Route 439 begins at an intersection with Union County Route 616 (CR 616) and
I-278 near the
Goethals Bridge in
Elizabeth. The highway progresses westward, passing to the south of the Number 22 Elementary School. The surroundings of the highway are densely populated, with buildings surrounding the highway the entire time. Turning to the northeast, Route 439 intersects with the southern terminus of CR 623 (South Broad Street) and enters the small community of Bayway, for which the highway is named. There, the route intersects with
U.S. Routes 1 & 9 (US 1/9) at Bayway Circle, where it changes monikers to South Elmora Avenue and continues deeper into Elizabeth. After the Bayway Circle, Route 439 continues to the northeast and into Elizabeth, where it intersects with
CR 514 (Lidgerwood Avenue) and crosses the
New Jersey Transit railroad line nearby. The highway then intersects Fay Avenue. The development around the road becomes more residential for a short time along Route 439, until the first intersection with
Route 27 (Rahway Avenue), where the commercial development experienced earlier returns. After Route 27, the route's loop begins to turn even further northward, where it enters Elmora. The highway passes to the southwest of Carteret Park and soon leaves Elmora. After the intersection with Route 28, the highway begins the turn to the east once again. At an intersection with Chilton Street, the highway changes monikers to North Avenue, which it retains for the remaining length. During the curve, Route 439 enters
Union and intersects with the southern terminus of
Route 82, where
Kean University and Phil Rizzuto Park both surround the highway. After Route 82, the highway enters
Hillside and begins the eastward progression, passing to the south of Elizabeth River Park. After the curve completes, Route 439 enters Elizabeth again and intersects with County Route 623 once again and continues a short distance, where it terminates at the second intersection with Route 27. North Avenue continues eastward to an interchange with
Route 81. ==History==