Paterson Plank Road - Passaic County

Passaic County

In Passaic County, Paterson Plank Road has become part of County Route 601, traveling southeast from downtown Paterson through the city through where it is known as Main Avenue, and becoming Main Avenue in Clifton and Passaic. The Clifton and Paterson sections of the road are never more than 2-3 blocks from the former railroad route Erie Railroad Main Line, much of the extra width of the street having been converted into vehicular parking. (The current New Jersey Transit Main Line is now located farther west.) This route passes high density commercial centers or the downtown of the three cities. A crossing of the Passaic River at the location was first created created in the colonial era, and was known as Acquackanonk Bridge burned during Washington's 1776 great retreat from Fort Lee. Today's Gregory Avenue Bridge was built on a slightly different alignment.