diff --git a/src/ng/directive/ngView.js b/src/ng/directive/ngView.js
index 7c7377653b40..4924ed1aa3e7 100644
--- a/src/ng/directive/ngView.js
+++ b/src/ng/directive/ngView.js
@@ -112,8 +112,7 @@ var ngViewDirective = ['$http', '$templateCache', '$route', '$anchorScroll', '$c
     restrict: 'ECA',
     terminal: true,
     link: function(scope, element, attr) {
-      var changeCounter = 0,
-          lastScope,
+      var lastScope,
           onloadExp = attr.onload || '';
 
       scope.$on('$afterRouteChange', update);
@@ -127,43 +126,36 @@ var ngViewDirective = ['$http', '$templateCache', '$route', '$anchorScroll', '$c
         }
       }
 
+      function clearContent() {
+        element.html('');
+        destroyLastScope();
+      }
+
       function update() {
-        var template = $route.current && $route.current.template,
-            thisChangeId = ++changeCounter;
-
-        function clearContent() {
-          // ignore callback if another route change occured since
-          if (thisChangeId === changeCounter) {
-            element.html('');
-            destroyLastScope();
-          }
-        }
+        var locals = $route.current && $route.current.locals,
+            template = locals && locals.$template;
 
         if (template) {
-          $http.get(template, {cache: $templateCache}).success(function(response) {
-            // ignore callback if another route change occured since
-            if (thisChangeId === changeCounter) {
-              element.html(response);
-              destroyLastScope();
-
-              var link = $compile(element.contents()),
-                  current = $route.current,
-                  controller;
-
-              lastScope = current.scope = scope.$new();
-              if (current.controller) {
-                controller = $controller(current.controller, {$scope: lastScope});
-                element.contents().data('$ngControllerController', controller);
-              }
-
-              link(lastScope);
-              lastScope.$emit('$viewContentLoaded');
-              lastScope.$eval(onloadExp);
-
-              // $anchorScroll might listen on event...
-              $anchorScroll();
-            }
-          }).error(clearContent);
+          element.html(template);
+          destroyLastScope();
+
+          var link = $compile(element.contents()),
+              current = $route.current,
+              controller;
+
+          lastScope = current.scope = scope.$new();
+          if (current.controller) {
+            locals.$scope = lastScope;
+            controller = $controller(current.controller, locals);
+            element.contents().data('$ngControllerController', controller);
+          }
+
+          link(lastScope);
+          lastScope.$emit('$viewContentLoaded');
+          lastScope.$eval(onloadExp);
+
+          // $anchorScroll might listen on event...
+          $anchorScroll();
         } else {
           clearContent();
         }
diff --git a/src/ng/route.js b/src/ng/route.js
index fd54b1c51ad1..5386e12a1feb 100644
--- a/src/ng/route.js
+++ b/src/ng/route.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ function $RouteProvider(){
    * @methodOf angular.module.ng.$routeProvider
    *
    * @param {string} path Route path (matched against `$location.path`). If `$location.path`
-   *    contains redudant trailing slash or is missing one, the route will still match and the
+   *    contains redundant trailing slash or is missing one, the route will still match and the
    *    `$location.path` will be updated to add or drop the trailing slash to exacly match the
    *    route definition.
    * @param {Object} route Mapping information to be assigned to `$route.current` on route
@@ -32,6 +32,17 @@ function $RouteProvider(){
    *    - `template` – `{string=}` – path to an html template that should be used by
    *      {@link angular.module.ng.$compileProvider.directive.ngView ngView} or
    *      {@link angular.module.ng.$compileProvider.directive.ngInclude ngInclude} directives.
+   *    - `resolve` - `{Object.<string, function>=}` - An optional map of dependencies which should
+   *      be injected into the controller. If any of these dependencies are promises, they will be
+   *      resolved and converted to a value before the controller is instantiated and the
+   *      `$aftreRouteChange` event is fired. The map object is:
+   *
+   *      - `key` – `{string}`: a name of a dependency to be injected into the controller.
+   *      - `factory` - `{string|function}`: If `string` then it is an alias for a service.
+   *        Otherwise if function, then it is {@link api/angular.module.AUTO.$injector#invoke injected}
+   *        and the return value is treated as the dependency. If the result is a promise, it is resolved
+   *        before its value is injected into the controller.
+   *
    *    - `redirectTo` – {(string|function())=} – value to update
    *      {@link angular.module.ng.$location $location} path with and trigger route redirection.
    *
@@ -89,8 +100,8 @@ function $RouteProvider(){
   };
 
 
-  this.$get = ['$rootScope', '$location', '$routeParams',
-      function( $rootScope,  $location,  $routeParams) {
+  this.$get = ['$rootScope', '$location', '$routeParams', '$q', '$injector', '$http', '$templateCache',
+      function( $rootScope,   $location,   $routeParams,   $q,   $injector,   $http,   $templateCache) {
 
     /**
      * @ngdoc object
@@ -99,6 +110,16 @@ function $RouteProvider(){
      * @requires $routeParams
      *
      * @property {Object} current Reference to the current route definition.
+     * The route definition contains:
+     *
+     *   - `controller`: The controller constructor as define in route definition.
+     *   - `locals`: A map of locals which is used by {@link angular.module.ng.$controller $controller} service for
+     *     controller instantiation. The `locals` contain
+     *     the resolved values of the `resolve` map. Additionally the `locals` also contain:
+     *
+     *     - `$scope` - The current route scope.
+     *     - `$template` - The current route template HTML.
+     *
      * @property {Array.<Object>} routes Array of all configured routes.
      *
      * @description
@@ -153,7 +174,15 @@ function $RouteProvider(){
          angular.module('ngView', [], function($routeProvider, $locationProvider) {
            $routeProvider.when('/Book/:bookId', {
              template: 'book.html',
-             controller: BookCntl
+             controller: BookCntl,
+             resolve: {
+               // I will cause a 1 second delay
+               delay: function($q, $timeout) {
+                 var delay = $q.defer();
+                 $timeout(delay.resolve, 1000);
+                 return delay.promise;
+               }
+             }
            });
            $routeProvider.when('/Book/:bookId/ch/:chapterId', {
              template: 'chapter.html',
@@ -190,6 +219,7 @@ function $RouteProvider(){
            expect(content).toMatch(/Chapter Id\: 1/);
 
            element('a:contains("Scarlet")').click();
+           sleep(2); // promises are not part of scenario waiting
            content = element('.doc-example-live [ng-view]').text();
            expect(content).toMatch(/controller\: BookCntl/);
            expect(content).toMatch(/Book Id\: Scarlet/);
@@ -204,7 +234,11 @@ function $RouteProvider(){
      * @eventOf angular.module.ng.$route
      * @eventType broadcast on root scope
      * @description
-     * Broadcasted before a route change.
+     * Broadcasted before a route change. At this  point the route services starts
+     * resolving all of the dependencies needed for the route change to occurs.
+     * Typically this involves fetching the view template as well as any dependencies
+     * defined in `resolve` route property. Once  all of the dependencies are resolved
+     * `$afterRouteChange` is fired.
      *
      * @param {Route} next Future route information.
      * @param {Route} current Current route information.
@@ -216,12 +250,27 @@ function $RouteProvider(){
      * @eventOf angular.module.ng.$route
      * @eventType broadcast on root scope
      * @description
-     * Broadcasted after a route change.
+     * Broadcasted after a route dependencies are resolved.
+     * {@link angular.module.ng.$compileProvider.directive.ngView ngView} listens for the directive
+     * to instantiate the controller and render the view.
      *
      * @param {Route} current Current route information.
      * @param {Route} previous Previous route information.
      */
 
+    /**
+     * @ngdoc event
+     * @name angular.module.ng.$route#$routeChangeError
+     * @eventOf angular.module.ng.$route
+     * @eventType broadcast on root scope
+     * @description
+     * Broadcasted if any of the resolve promises are rejected.
+     *
+     * @param {Route} current Current route information.
+     * @param {Route} previous Previous route information.
+     * @param {Route} rejection Rejection of the promise. Usually the error of the failed promise.
+     */
+
     /**
      * @ngdoc event
      * @name angular.module.ng.$route#$routeUpdate
@@ -245,7 +294,7 @@ function $RouteProvider(){
            * @methodOf angular.module.ng.$route
            *
            * @description
-           * Causes `$route` service to reload theR current route even if
+           * Causes `$route` service to reload the current route even if
            * {@link angular.module.ng.$location $location} hasn't changed.
            *
            * As a result of that, {@link angular.module.ng.$compileProvider.directive.ngView ngView}
@@ -309,11 +358,48 @@ function $RouteProvider(){
               $location.url(next.redirectTo(next.pathParams, $location.path(), $location.search()))
                        .replace();
             }
-          } else {
-            copy(next.params, $routeParams);
           }
         }
-        $rootScope.$broadcast('$afterRouteChange', next, last);
+
+        $q.when(next).
+          then(function() {
+            if (next) {
+              var keys = [],
+                  values = [];
+
+              forEach(next.resolve || {}, function(value, key) {
+                keys.push(key);
+                values.push(isFunction(value) ? $injector.invoke(value) : $injector.get(value));
+              });
+              if (next.template) {
+                keys.push('$template');
+                values.push($http.
+                  get(next.template, {cache: $templateCache}).
+                  then(function(response) { return response.data; }));
+              }
+              return $q.all(values).then(function(values) {
+                var locals = {};
+                forEach(values, function(value, index) {
+                  locals[keys[index]] = value;
+                });
+                return locals;
+              });
+            }
+          }).
+          // after route change
+          then(function(locals) {
+            if (next == $route.current) {
+              if (next) {
+                next.locals = locals;
+                copy(next.params, $routeParams);
+              }
+              $rootScope.$broadcast('$afterRouteChange', next, last);
+            }
+          }, function(error) {
+            if (next == $route.current) {
+              $rootScope.$broadcast('$routeChangeError', next, last, error);
+            }
+          });
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/test/ng/directive/ngViewSpec.js b/test/ng/directive/ngViewSpec.js
index 00fc68279009..7524884fcd03 100644
--- a/test/ng/directive/ngViewSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/directive/ngViewSpec.js
@@ -229,24 +229,6 @@ describe('ngView', function() {
   });
 
 
-  it('should clear the content when error during xhr request', function() {
-    module(function($routeProvider) {
-      $routeProvider.when('/foo', {controller: noop, template: 'myUrl1'});
-    });
-
-    inject(function($route, $location, $rootScope, $httpBackend) {
-      $location.path('/foo');
-      $httpBackend.expect('GET', 'myUrl1').respond(404, '');
-      element.text('content');
-
-      $rootScope.$digest();
-      $httpBackend.flush();
-
-      expect(element.text()).toBe('');
-    });
-  });
-
-
   it('should be async even if served from cache', function() {
     module(function($routeProvider) {
       $routeProvider.when('/foo', {controller: noop, template: 'myUrl1'});
@@ -293,8 +275,8 @@ describe('ngView', function() {
       $rootScope.$digest();
 
       expect(element.text()).toBe('bound-value');
-      expect(log).toEqual(['$beforeRouteChange', '$afterRouteChange', 'init-ctrl',
-                           '$viewContentLoaded']);
+      expect(log).toEqual([
+        '$beforeRouteChange', 'init-ctrl', '$viewContentLoaded', '$afterRouteChange' ]);
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/test/ng/routeSpec.js b/test/ng/routeSpec.js
index b66cbb8edeec..3097d72dcfb4 100644
--- a/test/ng/routeSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/routeSpec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 'use strict';
 
 describe('$route', function() {
+  var $httpBackend;
+
+  beforeEach(module(function() {
+    return function(_$httpBackend_) {
+      $httpBackend = _$httpBackend_;
+      $httpBackend.when('GET', 'Chapter.html').respond('chapter');
+      $httpBackend.when('GET', 'test.html').respond('test');
+      $httpBackend.when('GET', 'foo.html').respond('foo');
+      $httpBackend.when('GET', 'baz.html').respond('baz');
+      $httpBackend.when('GET', 'bar.html').respond('bar');
+      $httpBackend.when('GET', '404.html').respond('not found');
+    };
+  }));
 
   it('should route and fire change event', function() {
     var log = '',
@@ -28,6 +41,7 @@ describe('$route', function() {
 
       $location.path('/Book/Moby/Chapter/Intro').search('p=123');
       $rootScope.$digest();
+      $httpBackend.flush();
       expect(log).toEqual('before();after();');
       expect($route.current.params).toEqual({book:'Moby', chapter:'Intro', p:'123'});
 
@@ -165,27 +179,241 @@ describe('$route', function() {
   });
 
 
-  it('should not fire $after/beforeRouteChange during bootstrap (if no route)', function() {
-    var routeChangeSpy = jasmine.createSpy('route change');
+  describe('events', function() {
+    it('should not fire $after/beforeRouteChange during bootstrap (if no route)', function() {
+      var routeChangeSpy = jasmine.createSpy('route change');
 
-    module(function($routeProvider) {
-      $routeProvider.when('/one', {}); // no otherwise defined
+      module(function($routeProvider) {
+        $routeProvider.when('/one', {}); // no otherwise defined
+      });
+
+      inject(function($rootScope, $route, $location) {
+        $rootScope.$on('$beforeRouteChange', routeChangeSpy);
+        $rootScope.$on('$afterRouteChange', routeChangeSpy);
+
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(routeChangeSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+        $location.path('/no-route-here');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(routeChangeSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      });
     });
 
-    inject(function($rootScope, $route, $location) {
-      $rootScope.$on('$beforeRouteChange', routeChangeSpy);
-      $rootScope.$on('$afterRouteChange', routeChangeSpy);
+    it('should fire $beforeRouteChange and resolve promises', function() {
+      var deferA,
+          deferB;
 
-      $rootScope.$digest();
-      expect(routeChangeSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      module(function($provide, $routeProvider) {
+        $provide.factory('b', function($q) {
+          deferB = $q.defer();
+          return deferB.promise;
+        });
+        $routeProvider.when('/path', { template: 'foo.html', resolve: {
+          a: function($q) {
+            deferA = $q.defer();
+            return deferA.promise;
+          },
+          b: 'b'
+        } });
+      });
 
-      $location.path('/no-route-here');
-      $rootScope.$digest();
-      expect(routeChangeSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      inject(function($location, $route, $rootScope, $httpBackend) {
+        var log = '';
+
+        $httpBackend.expectGET('foo.html').respond('FOO');
+
+        $location.path('/path');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toEqual('');
+        $httpBackend.flush();
+        expect(log).toEqual('');
+        deferA.resolve();
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toEqual('');
+        deferB.resolve();
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect($route.current.locals.$template).toEqual('FOO');
+      });
     });
-  });
 
 
+    it('should fire $routeChangeError event on resolution error', function() {
+      var deferA;
+
+      module(function($provide, $routeProvider) {
+        $routeProvider.when('/path', { template: 'foo', resolve: {
+          a: function($q) {
+            deferA = $q.defer();
+            return deferA.promise;
+          }
+        } });
+      });
+
+      inject(function($location, $route, $rootScope) {
+        var log = '';
+
+        $rootScope.$on('$beforeRouteChange', function() { log += 'before();'; });
+        $rootScope.$on('$routeChangeError', function(e, n, l, reason) { log += 'failed(' + reason + ');'; });
+
+        $location.path('/path');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toEqual('before();');
+
+        deferA.reject('MyError');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toEqual('before();failed(MyError);');
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should fetch templates', function() {
+      module(function($routeProvider) {
+        $routeProvider.
+          when('/r1', { template: 'r1.html' }).
+          when('/r2', { template: 'r2.html' });
+      });
+
+      inject(function($route, $httpBackend, $location, $rootScope) {
+        var log = '';
+        $rootScope.$on('$beforeRouteChange', function(e, next) { log += '$before(' + next.template + ');'});
+        $rootScope.$on('$afterRouteChange', function(e, next) { log += '$after(' + next.template + ');'});
+
+        $httpBackend.expectGET('r1.html').respond('R1');
+        $httpBackend.expectGET('r2.html').respond('R2');
+
+        $location.path('/r1');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before(r1.html);');
+
+        $location.path('/r2');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before(r1.html);$before(r2.html);');
+
+        $httpBackend.flush();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before(r1.html);$before(r2.html);$after(r2.html);');
+        expect(log).not.toContain('$after(r1.html);');
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should not update $routeParams until $afterRouteChange', function() {
+      module(function($routeProvider) {
+        $routeProvider.
+          when('/r1/:id', { template: 'r1.html' }).
+          when('/r2/:id', { template: 'r2.html' });
+      });
+
+      inject(function($route, $httpBackend, $location, $rootScope, $routeParams) {
+        var log = '';
+        $rootScope.$on('$beforeRouteChange', function(e, next) { log += '$before' + toJson($routeParams) + ';'});
+        $rootScope.$on('$afterRouteChange', function(e, next) { log += '$after' + toJson($routeParams) + ';'});
+
+        $httpBackend.whenGET('r1.html').respond('R1');
+        $httpBackend.whenGET('r2.html').respond('R2');
+
+        $location.path('/r1/1');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before{};');
+        $httpBackend.flush();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before{};$after{"id":"1"};');
+
+        log = '';
+
+        $location.path('/r2/2');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before{"id":"1"};');
+        $httpBackend.flush();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before{"id":"1"};$after{"id":"2"};');
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should drop in progress route change when new route change occurs', function() {
+      module(function($routeProvider) {
+        $routeProvider.
+          when('/r1', { template: 'r1.html' }).
+          when('/r2', { template: 'r2.html' });
+      });
+
+      inject(function($route, $httpBackend, $location, $rootScope) {
+        var log = '';
+        $rootScope.$on('$beforeRouteChange', function(e, next) { log += '$before(' + next.template + ');'});
+        $rootScope.$on('$afterRouteChange', function(e, next) { log += '$after(' + next.template + ');'});
+
+        $httpBackend.expectGET('r1.html').respond('R1');
+        $httpBackend.expectGET('r2.html').respond('R2');
+
+        $location.path('/r1');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before(r1.html);');
+
+        $location.path('/r2');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before(r1.html);$before(r2.html);');
+
+        $httpBackend.flush();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before(r1.html);$before(r2.html);$after(r2.html);');
+        expect(log).not.toContain('$after(r1.html);');
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should drop in progress route change when new route change occurs and old fails', function() {
+      module(function($routeProvider) {
+        $routeProvider.
+          when('/r1', { templateUrl: 'r1.html' }).
+          when('/r2', { templateUrl: 'r2.html' });
+      });
+
+      inject(function($route, $httpBackend, $location, $rootScope) {
+        var log = '';
+        $rootScope.$on('$routeChangeError', function(e, next, last, error) {
+          log += '$failed(' + next.templateUrl + ', ' + error.status + ');';
+        });
+        $rootScope.$on('$beforeRouteChange', function(e, next) { log += '$before(' + next.templateUrl + ');'});
+        $rootScope.$on('$afterRouteChange', function(e, next) { log += '$after(' + next.templateUrl + ');'});
+
+        $httpBackend.expectGET('r1.html').respond(404, 'R1');
+        $httpBackend.expectGET('r2.html').respond('R2');
+
+        $location.path('/r1');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before(r1.html);');
+
+        $location.path('/r2');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before(r1.html);$before(r2.html);');
+
+        $httpBackend.flush();
+        expect(log).toBe('$before(r1.html);$before(r2.html);$after(r2.html);');
+        expect(log).not.toContain('$after(r1.html);');
+      });
+    });
+
+
+    it('should catch local factory errors', function() {
+      var myError = new Error('MyError');
+      module(function($routeProvider, $exceptionHandlerProvider) {
+        $exceptionHandlerProvider.mode('log');
+        $routeProvider.when('/locals', {
+          resolve: {
+            a: function($q) {
+              throw myError;
+            }
+          }
+        });
+      });
+
+      inject(function($location, $route, $rootScope, $exceptionHandler) {
+        $location.path('/locals');
+        $rootScope.$digest();
+        expect($exceptionHandler.errors).toEqual([myError]);
+      });
+    });
+  });
+  
+  
   it('should match route with and without trailing slash', function() {
     module(function($routeProvider){
       $routeProvider.when('/foo', {template: 'foo.html'});