Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector
 | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Length | 2.37 mi (3.81 km) | |||
| Existed | 2001–present | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | New Jersey | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| South Jersey Transportation Authority | ||||
| ||||
The Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector, numbered (and unsigned) as Route 446X, is a state highway connector in Atlantic City, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is maintained by the South Jersey Transportation Authority, as a 2.37-mile spur of the Atlantic City Expressway (Route 446), hence the number. At its north end, it feeds into Route 87 towards Brigantine. The Connector does not have an actual signed number along the route. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) put in the majority of the highway's construction cost, so it is not certain why they did not simply extend the Route 87 designation along the freeway spur for better recognition[citation needed].
Route Description
Because the highway has many exits within the 2.3 miles, the exit tabs are lettered A through H instead of numbered. However, Exits C & D are missing. The roadway tunnels under and connects to U.S. Route 30 at exit E. The connector was very controversial and was opposed heavily by residents of Atlantic City. It was viewed as a personal driveway to the busy casinos along the waterfront. The highway has proven itself much more important than that, by providing the town of Brigantine with direct access to the Atlantic City Expressway.
History
Plans for a connection between the Atlantic City Expressway and the island community of Brigantine have been discussed since the expressway opened in 1965. For many years, only one link - Route 87, Brigantine Boulevard, provided access between Brigantine and the New Jersey mainland. With the legalization of casino gambling in the late 1970s, heavy traffic has clogged the Brigantine Bridge.
Steve Wynn, a major casino developer, decided to continue the project in the late 1990s, and to promote The Mirage, a new casino to open in Atlantic City (later renamed the Borgata).
This caused major controversy, as it would go through a middle-class African American neighborhood. Competitor Donald Trump sued Wynn for it because it was a "driveway" to his new casino.
On July 27, 2001, the Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector had its grand opening celebration. The opening ceremonies included a tunnel walk and festivities that were open to the public. However, the opening of the tunnel was delayed by four days because of a last-minute failure of the tunnel communications system.
Exit list
All exits are located within Atlantic City, in Atlantic County, New Jersey.
| Mile | # | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | File:Atlantic City Expressway shield.png Atlantic City Expressway (TOLL) /  TO Garden State Parkway (TOLL)
|
Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |
| A | Midtown / Downbeach | ||
| 0.54 | B | Bacharach Boulevard / Convention Center | Northbound only |
| 1.59 | E |  US 30 – Uptown / Absecon
|
Northbound only |
| 1.66 | F | TO File:Atlantic City Expressway shield.png Atlantic City Expressway (TOLL) / Convention Center / Midtown / Downbeach | |
| 1.98 | G | Farley Marina / Trump Marina / Harrah's / Brigantine | Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| H | Renaissance Pointe / Borgata |
