Officials Break Ground On Hillsborough Route 206 Widening Project

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Governor Phil Murphy, Hillsborough Mayor Shawn Lipani and other officials broke ground Tuesday on a $41 million federally-funded project to widen Route 206 between Doctors Way and Valley Road in Hillsborough.

"The beginning of this phase brings Hillsborough one step closer to finishing the entire 206 bypass and widening project that has been our focus not only the past few years but decades," said Lipani. "I look forward to the completion of the entire project which will bring needed relief to this Hillsborough and our residents."

Murphy noted during the news conference in Hillsborough Tuesday that this project is one of 220 transportation projects underway in the state which will creating jobs and help to boost the economy.

"This project exemplifies our commitment to maintaining and revamping transportation infrastructure is critical that is critical to commuters, businesses, and other stakeholders in New Jersey," said Murphy.

Along with Murphy and Lipani, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti and Congressman Tom Malinowski were also in attendance.

Malinowski noted that he represents not only the I-78 district but the Route 206 district as well.

"This narrow two-lane road is literally the main north-south artery that connects people in this part of New Jersey, Central Jersey. And to say this project is long overdue would be an understatement," said Malinowski. "When I was a teenager I knew avoid 206 when you can and that was when the population of Hillsborough was literally one half of what it is today."

The road-widening project will create two travel lanes in each direction of Route 206 from Doctors Way and Valley Road and will enhance safety and ease traffic congestion. Currently the highway only has one travel lane in each direction in this section.

The project will also include the construction of a new median barrier which will eliminate left turns to and from properties located along the highway and direct turns onto newly signalized intersections and jughandles.

The project will be completed in three stages with most construction activities being performed at night to reduce the impact to the public. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2024 and is one of several projects in the area dedicated to improving traffic flow and safety.

The Route 206 Hillsborough Bypass project which will be completed this spring, will shift through traffic onto a new 3.6-mile section of Route 206 to the east of the existing highway between Mountain View Road and Old Somerville Road, thus improving safety and enhancing economic opportunities.

Watch the full press conference below:

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.