End of US highway 9 |
1926-1932
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1932-1945(?)
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1945(?)-1974
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1974-present
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Note: US 9 includes a ferry segment, connecting North Cape May NJ and Lewes DE. This ferry marks the point where the signed direction of US 9 changes. In New York and New Jersey, US 9 is signed north-south; but in Delaware, the route is signed east-west. As of 2020, US 9 measured 520.5 miles in length (not including the 16.2 mile ferry segment).
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The north end of US 9 was originally in Rouses Point NY. Around 1945 it was rerouted slightly and its terminus was moved to Champlain. More details can be found on the Rouses Point / Champlain page.
During the early years of the US highway system, several routes included a ferry segment. But today, only two remain: US 9 and US 10. And ironically, the original US 9 did not include a ferry segment. In fact, the designation did not even go as far south as Cape May. For about the first six years, the south end of US 9 was at its junction with US 30 in Absecon NJ:
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The south beginning of US 9 was to the left. (The sign says northbound NJ 157 is straight ahead because left turns are prohibited at this intersection. Traffic is instead directed to go past the light, make a u-turn, and then turn right.)
In 1932, US 9 was extended south to Cape May: |
When the ferry across Delaware Bay was installed, its landing was built in North Cape May. In 1972, US 9 traffic was redirected to that ferry landing. Following is that agenda item from the minutes of AASHO's meeting in November of that year:
US 9 actually ended there for two years, and technically that is still the "south" end of the route today, even though US 9 was officially extended further south into Delaware in 1974...
Research and/or photo credits: George Bourey; Christopher Mason; J.P. Nasiatka; Alex Nitzman; Rahul; Dave Strong; Dale Sanderson; Eric Stuve; Michael Summa; Sam West; Mike Wiley
Page originally created 2000;
last updated June 25, 2020.
last updated June 25, 2020.