Route 206 Bypass To Open Saturday After Almost 50 Years

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — It's been almost 50 years but the long-awaited Route 206 Bypass in Hillsborough is officially opening to traffic on Saturday. (Watch the ceremony below)

Hillsborough Mayor Shawn Lipani along with Township and local Legislative officials held a brief ceremony and ribbon cutting at the Peter J. Biondi bypass on Thursday morning.

The bypass, which was conceived in the 1970s, is named after the late Assemblyman Biondi who has deep roots in the township. His wife Joan made an appearance at the ceremony.

"Peter Biondi was a pillar of our community for over 35 years. He served as township committeeman, mayor, freeholder and assemblyman. He was also referred to as Mr. Hillsborough," said Lipani.

The ribbon-cutting included Lipani, Hillsborough Deputy Mayor Frank DelCore, Committeeman Doug Tomson, Committeewoman Janine Erickson, Committeeman Jeffrey Wright, Senator Kip Bateman, Assemblyman Roy Freiman (District 16), Commissioner Paul Drake, and Joan Biondi.

"This long-awaited and anticipated vision is now a reality," said Lipani. "We have looked forward to this day and now can look forward to the development of our downtown Hillsborough main street vision. Please stay tuned as we continue to grow and improve and remain one of the best places to live and work."

The bypass will be open for northbound traffic near Mt. View Road and southbound traffic near Hillsborough Fire House.

Freiman, a longtime Hillsborough resident, welcomed the bypass.

"Having a way to build our downtown is critical," said Freiman. "It took too long but now we can move onto the next phase, not just for Hillsborough but the surrounding areas."

Work on Route 206 is not complete as the state recently started to widen the highway between Doctors Way and Valley Road in Hillsborough in March. Read More: Project To Widen Route 206 Begins Friday Night In Hillsborough

This $41 million federally-funded project to widen Route 206 will create two travel lanes in each direction from Doctors Way and Valley Road and will enhance safety and ease traffic congestion, according to the NJDOT.

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 will direct turns onto newly signalized intersections, and jughandles. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2024.

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