historic district, which earned listings on both state and federal historic registers in 2005.

The Newark Bay Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike, constructed for Interstate 78, opened in 1956 to link the turnpike directly to the Holland Tunnel. Route 139 shares concurrency with I-78 from their junction near Jersey Avenue extending through to the New York state boundary inside the tunnel.

Connections to Holland Tunnel and Pulaski Skyway

As part of constructing the Holland Tunnel, the New Jersey and New York Bridge and Tunnel Commissions undertook widening projects on 12th and 14th Streets in Jersey City, stretching from Jersey Avenue to Provost Street. West of Grove Street, 12th Street was expanded to , including a toll plaza block measuring wide. Additionally, 14th Street and two blocks of Jersey Avenue—carrying westbound traffic toward the 12th Street Viaduct—were widened to .

The two-way 12th Street Viaduct, connecting Jersey Avenue to Bergen Hill, officially opened on July 4, 1927. Later, on February 13, 1951, the four-lane westbound 14th Street Viaduct opened as a continuation linked to the 12th Street Viaduct. The Port of New York Authority, which assumed control over Holland Tunnel operations in 1930, constructed the 14th Street Viaduct to improve traffic flow but subsequently transferred its oversight to the New Jersey State Highway Commission. East of its junction with the 14th Street Viaduct, the western end of the 12th Street Viaduct transitioned from two-way traffic to one-way eastbound operation on four lanes. In 1956, it was widened on its southern side between spans 1-24 to facilitate merging with eastbound I-78 (the New Jersey Turnpike extension).

In 1928, the completed lower-level highway segment—alongside Route 1 Extension east of the Passaic River—was inaugurated as part of a high-speed route linking the Holland Tunnel and Newark. The upper level of Route 139 (known as the Hoboken Avenue Viaduct), offering a multi-lane corridor from Palisades Avenue to John F. Kennedy Boulevard, also opened at that time.

The controlled-access freeway connection was finalized with the opening of the Pulaski Skyway in 1932. Its eastern terminus ramp was later replaced by two separate ramps dedicated to eastbound and westbound traffic departing Bergen Hill near John F. Kennedy Boulevard. On September 14, 1938, the Tonnele Circle Viaduct commenced operation over Tonnele Circle, providing a direct link for westbound vehicles onto southbound U.S. Route 1/9 Truck, which offers expedited access to Route 7 and Interstate 280.

Later developments

In 1989, Governor Thomas Kean introduced the Bergen Arches Expressway proposal, designed to connect the Jersey City waterfront with a newly planned rail service for the Meadowlands Sports Complex. This proposed four-lane highway was intended to follow the route of the disused Bergen Arches railroad corridor. Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler endorsed the initiative, anticipating it would foster development and alleviate congestion on Route 139. Federal funding of $26 million was earmarked for the project in 1998. Nevertheless, by 2001, both candidates for mayor expressed preference for establishing a transit line instead of constructing a highway. Consequently, in 2002, city officials including Mayor Glenn Dale Cunningham abandoned the highway plan in favor of prioritizing mass transit solutions.

Governor Chris Christie shifted focus in 2011 by reallocating funds originally designated for the Access to the Region's Core rail initiative toward highway enhancements. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey pledged $1.8 billion for upgrading critical infrastructure such as the Pulaski Skyway, Route 139, and other key components supporting the Port of New York and New Jersey’s logistics network.

The Route 139 improvement project encompassed restoration of the eastbound Hoboken Avenue Viaduct, resurfacing of the westbound lanes, intersection operational enhancements, and complete replacement of all overpasses. Additionally, the Conrail Viaduct underwent comprehensive deck and superstructure reconstruction. Initial cost projections ranged from $180 million to $200 million with an anticipated finish date around 2016; however, completion extended to 2019. The Pulaski Skyway reopened in mid-2018, while Route 139’s lower level was temporarily restored to four lanes in December 2018 before partial closure resumed early in 2019. Further upgrades during 2019 incorporated new lighting installations and updated pavement markings.

Following the introduction of open road tolling at the Holland Tunnel, the six-lane segment of 12th Street east of Marin Boulevard—carrying eastbound I-78 and Route 139—was reduced to four lanes. In 2025, the United States Department of Transportation granted $25 million to the Port Authority to narrow 12th Street between Jersey Avenue and Marin Boulevard further, aiming to improve traffic management and safety near the Holland Tunnel vicinity.

Mainline

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See also

• Portal:U.S. Roads
• Portal:New Jersey
• Route 1A and Route 9A, former extensions of US 1-9 Business into New York City

External links

• New Jersey Roads: NJ 139 and I-78 at Alps Roads
• New Jersey Highway Ends: 139 at NJ Roads
• NJ 139 Freeway at NYCRoads
• Speed Limits for Route 139 at NJDOT
• Historic American Engineering Record documentation for Jersey City structures on Route 139