Much of US 9 is a two-lane road, with some expansions near more populous areas. The major exception to this is central and northern New Jersey, where it is a wide four-lane (or six-lane) divided strip, especially during much of its concurrency with US 1 and in Middlesex and Monmouth counties. New York boasts a few similar sections, as well as two short expressway sections near Albany.
In New Jersey, US 9 mainly runs parallel to the Garden State Parkway, and, in New York, most of US 9 runs parallel to I-87.
Southern (Western) terminus of US 9 at US 13 in Laurel, Delaware
US 9 runs an east–west path through Sussex County, running east from US 13 in Laurel, passing through Georgetown, east to Lewes, where it leads to the Cape May–Lewes Ferry, which carries US 9 across the Delaware Bay to New Jersey.[5] US 9 was extended to Delaware by way of the Cape May–Lewes Ferry in 1974, replacing Delaware Route 28 (DE 28) between Laurel and Georgetown and DE 18 between Georgetown and Lewes. US 9 runs concurrent with DE 404 between Georgetown and the Five Points intersection near Lewes.
A type of sign found on and near the concurrent US 1 and US 9 in New JerseyUS 1/9 northbound in Newark, New Jersey approaching the Pulaski Skyway
A large section in northeast New Jersey and a small section in southern New York is concurrent with US 1. Route shields on this section, which includes the Pulaski Skyway, often show both numbers in the same shield, with an endash or ampersand between (1–9 or 1&9). It is known locally as "one and nine" or "one-nine".
US 9 exits shortly after the George Washington Bridge to go onto New York City's Broadway north of it, passing over the northern tip of Manhattan Island via the toll-free Broadway Bridge, through the Bronx and into Westchester County, where in some towns it follows the old Albany Post Road, which dates from the early days of the nation's existence.
Following the Hudson River closely as a busy surface road through the many suburban river villages and past National Historic Landmarks such as Sunnyside and Kykuit, US 9 becomes the Croton Expressway between Croton-on-Hudson and Peekskill. That section ends at the Annsville Circle junction with US 6 and US 202, where US 9 returns to two-lane status as it follows the old post road inland, away from the river. At Fishkill, the road passes the historic Van Wyck Homestead Museum and it becomes a six-lane divided strip until reaching the Poughkeepsie city limit. It then narrows to a four-lane divided strip which lasts until it intersects St. Andrews Road, just north of the Hyde Park–Poughkeepsie town line where it returns to two-lane status as it goes through Hyde Park and past its historic sites.
End US 9 sign just short of the Canadian border in Champlain, New York
The Adirondack section of US 9 is the least trafficked of the road, returning to two lanes as it runs through vast tracts of forested wilderness and occasional hamlets. Almost 100 miles (160 km) to the north, it leaves the park and runs along or near Lake Champlain to Plattsburgh. North of there, it is once again a two-lane road all the way to Champlain, ending at an onramp to I-87 just shy of the border.
First northern reassurance marker on New York I-87/US 9
US 9 north as it approaches Albany
History
Prior to the opening of the Cape May–Lewes Ferry in 1964, US 9 ended on Lafayette Street in Cape May, New Jersey. It was rerouted to the west, via Sandman Boulevard and Lincoln Avenues, to meet the new ferry, and its southern stub into Cape May was renumbered as Route 109.[6]
Last northern reference marker on NY 971B (former US 9); Canadian customs are seen to the left
Originally, the road continued north across the border (as Route 9 toward Montreal) through the customs facilities now used by I-87/Autoroute 15. The official northern terminus (the point where the "End US 9" sign is posted) is just south of the interchange with I-87, less than a mile (1.6 km) from customs. The old Route 9 continues north for a very short distance (0.46 m/0.74 km) as the unsigned New York State Route 971B (NY 971B), which ends in a cul-de-sac just short of the Canadian border.
The highway is mentioned in the Bruce Springsteen songs "Born to Run" and "The Promise". The highway, particularly the section around Freehold Township, New Jersey, is associated with Springsteen more generally. It is also mentioned in the Springsteen song "Last Man Standing".
It is also mentioned in the songs "My Geraldine Lies Over the Delaware" by The Wonder Years and "The Devil On Hwy 9" by Danzig.
The Breeders song "Drivin' on 9" refers to the route.
In Wayne Wang's film Smoke, Thomas Cole's father, Cyrus, runs a garage on US 9.
US 13 at Laurel, DE
I-87 in Champlain, NY just south of the US-Canada border
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