U.S. Route 206

U.S. Route 206 marker
U.S. Route 206
Map
US 206 highlighted in red, US 206 Bypass in blue
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 6
Maintained by NJDOT, Hamilton Township, Trenton, Mercer County, and DRJTBC
Length130.2 mi[1][2] (209.5 km)
Existed1934–present
Tourist
routes
Millstone Valley Scenic Byway
Major junctions
South end US 30 / Route 54 in Hammonton, NJ
Major intersections
North end US 209 in Dingman Township, PA
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesNew Jersey, Pennsylvania
CountiesNJ: Atlantic, Burlington, Mercer, Somerset, Morris, Sussex
PA: Pike
Highway system
US 202NJ Route 208
PA 205PA PA 208

U.S. Route 206 (US 206) is a 130.2-mile-long (209.5 km) north–south U.S. highway in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, United States. Only about a 12 mile (0.80 km) of its length is in Pennsylvania; the Milford–Montague Toll Bridge carries it over the Delaware River into New Jersey, where it connects to the remainder of the route. Its southern terminus is at an intersection of White Horse Pike (US 30) and Bellevue Avenue (Route 54) in Hammonton. The highway's northern terminus is at an intersection of US 209 near Milford, Pennsylvania; some sources and signs show an overlap with US 209 to end at its parent route US 6. For much of its length, US 206 is a rural two-lane undivided road that passes through the Pine Barrens, agricultural areas, and the Appalachian Mountains of Northwestern New Jersey, with some urban and suburban areas. The route connects several cities and towns, including Bordentown, Trenton, Princeton, Somerville, Roxbury, Netcong, and Newton.

What is now US 206 in New Jersey was designated as part of several state routes prior to 1927, including pre-1927 Route 2 between Bordentown and Trenton in 1916, pre-1927 Route 13 between Trenton and Princeton in 1917, and pre-1927 Route 16 between Princeton and Bedminster in 1921. The current routing along pre-1927 Route 2 became a part of US 130 in 1926. In 1927, current US 206 became Route 39 between Hammonton and White Horse, Route 37 between White Horse and Trenton, Route 27 between Trenton and Princeton, Route 31 between Princeton and Newton, and Route S31 between Newton and the Delaware River. In the later 1930s, US 206 was designated to connect US 30 in Hammonton north to US 6 and US 209 in Milford; the northern terminus was moved to its current location in the 1940s. The state highways running concurrent with US 206 in New Jersey were removed in 1953. In the 1960s, two separate freeways were proposed for US 206 but never built. The first freeway was to connect Hammonton south along the Route 54 corridor toward Route 55 and the planned Route 60 in Vineland and Millville. The other US 206 freeway was planned in northwestern New Jersey, connecting I-80 in Netcong north to Montague Township. Construction began for a bypass of US 206 around Hillsborough in 2010 and was completed in 2021. The New Jersey Department of Transportation widened the route in Byram Township to alleviate congestion, with completion in 2013.

  1. ^ "US 206 Straight Line Diagram" (PDF). Division of Traffic Engineering and Safety Bureau of Transportation Data Development. New Jersey Department of Transportation. 2006. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. ^ The National Highway Planning Network (Map). 1 : 68350. Cartography by Quantum GIS. Federal Highway Administration. 2005. Archived from the original on January 30, 2002. Retrieved 2007-07-11.