It was legislated in 1966 to run parallel to the New Jersey Turnpike from exit 13 until North Avenue, where it would turn northwest and intersect US 1/9 near the airport.

[1][2] The route heads north from this interchange as a four-lane a 40 mph (64 km/h) freeway maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

[1][2] Route 81 heads northwest, running in between the travel lanes of North Avenue for a distance, with industrial areas located to the southwest and Newark Liberty International Airport to the northeast.

South of the terminus, ramps allow Route 81 traffic to access either the local or express lanes of US 1/9 as well as Newark Liberty International Airport.

[5] In 1975, Governor Brendan Byrne requested $882 million in bonds to construct several roads in New Jersey, including Route 81.

[11] However, the state court of appeals ruled in 1978 that the PANY&NJ could not help build the road as it needed permission from both the New Jersey and New York legislatures, who wanted the port authority to focus on mass transit construction to airports.

A retail center has arisen on the east side of the New Jersey Turnpike in an urban enterprise zone, accessible from the North Avenue exit off Route 81.