Interstate 278
The New Jersey portion of Interstate 278 links U.S. 1/9 (Edgar Road) in the city of Linden with the Goethels Bridge to Staten Island, New York. Just 2.00 miles in length, I-278 also connects with I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike) and Route 439 (Bayway) in Elizabeth City.
The wide median at the west end of Interstate 278 was designed to accommodate the continuation of the freeway northwest. The cancelled alignment formed an arc northwest across Roselle between Cranford and Union to Interstate 78 at Route 24 in Springfield.
Designated a part of New Jersey Route 439 between 1952 and 1972, the Goethals Bridge became part of Interstate 278 in 1958. Although part of the Interstate system, the bridge was not up to current Interstate standards. Addressing the aging span, safety concerns and capacity demands, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey first announced plans in 1998 for a $350 million twin span of the Goethals Bridge (Anderson, n.d.). However a subsequent study revealed that the existing Goethals Bridge was near the end of its lifespan, and a replacement bridge was needed. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was undertaken and a Record of Decision (ROD) was set on January 31, 2011 for a new cable-stayed bridge planned to carry six 12 foot lanes with both inside and outside shoulders. The original anticipated completion of the new span was 2017 (The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, n.d.).
The first span of the new Goethels Bridge opened with two-way traffic on June 10, 2017. Westbound traffic shifted to the second span on May 21, 2018.
East
Interstate 278 branches east from U.S. 1/9 (Edgar Road) at a wye interchange north of the Staten Island Railroad in Linden.
05/31/22
I-278 connects with I-95/New Jersey Turnpike just ahead of the Goethals Bridge. The last exit before the tolls connects with Brunswick Avenue (CR 616) north of the Bayway Refinery in Linden.
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Brunswick Avenue north connects I-278 with Route 439 (Bayway) west, Pulaski Street and Cole Place in the city of Elizabeth. Bayway Avenue extends east to Amboy Avenue near the Hudson River and northwest to the rotary (Bayway Circle) joining Route 439 with U.S. 1/9 (Carlton Street) and Elmora Avenue.
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I-95 follows the New Jersey Turnpike north to Newark and Ridgefield Park and south to New Brunswick and Bordentown. The toll road joins the New York metropolitan area with Philadelphia and the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
12/17/17
Ramps partition beyond the Elizabeth Toll Plaza for the Turnpike north to Secaucus and Fort Lee and south to Trenton and Camden.
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Replacing a four-lane cantilever span, the Goethels Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge constructed between May 2014 and May 2018.
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Tolls for the Goethals Bridge are collected only in the eastbound direction.
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Spanning the Arthur Kill river between Linden, New Jersey and Staten Island, New York, the original Goethals Bridge was constructed between 1925 and 1928 (Anderson, n.d.).
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West
Interstate 278 lowers from the Goethals Bridge into Linden ahead of Exit 3 C to Bayway Avenue east, Exit 3 B for Route 439 (Bayway Avenue) west to U.S. 1/9 North, and Exit 3 A to the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).
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Route 439 constitutes a 3.95 mile long loop west around Elizabeth between I-278 at Brunswick Avenue and Route 27 (Newark Avenue). The west end of I-278 defaults onto U.S. 1/9 south; traffic headed to U.S. 1/9 north through Elizabeth and Newark is directed onto Bayway Avenue from Exit 3 B to make the connection.
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Exit 3 C partitions for Bayway Avenue east to Amboy Avenue and the industrial area below the Goethals Bridge, and Exit 3 B departs for Route 439 (Bayway Avenue) west to Brunswick Avenue (CR 616) and the Bayway Refinery in Linden.
08/29/05
Interstate 278 reduces to a single lane for the westbound continuation to U.S. 1/9 south. Two left lanes depart at Exit 3 A for I-95 north to Newark and south to New Brunswick.
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The entrance ramp from I-95 (NJ Turnpike) to Interstate 278 west includes a connector to Route 439 (Bayway Avenue) at Brunswick Avenue (CR 616).
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The entrance ramp from the New Jersey Turnpike adds a second westbound lane to Interstate 278. A second entrance ramp joins the freeway west from Brunswick Avenue ahead of the Park Avenue (CR 616) underpass.
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A U-turn ramp formerly connected the westbound roadway with I-278 east back toward the NJ Turnpike and the Goethals Bridge.
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The roadways of I-278 diverge around a wide grassy median leftover from the cancelled westward extension of I-278 to Roselle, Union and Interstate 78.
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An end sign for I-278 appears over the northbound lanes of U.S. 1/9 (Edgar Road).
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Interstate 278 concludes southward between the north and south roadways of U.S. 1/9 (Edgar Road). A slip ramp follows for the Bayway Refinery area.
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Traffic along Interstate 278 runs along the U.S. 1/9 southbound roadway to the traffic light for the Bayway Refinery. U.S. 1/9 continue south from Linden to Rahway.
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Milepost zero for Interstate 278 is beyond the Staten Island Railroad overpasses at the plant entrance turn lane.
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scenes
Ramps at Exit 13 from both directions of the New Jersey Turnpike combine ahead of the Elizabeth Toll Plaza. Beyond the toll collection point, a two lane ramp separates for I-278 east across the Goethals Bridge.
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Two lanes continue from the Turnpike access road to ramps for Interstate 278 west and Bayway Avenue (Route 439) at Brunswick Avenue (CR 616) in Elizabeth.
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I-278 west connects the New Jersey Turnpike with U.S. 1/9 (Edgar Road) south into Linden while Route 439 (Bayway Avenue) west links with U.S. 1/9 north through Elizabeth.
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Route 439 heads northwest to Route 28 (Westfield Avenue). A nearby entrance ramp joins Bayway Avenue with the Goethals Bridge eastbound to Staten Island.
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Brunswick Avenue (CR 616) enters the city of Elizabeth north ahead of ramps for the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) and Interstate 278 west.
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Brunswick Avenue intersects Route 439 (Bayway Avenue) on the north side of Interstate 278. Route 439 connects I-278 and the Goethals Bridge westbound with U.S. 1/9 north through Elizabeth.
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Interstate 278 spurs 1.2 miles west from Brunswick Avenue onto U.S. 1/9 south in Linden.
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Brunswick Avenue (CR 616) south meets the westbound entrance ramp to Interstate 278 just beyond Route 439 (Bayway Avenue) in Elizabeth.
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References:
Anderson, S. (n.d.). Goethals Bridge (I-278). NYCRoads.com. http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/goethals/
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. (n.d.). Environmental Impact Statement Goethals Bridge Replacement. http://www.goethalseis.com/
Photo Credits:
- Brent Ivy: 05/31/22
- ABRoads: 12/17/17
- AARoads: 08/29/05
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Page Updated Tuesday May 05, 2026.