County Route 527
CR 527 highlighted in red, CR 527A in blue
Route information
Length	84.86 mi[1] (136.57 km)
Existed	January 1, 1953[2]–present
Major junctions
South end	Route 166 / CR 549 in Toms River
Major intersections	US 9 / G.S. Parkway in Toms River I-195 in Jackson Township Route 18 in Old Bridge Township I-95 Toll / N.J. Turnpike in East Brunswick Township I-287 in Franklin Township US 22 in Bridgewater Township I-78 in Summit I-280 in Roseland
North end	Route 23 / CR 604 in Cedar Grove
Location
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Counties	Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Essex
Highway system
County routes in New Jersey 500-series routes
← CR 526 → CR 528

County Route 527 (CR 527) is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends 84.86 mi (136.57 km) from Main Street (Route 166 and CR 549) in Toms River Township to Pompton Avenue (Route 23) in Cedar Grove. It passes through more counties (six) than any other county route in New Jersey. CR 527 is also the second longest 500-series county route in New Jersey after Route 519. The county route traverses through the northernmost stretches of the Pine Barrens in South Jersey, much of the Raritan Valley and Rahway Valley regions in Central Jersey (providing access to Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, Watchung Reservation, and South Mountain Reservation), and the First and Second Watchung Mountains in North Jersey.^[3][4][5][6] It passes through Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset, Union, and Essex counties on the eastern side of the state.

It has a 2.48 mile concurrency with Route 18 in Middlesex County in addition to other minor state highways and county roads. The route interchanges with the Garden State Parkway and Interstates 195, 95 (New Jersey Turnpike), 287, 78, and 280. It was first given the number 527 in 1954.

Route description

CR 527 northbound past CR 1 and CR 527A in Manalapan Township

CR 527 begins at a traffic light with New Jersey Route 166 in Toms River.^[1] Passing some local roads at the beginning, CR 527 crosses an interchange with the Garden State Parkway at .53 of a mile (0.85 km). More than a mile later, New Jersey Route 37 crosses 527 at a traffic light. Continuing through Toms River Township, CR 571 merges into 527 for about 3/4 of a mile.^[1] At 7.57 miles (12.18 km), State Route 70 crosses CR 527. Just past ten miles (16 km), CR 547 crosses in Jackson Township. Further in Jackson Township, CR 527 joins CR 528 for a 3.78-mile-long (6.08 km) concurrency. At the end of the concurrency, CR 527 continues straight while CR 528 leaves to the left and CR 626 (Bennetts Mills Road) leaves to the right.^[1]

At 18.05 miles (29.05 km), CR 526 and CR 527 intersect.^[1] Less than a mile later, Interstate 195 interchanges with CR 527. Past this interchange, the route passes east of the Jackson Township Park & Ride, a park and ride facility serving Academy Bus Lines. At 19.61 miles (31.56 km), CR 527 leaves Ocean County and enters Monmouth County. In Smithburg (the Freehold / Millstone / Manalapan township border), County Routes 524 and 537 cross. Past 24 miles (39 km) at Carrs Corner, CR 527 turns to the right heading northeast while an alternate route to 527, CR 527A begins straight ahead. At 26.61 miles (42.82 km), New Jersey Route 33 crosses at a traffic light in Manalapan. CR 527 heads north enters Englishtown.^[1] In Englishtown, CR 527 reaches the northern terminus of CR 527A at South Main Street and later forms a 0.07-mile-long (110 m) concurrency with CR 522. At 30.58 miles (49.21 km), CR 527 re-enters Manalapan for a short distance. At 31.50 miles (50.69 km), CR 527 enters Monroe Township which is in Middlesex County. 527 spends a short time in Monroe as it soon enters the township of Old Bridge. At 34.29 miles (55.18 km), CR 520 crosses at a traffic light.^[1]

View north along CR 527 at Kossman Street in Old Bridge, East Brunswick

After passing local roads in Old Bridge, CR 527 forms a brief concurrency with CR 516 as they cross over Route 18.^[1] CR 527 leaves to the left at Old Matawan Road, crosses the South River, and enters the Old Bridge section of East Brunswick. After the intersection with CR 615, it continues on Old Bridge Turnpike into East Brunswick and South River. Just before 41 miles (66 km), CR 535 crosses 527 at a traffic light. Entering East Brunswick again, Route 18 and CR 527 merge for 2.48 miles (6 km).^[1] In this section, there are exits for Interstate 95 (the New Jersey Turnpike) and U.S. Route 1. CR 527 follows Route 18 into New Brunswick and exits the concurrency with Route 18 and forms one for the entire length of Route 172 through Rutgers University's Douglass Campus. Heading northwest along New Brunswick's George Street, CR 527 then merges into a concurrency with Route 27 on Albany Street. CR 527 turns off Route 27 at Easton Avenue. At Hamilton Street (unsigned CR 514), CR 527 continues past numerous businesses towards the outskirts of New Brunswick.^[1]

CR 527 southbound at I-287 in Franklin Township, Somerset County

At 48 miles (77 km), CR 527 enters Franklin Township, Somerset County and approximately a half-mile later, CR 527 splits into a four-lane highway, known locally as Easton Avenue.^[1] The stretch does not last long as it ends at about 50.5 miles (81.3 km). At 51.21 miles (82.41 km), the roads split again and soon reach Interstate 287. At 52.13 miles (83.90 km), CR 527 crosses the town border and enters South Bound Brook. Soon entering regular Bound Brook, the road divides again into a divided highway at 53.35 miles (85.86 km). The divided highway merges again at about 53.8 miles (86.6 km). At 54.3 miles (87.4 km), Route 28 crosses.^[1] After the intersection with Route 28, CR 527 enters Bridgewater and crosses with U.S. Route 22. In Watchung, CR 529 leaves to the right. Just past the 61-mile (98 km) mark, the road divides again for a short time. In between this divided stage, CR 531 merges in. 531 leaves as the highways merge again.^[1]

CR 527 northbound past CR 636 in Summit

Now in Union County, CR 527 has two partial interchanges with Interstate 78 as it skirts the Watchung Reservation.^[1] In the city of Summit, CR 527 and the easternmost section of CR 512 split into one-way pairs through an interchange with Route 24 and a concurrency with Route 124. CR 527 enters Essex County after the concurrency ends.^[1] CR 527 enters Millburn and splits into one-way pairs again, concurrent with CR 577 as it enters downtown.^[1] At 71.55 miles (115.15 km), CR 577 leaves to the right. Just before 74 miles (119 km), CR 510 crosses. The road passes by Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.^[1] At 75 miles (121 km), CR 508 crosses at a traffic light as the route enters Livingston. New Jersey Route 10 crosses at 77.26 miles (124.34 km) and then I-280 crosses at 78 miles (126 km). In Caldwell, CR 527 merges with CR 506 for about .62 of a mile (1.00 km). CR 527 ends at an intersection with Route 23 in Cedar Grove.^[1]

History

View northbound along CR 527 from I-280 in Roseland

From the New-East Brunswick Line to Old Bridge, the road was once maintained by the East Brunswick and New Brunswick Turnpike Company, chartered in 1865. It was once part of State Route S-24, now Route 18, though this was bypassed.

The New Brunswick section of CR 527 was known as County Route 3R11 back in 1947. The parts south of that in Middlesex County was known as County Route 3R10.^[7] By 1954, the road was known as County Route 527, part of the 500-series county roads adopted by the state of New Jersey.^[8]

Two former spur routes of CR 527 existed. The first CR 527 Spur in Somerset County ran along what is now Somerset CR 651, CR 512, and Somerset CR 613. The second CR 527 Spur ran along what is now Essex County Routes 608 and 649.^[9]

Major intersections

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Ocean	Toms River	0.00	0.00	Route 166 (Main Street) / CR 549 north
		0.53	0.85	G.S. Parkway / US 9 – New York City, Beachwood, Atlantic City	GSP exit 81
		1.97	3.17	Route 37
		4.10	6.60	CR 571 east (Indian Head Road)	South end of CR 571 overlap
		4.85	7.81	CR 571 west (Ridgeway Road)	North end of CR 571 overlap
		7.57	12.18	Route 70 to G.S. Parkway north – Lakehurst, Brielle
	Jackson Township	10.30	16.58	CR 547 (South Hope Chapel Road)
		11.71	18.85	CR 528 east (Lakewood Road) – Lakewood	South end of CR 528 overlap
		15.49	24.93	CR 528 west (West Veterans Highway) / CR 636 (Bennetts Mills Road) – Plumsted	North end of CR 528 overlap
		18.05	29.05	CR 526 (Commodore Boulevard)
		18.47	29.72	I-195 to N.J. Turnpike – Allentown, Trenton, Belmar	I-195 exit 21
Monmouth	Freehold–Millstone– Manalapan township tripoint	22.44	36.11	CR 524 / CR 537 (Monmouth Road)	Forms the municipal tripoint Smithburg
	Millstone–Manalapan township line	24.38	39.24	CR 527A north (Woodsville Road) to Route 33 / CR 1 (Sweetmans Lane)	Southern terminus of CR 527A
	Manalapan Township	26.61	42.82	Route 33 – Hightstown, Freehold
	Englishtown	29.84	48.02	CR 527A south (South Main Street)	Northern terminus of CR 527A
		29.97	48.23	CR 522 east (Tennent Street)	South end of CR 522 overlap
		30.08	48.41	CR 522 west (Water Street)	North end of CR 522 overlap
Middlesex	Old Bridge Township	34.29	55.18	CR 520 east (Texas Road) to N.J. Turnpike	Western terminus of CR 520
		37.86	60.93	Route 18 north / CR 516 begins	Interchange; western terminus of CR 516; no direct access to Route 18 south from CR 527 north / to CR 527 from Route 18 north
		38.04	61.22	CR 516 east (Old Bridge Matawan Road)	North end of CR 516 overlap
	East Brunswick Township	38.68– 38.82	62.25– 62.47	Route 18 north to N.J. Turnpike / CR 615 (Main Street) – New Brunswick	Interchange; access to and from southbound Route 18 via CR 615
		40.92	65.85	CR 535 (Main Street)
		42.92	69.07	Route 18 south to G.S. Parkway	South end of Route 18 overlap
		43.97	70.76	I-95 Toll / N.J. Turnpike – New York City, Trenton	I-95/NJTP exit 9
	New Brunswick	44.64	71.84	US 1 – Newark, Trenton	Interchange
		45.28	72.87	Route 18 north / Route 172 begins (George Street) – Piscataway	Interchange, north end of Route 18 overlap, south end of Route 172 overlap; no access from Route 18 south to CR 527 north
		46.04	74.09	Route 172 ends / Paul Robeson Boulevard	North end of Route 172 overlap
		46.74	75.22	Route 27 north (Albany Street) / CR 672 (George Street)	South end of Route 27 overlap
		46.84	75.38	Route 27 south (French Street)	North end of Route 27 overlap
		46.95	75.56	CR 514 (Hamilton Street)
Somerset	Franklin Township	51.58	83.01	I-287 to N.J. Turnpike – Perth Amboy, Morristown, Mahwah	I-287 exit 10
	Bound Brook	53.36	85.87	CR 533 north (East Main Street) / CR 689 (East Street)	Roundabout; south end of CR 533 concurrency
		53.60	86.26	CR 533 south (East Main Street)	North end of CR 533 concurrency
		53.94	86.81	Route 28 (East Union Avenue) – Somerville, Plainfield
	Bridgewater Township	54.85	88.27	US 22 – Somerville, Newark	Interchange
	Watchung	59.47	95.71	CR 529 south (Washington Rock Road)	Northern terminus of CR 529
		60.95– 61.05	98.09– 98.25	CR 531 (Somerset Street / Hillcrest Road) to I-78 – North Plainfield	Traffic circle
Union	Berkeley Heights	65.40	105.25	I-78 east – Newark	I-78 exit 44; access to/from eastbound I-78 only
	Summit	67.35	108.39	I-78 – Easton	I-78 exit 45; access from I-78 east / from CR 527 south to I-78 west only
		69.69	112.16	CR 512 west	Eastern terminus of CR 512
	Springfield Township	69.80	112.33	Route 24 east to I-78 / N.J. Turnpike	Route 24 exit 9A; no access to westbound Route 24
		70.08	112.78	Route 124 west to Route 24 – Summit, Chatham, Morristown	South end of Route 124 overlap
Essex	Millburn	70.10	112.82	Route 124 east – Elizabeth, Newark	North end of Route 124 overlap
		71.19	114.57	CR 577 (Main Street/Millburn Avenue)
		73.57	118.40	CR 510 (South Orange Avenue)
	Livingston	74.80	120.38	CR 508 (Northfield Avenue)
		76.90	123.76	Route 10 (Mt. Pleasant Avenue) – Whippany, Newark
	Roseland	78.16	125.79	I-280 – Parsippany, Newark	I-280 exit 5
	Caldwell	80.79	130.02	CR 506 west (Bloomfield Avenue)	South end of CR 506 overlap
		81.41	131.02	CR 506 east (Bloomfield Avenue)	North end of CR 506 overlap
	Cedar Grove	84.86	136.57	Route 23 (Pompton Avenue) / CR 604 (Lindsley Road)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

CR 527A

View north along CR 527A (Iron Ore Road) at Indian Path and Dugans Grove Road in Manalapan

County Route 527A (also known as County Route 527 Alternate or CR 527A) is a county highway in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The highway extends about six miles (9.7 km) from Sweetmans Lane (County Routes 527 and 1) in Carrs Corner, New Jersey, on the border of Millstone and Manalapan townships, following Woodville Road, Iron Ore Road, High Bridge Road, and South Main Street to Park Avenue / South Main Street in Englishtown. It crosses Route 33 about halfway between its two termini.^[10]

The section of the highway named Iron Ore Road was once part of the Manalapanville and Englishtown Turnpike, chartered in 1863 to run from Englishtown to Manalapanville, on the border of Millstone, including High Bridge Road and Main Street into Englishtown and Dugan's Grove Road.

Near its northern terminus, CR 527A formerly followed Iron Ore Road to its end at Millhurst Road (CR 527) in Manalapan, but in late 2015, a jurisdiction swap between Monmouth County and Manalapan / Englishtown routed the county road on a straighter course into the borough.^[11]

Major intersections
The entire route is in Monmouth County.

Location	mi[10]	km	Destinations	Notes
Millstone–Manalapan township line	0.00	0.00	CR 527 (Smithburg Road / Sweetmans Lane) / CR 1 west
	2.25	3.62	Route 33 – Hightstown, Freehold
Englishtown	5.92	9.53	CR 527 (Park Avenue / South Main Street)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

•  U.S. Roads portal
•  New Jersey portal

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to County Route 527 (New Jersey).

• NJ State Highways: CR 515-530
• CR 527 pictures