Rt. 70 and 72

[Trailhead00]

When you drive along Rt. 70 and Rt. 72 I have always noticed a dirt road that runs parrallel to the highway. Some sections look like dirt and others looked like they may have been paved at one time. I have always wondered since I was a kid what those roads were, if anything. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[BEHR655]

When you drive along Rt. 70 and Rt. 72 I have always noticed a dirt road that runs parrallel to the highway. Some sections look like dirt and others looked like they may have been paved at one time. I have always wondered since I was a kid what those roads were, if anything. Anyone have any ideas?

I'm not sure where you mean on Rt.70 but along Rt.72 it was the original road to Long Beach Island. It was called Rt. S-40. Rt.70 used to be called Rt.40.
My mom says it was a black top single lane road and it used to take her family about 3 to 4 hours to get to LBI from Pennsauken. Today I can make that same trip in under 1.5 hours.
Why they cut a new road instead of widening the original is beyond me.

Steve

 

[woodjin]

What you are seeing on Route 70 is fire lane North and South. I live along fire lane North. The north and south is not the direction they run, but which side of Route 70 they are on.

 

[this_is_nascar]

I've never noticed it on 70, but have on 72. In some spots, it looks like it would be a fun ride in an ATV. It's very ripply, with peaks and valleys. I took the truck on one which paralleled 72, but it got too narrow. Speaking of stuff on 72, I didn't realize that roadside store shut down. For those who have seen it, you know which one I'm talking about. I used to stop in occasionally just to browse. It appears that some bought it and is opening a restaurant.

 

[woodjin]

That road is, as Steve mentioned, the old rt 40. it runs along the south side of rt.72. It gets real whoop-de-do like near the old 72 pit in Chatsworth (now part of the ORV park. The back top is still visable in spots.

Jeff