Palisades Interstate Parkway

The Palisades Interstate Parkway (PIP) is a 38.25-mile-long (61.56 km) limited-access highway in the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York. The parkway is a major commuter route into New York City from Rockland and Orange counties in New York and Bergen County in New Jersey. The southern terminus of the route is at the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where it connects to Interstate 95 (I-95), New Jersey Route 4, U..S. 1, U.S. 9, and US 46. Its northern terminus is at a traffic circle in Fort Montgomery, New York, where the PIP meets US 9W and US 202 at the Bear Mountain Bridge. At exit 18, the PIP forms a concurrency with US 6 for the remaining duration of its run.

Palisades Interstate Parkway
Map of the New York City area with the Palisades Interstate Parkway highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by Palisades Interstate Park Commission
Length37.00 mi[1][2] (59.55 km)
Existed1958[3]–present
Tourist
routes		Palisades Scenic Byway
RestrictionsNo trucks, buses, trailers, or vehicles 8 feet tall or taller[4][5]
Major junctions
South end I-95 / N.J. Turnpike / US 1-9 / US 46 in Fort Lee, NJ
 
North end US 6 / US 9W / US 202 / Bear Mountain Bridge in Bear Mountain State Park
Location
CountiesNJ: Bergen
NY: Rockland, Orange
Highway system

New Jersey State Highway Routes

← Route 444Route 445→ Route 446

The route is named for the Hudson River Palisades, a line of cliffs rising along the western side of the Hudson River. The PIP is designated, but not signed as Route 445 in New Jersey and New York State Route 987C (NY 987C), an unsigned reference route, in New York. As with most parkways in the New York metropolitan area, commercial traffic is prohibited from using the PIP. The Palisades Interstate Parkway was built from 1947–1958, and fully opened to traffic on August 28, 1958.

Route description
Typical scene along the Palisades Interstate Parkway. This view in particular is looking southbound in Tenafly, New Jersey.

The mainline of the parkway is designated as Route 445 in New Jersey and NY 987C in New York. The latter is one of New York's reference routes.[1][2] A 0.42-mile (0.68 km) spur connecting the parkway to US 9W in Fort Lee, New Jersey, is designated Route 445S.[6] All three designations are unsigned and used only for inventory purposes. The parkway is owned and maintained by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission but occasional maintenance is performed by the New Jersey and New York state departments of transportation.[7][8] Commercial vehicles are prohibited on the entire length of the Palisades Interstate Parkway.[4][5] The speed limit on the highway used to be 50 mph (80 km/h) south of the New York State Thruway and 55 mph (89 km/h) north of it. As of October 2018, it is 55 mph for the entire length.[9]

New Jersey
The split of the mainline parkway and its short spur to US 9W in Fort Lee. The parkway feeds a significant amount of traffic into the George Washington Bridge.
Welcome sign at the parkway's northern terminus in Orange County

The Palisades Interstate Parkway begins at the George Washington Bridge (GWB) in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Passengers from the upper level of the GWB can directly access the PIP northbound, while passengers from the lower level of the bridge must travel through GWB Plaza on US 9W before getting on the parkway. Passengers traveling northbound on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) must be in local lanes to directly get on the PIP. Once the PIP leaves the GWB, it proceeds north along the New Jersey Palisades, past the Englewood Cliffs Service Area. Unlike service areas further north along the parkway, there are two in Englewood, one for northbound drivers and one for southbound drivers. The others are in the center median shared by drivers going in both directions. There are also three different scenic lookout points over the Palisades near the northern tip of the island of Manhattan at the Harlem River. After this, the PIP parallels US 9W and the Hudson River for its entire run in New Jersey. The PIP leaves New Jersey into New York in the borough of Rockleigh.[10]

The entire New Jersey portion of the Palisades Interstate Parkway is within Bergen County. It is designated as a state scenic byway known as the Palisades Scenic Byway.[11] The PIP, the New Jersey Turnpike, Interstate 278, and Interstate 676 are the only highways that use sequential exit numbering in New Jersey; all others in the state are based on mileage, except for the Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector in Atlantic City, which uses lettered exits (no numerals).

New York

The parkway enters Rockland County in the hamlet of Palisades. At about the border the PIP changes direction from due north along the Hudson River to a north-west direction. Shortly after the Kings Ferry Service Area in the center median, the first two exits in New York are key exits for two colleges in Rockland County. Exit 5 provides a link to St. Thomas Aquinas College, and exit 6 provides a link to Dominican College. In West Nyack, the PIP has a key interchange with the New York State Thruway (I-87 and I-287). This intersection is about seven miles (11 km) west of the Tappan Zee Bridge. After the PIP's interchange with the NY Thruway, the PIP turns slightly north-east. At exit 13, the PIP intersects US 202 as the route crosses south of Harriman State Park in Mount Ivy. This is the first of two meetings between the PIP and US 202. At exit 15, the PIP has its last busy intersection in Rockland County with County Route 106 (CR 106, formerly part of NY 210) in Stony Point. From here, the PIP enters Harriman State Park, and at exit 16, the PIP intersects Lake Welch Parkway, which is one of several parkways commissioned within the park.[10]

The parkway enters Orange County north of Lake Welch Parkway at exit 16 and south of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission Visitor Center, located in the center median in what was originally a parkway service area. The first interchange in Orange County is exit 17 at Anthony Wayne Recreation Area. At exit 18, the PIP intersects US 6 and Seven Lakes Drive. US 6 west heads toward the Thruway and NY 17 five miles (8 km) west in Harriman. US 6 east forms the PIP's only concurrency for the last two miles (3 km) of the PIP's run. Seven Lakes Drive joins the two routes for one mile (1.6 km) before departing at exit 19. The two routes then enter Bear Mountain State Park in an eastern direction. Finally, the Palisades Interstate Parkway meets its end at US 9W and US 202 at a traffic circle near the Hudson River and the Bear Mountain Bridge. US 6 and US 202 head east over the bridge, while US 9W heads north toward the United States Military Academy in West Point.[10] (Southbound US 9W, breaking off to the right, is the same road as westbound US 202.)

History
View of the Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose
Palisade Interstate Parkway[12]
Coordinates41°4′37.2″N 73°59′2.4″W
Area3,311 acres (1,340 ha)
NRHP reference No.99000940[13]
NJRHP No.102[14]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPAugust 2, 1999
Designated NJRHPOctober 3, 1999

In 1933–34, the first thoughts of a Palisades Interstate Parkway were developed by engineer and environmentalist William A. Welch, who was general manager and chief engineer of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.[15] The plan was to build a parkway to connect the New Jersey Palisades with the state parks along the Hudson River in Rockland and Orange counties. Welch would soon garner the support of John D. Rockefeller, who donated 700 acres (2.8 km2) of land along the New Jersey Palisades overlooking the Hudson River in 1933.[16] With this favorable momentum for the new route, the proposed route was accepted as a Civil Works Administration project under Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal coalition. However, the New Jersey Highway Commission did not support construction, so the idea of a parkway was put on hold.[16]

During the 1940s, Rockefeller renewed the push for a parkway along the New Jersey Palisades, and teamed with ultimate PIP planner, Robert Moses, to establish and design the parkway. The plan originally was to have the PIP stretch from the Garden State Parkway, along the Hudson River, to the George Washington Bridge, and then north along its present-day route ending at the Bear Mountain Bridge. This southern extension was never built, but construction began on the current PIP in New York on April 1, 1947. Construction on the New Jersey portion began about one year later.[3] Construction was delayed twice due to material shortages, but that did not stop the PIP from being opened in stages during the 1940s and 1950s. The route was completed in New Jersey in 1957, and on August 28, 1958, the final piece of the PIP was completed between exits 5 and 9 in southern Rockland County.[3]

The PIP is known for its stone arch overpasses throughout its route and its several scenic overlooks in New Jersey. All sorts of unique trees and flowers can be seen along the route as well. In 1998, because of all the natural and constructed beauty, the PIP was designated as a national landmark by the National Park Service.[17]

Exit list

While most highways in the U.S. reset their mile markers and exit numbers when crossing a state line, the Palisades Parkway does not reset either.

StateCountyLocationmi
[1][2]		kmExitDestinationsNotes
New JerseyBergenFort Lee0.000.00– I-95 north / US 1-9 north (George Washington Bridge) – New York CitySouthern terminus; Upper Level only; exit 74 on I-95 / US 1-9
0.180.29George Washington Bridge – Palisades Parkway Toll Plaza (southbound toll)
0.310.50–Hudson TerraceSouthbound exit and entrance
– US 9W south (Fletcher Avenue) to I-95 south / N.J. Turnpike / I-80 / US 46 / Route 4 – Fort LeeSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Englewood Cliffs0.961.54Gas station (southbound side only)
1.031.66Gas station (northbound side only)
1.933.111Palisade Avenue (CR 505) – Englewood Cliffs, Englewood
2.604.18Rockefeller Lookout (northbound side only)
Alpine5.438.74Alpine Lookout (northbound side only)
7.5212.102 US 9W – Alpine, Closter
9.1714.76Palisades Interstate Park Commission Visitor Center & State Line Lookout
3 US 9WNorthbound access is via center median u-turn ramp
10.4416.804 US 9W – Sparkill NY, Piermont NY
 11.0617.80New Jersey–New York state line
New YorkRocklandSparkill12.7520.52Sparkill Service Area
Tappan13.5021.735 NY 303 – Orangeburg, TappanSigned as exits 5N (north) and 5S (south)
Orangeburg14.4023.176 CR 20 (Orangeburg Road) – Orangeburg, Pearl RiverSigned as exits 6E (east) and 6W (west)
West Nyack17.2027.687 CR 42 (Town Line Road) – Nanuet, West Nyack
18.0028.978 NY 59 to NY 304 – Nyack, Spring ValleySigned as exits 8E (east) and 8W (west)
18.8030.269 I-87 / I-287 / New York Thruway – White Plains, Albany, Tappan Zee BridgeSigned as exits 9E (east) and 9W (west)
New City20.4032.8310 CR 33 (North Middletown Road) – New City, Nyack
New Hempstead22.5036.2111 CR 80 (New Hempstead Road) – New City, New Square
24.0038.6212 NY 45 – New Hempstead, Spring ValleyServes Palisades Credit Union Park
Pomona25.2040.5613 US 202 / NY 45 / CR 47 – Pomona, Haverstraw, Suffern
Stony Point27.5044.2614 CR 98 (Willow Grove Road)
28.6046.0315 CR 106 (Gate Hill Road) – Stony PointFormer NY 210
Harriman State Park29.9048.1216 Lake Welch Parkway south – Lake Welch, Sebago BeachNo northbound entrance; northern terminus of Lake Welch Parkway
33.1053.27Palisades Interstate Park Commission Visitor Center
Orange33.8054.4017Anthony Wayne Recreation Area
34.0054.7218 US 6 west / Seven Lakes Drive west – Central ValleySouthern terminus of US 6 / Seven Lakes concurrency
Bear Mountain State Park34.6055.6819 Seven Lakes Drive east to Perkins Memorial Drive – Bear Mountain State ParkNorthern terminus of Seven Lakes concurrency
37.0059.55–
US 9W north / US 6 Truck west – Fort Montgomery, West Point
US 6 east / US 202 east (Bear Mountain Bridge) – Peekskill
US 9W south / US 202 west – Bear Mountain, Haverstraw		Northern terminus; Bear Mountain Circle
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Rest areas
The parkway's northern terminus at Bear Mountain, New York

There are some rest areas on the Palisades Interstate Parkway.

  • Sparkill (located just south of Exit 5, fuel and convenience store. Open 24 Hours. Park and Ride also available. Accessible both sides.) (New York)
  • Englewood Cliffs (located past exit 1 just before the George Washington Bridge, fuel and convenience store. There are two separate rest areas on both sides. Phone service is also available.) (New Jersey)
  • Alpine Lookout (Alpine): (North side only. Located near exit 2. Parking/scenic view area only. No fuel.) (New Jersey)
  • Rockefeller Lookout (Englewood Cliffs): (North side only. Parking/scenic view area only. No fuel.) (New Jersey)
  • Bear Mountain/Tomkins Cove (located between exits 16 and 17. Information and book store. No fuel. Accessible both sides.) (New York)
  • State Line Lookout (Visitor center and lookout. No fuel). (New Jersey)

Palisades Interstate Parkway Police

The Palisades Interstate Parkway Police is a highway law enforcement agency for protecting the Palisades Interstate Parkway and to enforce state and city laws in the New Jersey section of highway. Headquartered in Alpine, New Jersey on Alpine Approach Road. The department consists of one chief, two lieutenants, five sergeants, and seventeen patrol officers. There are also security guards available who were trained and hired for by the police academy. Other than patrol cars, the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police also uses police boats for marine patrols and a bicycle unit.

See also
  •  U.S. Roads portal
  •  New Jersey portal
  •  New York (state) portal
  •  Hudson Valley portal
  • Myles, William J. (1999). Harriman Trails, A Guide and History. New York, NY: The New York–New Jersey Trail Conference.

References
  1. "NJ Route 445 Straight Line Diagram" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. May 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. "2007 Traffic Data Report for New York State" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. July 25, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  3. Staff. "PALISADES ROUTE WILL OPEN TODAY; Officials to Mark Completion of Final Link in 42-Mile Interstate Parkway", The New York Times, August 28, 1958. Accessed April 7, 2016. "The final gap in a scenic route overlooking the Hudson River will be closed with a ceremony at noon today at Orangeburg, N. Y. "
  4. "TITLE 16. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - CHAPTER 32. TRUCK ACCESS" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  5. "New York Parkway truck restriction brochure" (PDF). New York City Department of Transportation and New York State Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  6. "NJ Route 445S Straight Line Diagram" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. May 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  7. "NJDOT to begin Palisades Parkway repaving project" (Press release). NJDOT. July 17, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  8. New York State Department of Transportation (January 2012). Official Description of Highway Touring Routes, Bicycling Touring Routes, Scenic Byways, & Commemorative/Memorial Designations in New York State (PDF). Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  9. Cutler, Nancy (October 18, 2018). "Palisades Interstate Parkway speed limit's now 55 mph from GW to Bear Mountain bridges". USA Today Network. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  10. Google (September 21, 2007). "overview map of Palisades Interstate Parkway" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  11. "Scenic Byways in New Jersey – Palisades Interstate Parkway". New Jersey Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  12. "National Register of Historic Place Listings". National Park Service. August 13, 1999. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  13. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  14. New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Bergen County, p. 1. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Historic Preservation Office, updated January 25, 2016. Accessed April 7, 2016.
  15. Palisades Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan, Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Accessed April 7, 2016. "In 1934 Welch formally presented the map, entitled Key Map Preliminary Survey Top of Palisades and Palisades Interstate Park New Jersey Section to the PIPC. In addition to the survey, Welch and Shurtleff also prepared a paper entitled A Scenic Parkway on the Top of the Palisades within the Palisades Interstate Park, State of New Jersey. This report, subsequently referred to as Welch's 'Parkway Plan', included a suggested route for the parkway, a design concept and a strategy for accomplishing the project."
  16. Ingraham, Joseph C. "THE PARKWAY'S LAST LINK; Scenic Palisades Route To Open in Entirety This Week", The New York Times, August 24, 1958. Accessed April 7, 2016. "THE piecemeal construction of the Palisades Interstate Parkway, which has been abuilding since 1947, will come to an end this week when Governor Harriman cuts a ceremonial ribbon marking completion of the forty-two-mile road from the George Washington Bridge to Bear Mountain."
  17. "News on the Palisades Parks". The Palisades Park Conservancy. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved February 21, 2008.

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