When NY 439 was assigned in 1949, it extended eastward into Brooklyn by way of the Bay Ridge Ferry. In Brooklyn, the NY 439 designation continued along Bay Ridge Avenue (69th Street), 4th Avenue and Shore Road Drive to exit 1 of the Belt Parkway, where it ended. In 1964, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island was completed, resulting in the deactivation of the Bay Ridge Ferry and the truncation of NY 439 to the St. George ferry terminal. NY 439 ceased to exist entirely c. 1968. Although the number was removed in New York, it had carried over to New Jersey and still exists today in Elizabeth, New Jersey, as Route 439.
The route continued on, passing through densely populated areas of northern Staten Island as it proceeded eastward. In Silver Lake, NY 439 intersected Victory Boulevard, here designated as NY 439A. At this point, NY 439A ended and NY 439 turned northeastward onto Victory Boulevard. The route remained on the roadway up to a junction with Bay Street near St. George. Here, NY 439 curved northward to follow Bay Street north to St. George. The route ended at the Staten Island Ferry terminal connecting Staten Island to Manhattan.[4]
History
NY 439 was assigned in 1949 as an eastward continuation of New Jersey Route 28 (later Route 439) across the Goethals Bridge and Staten Island.[1][5] The route began at the Goethals Bridge and, as it did for the entirety of its existence, followed Forest Avenue, Victory Boulevard, and Bay Street to the Staten Island Ferry terminal in St. George.[5] At the time, it continued across The Narrows to Brooklyn by way of the Bay Ridge Ferry. Once in Brooklyn, it was routed on Bay Ridge Avenue (69th Street), 4th Avenue, and Shore Road Drive. The designation ended at exit 1 of the Belt Parkway. NY 439 was also the planned number for the proposed North Shore Expressway across Staten Island's North Shore; however, the highway was never constructed.[1]
In 1964, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge linking Staten Island to Brooklyn was completed. As a result, the Bay Ridge Ferry was shut down and NY 439 was truncated to the St. George ferry terminal.[1] The NY 439 designation was removed entirely c. 1968. It was physically replaced by Interstate 278 in the vicinity of the Goethals Bridge and replaced in purpose by I-278 across the remainder of the island.[2][3] Some signage for NY 439 remained posted on the road until the late 1970s.[1]
Route 439 at the New Jersey state line on Staten Island
