Site Navigation Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont     Garden State Parkway North - Woodbridge to Newark Garden State Parkway North Garden State Parkway continues north from a stack interchange with the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) connector through Woodbridge to Exit 131A (Metropark). The next main line service plaza lies 12 miles northward at Union. Photo taken 07/27/07. Exits 131A/B both serve NJ Transit's Metropark in west Woodbridge. Metropark serves the NJ Transit line northeast to Newark and southwest to New Brunswick. Photo taken 07/27/07. An old Conrail Railroad passes over the Garden State Parkway north of the partial-interchange (Exit 130 on south) with U.S. 1. Affixed to the bridge is a warning sign advising motorists of the low clearances associated with the shoulders and right-hand lane due to the stone arch overpasses over the next seven miles. Photo taken 07/27/07. A trumpet interchange (Exit 131A) joins Garden State Parkway with Wood Avenue South near NJ Transit's Metropark. Photo taken 07/27/07. Exit 131B consists of a loop ramp onto Thornall Street south for Metropark and Menlo Park. A return ramp provides access to Garden State Parkway southbound. Photo taken 07/27/07. Northbound Garden State Parkway at Exit 131B onto Thornall Street south. Thornall Street parallels the AMTRAK corridor to Metropark and Evergreen Road. Wood Avenue passes under the railroad to join the street with New Jersey 27 (Lincoln Highway); direct access to the state highway however is available from Exit 131. Photo taken 07/27/07. New Jersey 27 parallels AMTRAK's Northeastern Corridor through Metuchen, Menlo Park, and Iselin near its interchange with the parkway. The railroad line passes over the Parkway ahead of the Exit 131 folded-diamond interchange. Photo taken 07/27/07. Exit 131 departs the Garden State Parkway northbound for New Jersey 27 (Lincoln Highway) at Iselin. New Jersey 27 travels an urban path northeast from New Brunswick and Metuchen to Rahway and Linden. Photo taken 07/27/07. Another advisory sign warning motorists of the low clearances associated with the stone arch overpasses on the Garden State Parkway. Vehicles over 13' in height should use the middle lanes. Photo taken 07/27/07. The Woodbridge service plaza of Garden State Parkway lies on the right-hand side between the New Dover Road and Inman Avenue overpasses. Photo taken 07/27/07. Approaching the New Dover Road stone arch bridges above the Garden State Parkway. Photo taken 07/27/07. Clearances range from 13' to 13'7" and above at the New Dover Road overpass. Traveler services are available at the Woodbridge service plaza nearby. Photo taken 07/27/07. Fast food and gas are available at the Woodbridge plaza, but choices are limited to just one vendor each. Photo taken 07/27/07. Garden State Parkway northbound travelers enter Union County and the unincorporated community of Clark. Meeting the toll road next is Union County 613 (Central Avenue / Brant Avenue) and Valley Road. The forthcoming exit consists of a diamond interchange and traffic circle. Similar interchanges are found on Beijing, Germany, and the United Kingdom's freeway network, but few exist in the United States. Photo taken 07/27/07. Madison Hill Road utilizes the next stone arch overpass above the Garden State Parkway northbound. The bridge passes over the highway south of the Middlesex Water Company Reservoir crossing. Photo taken 07/27/07. North of the Reservoir, Parkway travelers pass under Westfield Avenue within the community of Clark. Photo taken 07/27/07. Nearing the Exit 135 ramp departure to Union County 613 (Central Avenue north / Brant Avenue south) and Valley Road at Clark. Central Avenue leads northwest into the city of Westfield. Valley Road spurs east to Rahway River Park and Linden. Brant Avenue ends at Westfield Avenue nearby. Photo taken 07/27/07. Exit 135 leaves Garden State Parkway northbound for Union County 613. Union County 613 south follows Westfield Avenue from Brant Avenue into Rahway. Northward the county road continues into downtown Westfield at junction New Jersey 28. Photo taken 07/27/07. The Rahway River and Garden State Parkway briefly parallel one another toward Winfield Park. A modified diamond interchange (Exit 136) joins the toll road with Centennial Avenue at Raritan Road ahead. Photo taken 07/27/07. Drivers bound for Winfield, Linden, and Roselle leave the Garden State Parkway northbound at Exit 136. Winfield and Roselle lie north of Linden by way of Raritan Road. Linden is a short drive south along Centennial Avenue. Photo taken 07/27/07. A look at the Centennial Avenue over crossing of the Garden State Parkway at Winfield Park. Photo taken 07/27/07. New Jersey 28 (North Avenue / Westfield Avenue) crosses paths with the toll road at Exit 137 midway between Cranford and Roselle Park. Photo taken 07/27/07. Northbound drivers pass over Myrtle Avenue and a pair of railroads before entering the Exit 137 folded-diamond interchange with New Jersey 28 (North Avenue). New Jersey 28 travels west from New Jersey 27 in Elizabeth to U.S. 22 near Somerville. Photo taken 07/27/07. New Jersey 27 follows Westfield Avenue through the Roselle Park and Roselle communities to junction New Jersey 43 (Elmora Avenue) and 27 (Broad Street) in Elizabeth. Westward the state highway uses North Avenue southwest through Cranford, Garwood, and downtown Westfield. Photo taken 07/27/07. A short distance northward is the Exit 138 partial-cloverleaf interchange with Union County 509 (Kenilworth Boulevard west / Galloping Hill Road east). Photo taken 07/27/07. The first indication of the Garden State Parkway approach to the city of Newark is this exits sign directing motorists to downtown and Ironbound onto Interstate 78 (Exit 142) and University Heights onto Interstate 280 (Exit 145). Photo taken 07/27/07. A brief downpour falls on the Garden State Parkway near the Exit 138 ramp departure to Union County 509. Union County 509 follows Kenilworth Boulevard west to Kenilworth and Mountainside and Galloping Hill Road southeast to Salem Road in south Union. Galloping Hill Road and Chestnut Street both lead south from Union County 509 into Roselle Park. Photo taken 07/27/07. Garden State Parkway and Union County 509 both enter Union beyond the Exit 138 interchange. New Jersey 82 and U.S. 22 meet the toll road at the next two interchanges while Union County 509 follows Salem Road to New Jersey 82 (Morris Avenue) and Liberty Avenue to U.S. 22. Photo taken 07/27/07. Interests to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark are advised to use Interstate 78 east from Exit 142, although remaining on the parkway north to Interstate 280 (Exit 145) east also works. The entertainment venue lies on Center Street west of New Jersey 21 and the Passaic River in downtown. Photo taken 07/27/07. Aforementioned Chestnut Street continues north from Union County 509 (Galloping Hill Road) to a partial-cloverleaf interchange (Exit 139A) with Garden State Parkway in Union. Exit 139A connects with Chestnut Street south only. Photo taken 07/27/07. Drivers taking Exit 139A have a short drive north to downtown Union via Chestnut Street north to Stuyvesant Avenue. The connection doubles as the route to New Jersey 82 (Morris Avenue) west to Springfield and junction New Jersey 124. Photo taken 07/27/07. U.S. 22 enters the scene from west Union as a divided highway and partitions into a parallel alignment of the Garden State Parkway at Exit 130. The federal highway sees ramps with New Jersey 82 (Morris Avenue) in the process, which allows northbound Parkway drivers access to Morris Avenue east to Elizabeth. U.S. 22 otherwise veers eastward from central Union to Hillside and south Newark, providing a direct route to the New Jersey Turnpike Extension (Interstate 78) and the Holland Tunnel into Lower Manhattan, New York. Photo taken 07/27/07. Beyond the Union Service Plaza is the Union Toll Plaza, one mile north of U.S. 22 on the Garden State Parkway. All vehicles are charged 70 cents. Photo taken 07/27/07. Interstate 78 and Garden State Parkway cross paths in north Union near the Newark city line. A direct ramp links the toll road northbound with Interstate 78 east at Exit 142. Motorists bound for Interstate 78 west must use the Exit 54 loop ramps with Winans Avenue to u-turn westward to Springfield as there is no direct connection available. Photo taken 07/27/07. Motorists are provided with a single fast food and fuel option at the Union Service Plaza north of the Vaux Hall Road overpass. Photo taken 07/27/07. The Garden State Parkway enters the Union main line Toll Plaza next. All drivers destined for Interstate 78 (Exit 142) must use the right most toll booths as the ramp immediately departs beyond the plaza. Interstate 78 serves interests to Newark Liberty International Airport via connections with U.S. 1 & 9 south and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) at its conversion into the New Jersey Turnpike Extension. Photo taken 07/27/07. Interstate 78 travels east five miles to U.S. 1& 9 and 14 miles to the Holland Tunnel into New York City. Westward, the freeway continues four miles to Springfield and the New Jersey 24 freeway split to Morristown. Photo taken 07/27/07. A mini-toll plaza handles movements to Exit 142 at the far right of the overall Union Toll plaza. Drivers passing through either booth converge into a narrow lane. Photo taken 07/27/07. Continuing toward Exit 142, a return lane allows motorists in the right-hand most main line booths access to the Garden State Parkway north to Exit 142A (Union Avenue). Photo taken 07/27/07. A 3di-width Interstate 78 shield reaffirms the Exit 142 off-ramp from Garden State Parkway northbound. A short connector road provides movements from Interstate 78 to the toll road and from the GSP southbound to Interstate 78 west only. The connector lies north and west of the Interstate 78 over crossing of the Parkway. Photo taken 07/27/07. Page Updated April 9, 2008.