When I-78 was being built in the area, it was decided that part of US 22 would be used for the new highway. What eventually happened was that the eastbound lanes of US 22 became the westbound lanes of the new highway, the eastbound lanes of the new highway were newly constructed, and the westbound lanes of US 22 became NJ 173. US 22 and I-78 were then multiplexed on the new highway.