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Route 12 (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Route 12 is a state highway located in Hunterdon County
, New Jersey
, United States
. It runs 11.69 mi (18.81 km) from the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge at the Delaware River
border with Pennsylvania
in Frenchtown
east to an intersection with U.S. Route 202
and Route 31 at the Flemington Circle in Flemington
. The route is mostly a two-lane undivided road that passes through rural areas of woodland and farmland. It intersects Route 29 and County Route 513
in Frenchtown, County Route 519
in Kingwood Township
, County Route 579
on the border of Delaware Township
and Raritan Township
, and County Route 523
in Raritan Township.
The route was designated in 1927 to run from Frenchtown to Raritan
, Somerset County
, running along its current alignment to Flemington and following present-day U.S. Route 202 between Flemington and Raritan. By the 1940s, U.S. Route 202 and Route 29 replaced Route 12 east of Flemington, and the route was officially designated to end in Flemington in 1953. There are currently plans to modify or eliminate three traffic circle
s along the route in Flemington to ease traffic congestion.
in Frenchtown
at the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border, where it connects to Pennsylvania Route 32
. The bridge has a 15 mph (24.1 km/h) speed limit and is maintained by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
. The route continues through the downtown area of Frenchtown as 25 mph (40.2 km/h) county-maintained two-lane undivided Bridge Street. Here, it intersects the northern terminus of Route 29 (Trenton Road) before turning north and intersecting the southern terminus of County Route 513
(Race Street). Route 12 heads east on 30 mph (48.3 km/h) Kingwood Avenue, with the speed limit increasing to 40 mph (64.4 km/h) as it passes through residential areas. The route crosses into Kingwood Township
, where it becomes a 50 mph (80.5 km/h) road maintained by the New Jersey Department of Transportation
with two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane. It heads through a mix of woods and farms with intermittent residences, narrowing to one lane in each direction before crossing County Route 519
(Kingwood Road) in Baptistown.
Route 12 continues southeast through agricultural areas, crossing the Lockatong Creek
before intersecting County Route 615 (Pittstown Road), where it becomes the Samuel Hill Highway. A short distance past this intersection, the route briefly passes through the southern corner of Franklin Township
before entering Delaware Township
. Here, the road crosses Wickecheoke Creek
before coming to an intersection with County Route 579
(Croton Road/Easton-Trenton Turnpike). Past this intersection, Route 12 enters Raritan Township
, where it continues through rural areas of woodland and farmland, with some residences. The residential development along the road increases before it reaches the Dvoor's Circle (a traffic circle
) with County Route 523
(Mine Street/Flemington Road), with the speed limit dropping to 45 mph (72.4 km/h) and then to 40 mph (64.4 km/h). Past the traffic circle, the route crosses a small stream and enters Flemington
. Here, Route 12 passes businesses before crossing the Black River & Western Railroad and coming to the Main Street Circle, where it intersects County Route 611 (Main Street) and Reaville Avenue. From here, the route continues east a short distance as a four-lane divided highway
with a 30 mph (48.3 km/h) speed limit before ending at U.S. Route 202
and Route 31 at the Flemington Circle.
Route 12 was legislated as a new route in the 1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering
that was to run from Frenchtown east to Route 28 in Raritan
, Somerset County
, running along its current alignment to Flemington and following present-day U.S. Route 202 to Raritan. By the 1940s, U.S. Route 202 and Route 29 were designated along the alignment of Route 12 between Flemington and Raritan, cutting the route’s eastern terminus back to Flemington. In the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering
, Route 12 was officially legislated to run from Frenchtown to U.S. Route 202 and Route 69 (now Route 31) in Flemington. There are currently plans to modify or eliminate the three traffic circles along Route 12 in Flemington in order to ease traffic congestion along the route. The Main Street Circle is planned to become a roundabout
while plans are still being thought out for the other two traffic circles.
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It runs 11.69 mi (18.81 km) from the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge at the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
border with Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in Frenchtown
Frenchtown, New Jersey
Frenchtown is a Borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,373....
east to an intersection with U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 202 is a U.S. Highway running from New Castle, Delaware northeast to Bangor, Maine. In the U.S. state of New Jersey, the route runs from the New Hope-Lambertville Toll Bridge over the Delaware River at the Pennsylvania border in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County near Lambertville...
and Route 31 at the Flemington Circle in Flemington
Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,581. It is the county seat of Hunterdon County....
. The route is mostly a two-lane undivided road that passes through rural areas of woodland and farmland. It intersects Route 29 and County Route 513
County Route 513 (New Jersey)
County Route 513 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Kingwood Avenue in Frenchtown to Lakeside Road in West Milford...
in Frenchtown, County Route 519
County Route 519 (New Jersey)
County Route 519 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Daniel Bray Highway in Delaware Township to the New York state line in Wantage Township...
in Kingwood Township
Kingwood Township, New Jersey
- History :Kingwood Township is famous for the local captain who rounded up the boats for George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolutionary War.-Demographics:...
, County Route 579
County Route 579 (New Jersey)
County Route 579, abbreviated CR 579, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from John Fitch Parkway in Trenton to Route 173 in Greenwich Township.-Mercer County:...
on the border of Delaware Township
Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,478 people, 1,643 households, and 1,302 families residing in the township. The population density was 121.9 people per square mile . There were 1,701 housing units at an average density of 46.3 per square mile...
and Raritan Township
Raritan Township, New Jersey
Raritan Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,185...
, and County Route 523
County Route 523 (New Jersey)
County Route 523 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street in Stockton to Hillside Avenue in Bedminster Township.-Hunterdon County:...
in Raritan Township.
The route was designated in 1927 to run from Frenchtown to Raritan
Raritan, New Jersey
Raritan is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 6,881.-Geography:Raritan is located at ....
, Somerset County
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
, running along its current alignment to Flemington and following present-day U.S. Route 202 between Flemington and Raritan. By the 1940s, U.S. Route 202 and Route 29 replaced Route 12 east of Flemington, and the route was officially designated to end in Flemington in 1953. There are currently plans to modify or eliminate three traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
s along the route in Flemington to ease traffic congestion.
Route description
Route 12 begins at the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge over the Delaware RiverDelaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
in Frenchtown
Frenchtown, New Jersey
Frenchtown is a Borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,373....
at the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border, where it connects to Pennsylvania Route 32
Pennsylvania Route 32
Pennsylvania Route 32 is a scenic two-lane highway that runs along the side of the Delaware River in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It begins at U.S. 1 in Falls Township and ends at Pennsylvania Route 611 near the village of Kintnersville...
. The bridge has a 15 mph (24.1 km/h) speed limit and is maintained by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is a bistate, public agency charged with providing safe, dependable and efficient river crossings between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The DRJTBC was established under legislation enacted in the two states in 1934. The federal Compact for the...
. The route continues through the downtown area of Frenchtown as 25 mph (40.2 km/h) county-maintained two-lane undivided Bridge Street. Here, it intersects the northern terminus of Route 29 (Trenton Road) before turning north and intersecting the southern terminus of County Route 513
County Route 513 (New Jersey)
County Route 513 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Kingwood Avenue in Frenchtown to Lakeside Road in West Milford...
(Race Street). Route 12 heads east on 30 mph (48.3 km/h) Kingwood Avenue, with the speed limit increasing to 40 mph (64.4 km/h) as it passes through residential areas. The route crosses into Kingwood Township
Kingwood Township, New Jersey
- History :Kingwood Township is famous for the local captain who rounded up the boats for George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolutionary War.-Demographics:...
, where it becomes a 50 mph (80.5 km/h) road maintained by the New Jersey Department of Transportation
New Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey Department of Transportation is the agency responsible for transportation issues and policy in New Jersey. It is headed by the Commissioner of Transportation...
with two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane. It heads through a mix of woods and farms with intermittent residences, narrowing to one lane in each direction before crossing County Route 519
County Route 519 (New Jersey)
County Route 519 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Daniel Bray Highway in Delaware Township to the New York state line in Wantage Township...
(Kingwood Road) in Baptistown.
Lockatong Creek
Lockatong Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in Hunterdon County, New Jersey in the United States.-References:*Gertler, Edward. Garden State Canoeing, Seneca Press, 2002. ISBN 0-9605908-8-9-External links:*...
before intersecting County Route 615 (Pittstown Road), where it becomes the Samuel Hill Highway. A short distance past this intersection, the route briefly passes through the southern corner of Franklin Township
Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,990 people, 1,091 households, and 890 families residing in the township. The population density was 130.7 people per square mile . There were 1,125 housing units at an average density of 49.2 per square mile...
before entering Delaware Township
Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,478 people, 1,643 households, and 1,302 families residing in the township. The population density was 121.9 people per square mile . There were 1,701 housing units at an average density of 46.3 per square mile...
. Here, the road crosses Wickecheoke Creek
Wickecheoke Creek
Wickecheoke Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in Hunterdon County, New Jersey in the United States.It originates in Raritan Township on the Hunterdon Plateau and flows through Croton and Locktown before cascading off the Plateau where it passes under the Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge,...
before coming to an intersection with County Route 579
County Route 579 (New Jersey)
County Route 579, abbreviated CR 579, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from John Fitch Parkway in Trenton to Route 173 in Greenwich Township.-Mercer County:...
(Croton Road/Easton-Trenton Turnpike). Past this intersection, Route 12 enters Raritan Township
Raritan Township, New Jersey
Raritan Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,185...
, where it continues through rural areas of woodland and farmland, with some residences. The residential development along the road increases before it reaches the Dvoor's Circle (a traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
) with County Route 523
County Route 523 (New Jersey)
County Route 523 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street in Stockton to Hillside Avenue in Bedminster Township.-Hunterdon County:...
(Mine Street/Flemington Road), with the speed limit dropping to 45 mph (72.4 km/h) and then to 40 mph (64.4 km/h). Past the traffic circle, the route crosses a small stream and enters Flemington
Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,581. It is the county seat of Hunterdon County....
. Here, Route 12 passes businesses before crossing the Black River & Western Railroad and coming to the Main Street Circle, where it intersects County Route 611 (Main Street) and Reaville Avenue. From here, the route continues east a short distance as a four-lane divided highway
Divided Highway
Divided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
with a 30 mph (48.3 km/h) speed limit before ending at U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 202 is a U.S. Highway running from New Castle, Delaware northeast to Bangor, Maine. In the U.S. state of New Jersey, the route runs from the New Hope-Lambertville Toll Bridge over the Delaware River at the Pennsylvania border in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County near Lambertville...
and Route 31 at the Flemington Circle.
History
1927 New Jersey state highway renumbering
In 1927, New Jersey's state highways were renumbered. The old system, which had been defined in sequence by the legislature, was growing badly, as several routes shared the same number, and many unnumbered state highways had been defined...
that was to run from Frenchtown east to Route 28 in Raritan
Raritan, New Jersey
Raritan is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 6,881.-Geography:Raritan is located at ....
, Somerset County
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
, running along its current alignment to Flemington and following present-day U.S. Route 202 to Raritan. By the 1940s, U.S. Route 202 and Route 29 were designated along the alignment of Route 12 between Flemington and Raritan, cutting the route’s eastern terminus back to Flemington. In the 1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering
1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering
On January 1, 1953, the New Jersey Department of Transportation renumbered many of the State Routes. A few rules were followed in deciding what to renumber:...
, Route 12 was officially legislated to run from Frenchtown to U.S. Route 202 and Route 69 (now Route 31) in Flemington. There are currently plans to modify or eliminate the three traffic circles along Route 12 in Flemington in order to ease traffic congestion along the route. The Main Street Circle is planned to become a roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
while plans are still being thought out for the other two traffic circles.