Promenade Blvd

“Road Diet” Will Enhance Safety Along Promenade Boulevard

BRIDGEWATER – Freeholder Patricia L. Walsh announced that Somerset County has been awarded federal funding under the Local Safety Program to implement safety measures along Promenade Boulevard, County Route 685.

The goal of the project is to reduce the occurrence of right-angle crashes and to improve pedestrian safety and access along the corridor. Road signs are posted alerting residents and motorists that construction will start on or about Monday, March 9. The project is expected to be completed in about four months. Promenade Boulevard will remain open during construction. A travel lane in both directions will be maintained at all times.

An analysis of the types of collisions that occurred along Promenade Boulevard between 2008 and 2010 showed that most were right-angle crashes. To reduce the number of accidents, Promenade Boulevard will be reconfigured according to what the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) refers to as a “road diet.” The current four-lane roadway will be converted to two through lanes and a center twoway left-turn lane. Construction will include the removal of medians at driveway intersections, repaving and restriping. According to FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures, the resulting benefits will include a crash reduction of about 29 percent.

 To improve pedestrian access between Bound Brook and Promenade Boulevard, a sidewalk will be constructed on the north side of East Main Street. Installation of the ADA-compliant sidewalk will require the removal of the dedicated right-turn lane at the intersection of East Main Street and Promenade Boulevard. Analysis has shown that the dedicated right-turn lane is not required for vehicle capacity.

Other design improvements will include the installation of ADA-compatible sidewalk ramps, mid-block crossings with medians and a bicycle-compatible shoulder along Promenade Boulevard. When construction is completed, pedestrians will have safer access to commercial sites along the corridor, including restaurants and stores. The new sidewalk also will support game day crowds crossing Main Street.

Construction, which was awarded to Topline Construction, will begin with the removal of the right-turn lane and installation of new sidewalks along East Main Street (across from TD Bank Ballpark). Work will then move onto Promenade Boulevard with modifications to medians, curbs and sidewalks. Paving, which will be conducted between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., and striping will follow.

A web page dedicated to the Promenade Boulevard project can be found at http://bit.ly/PromenadeBlvd.

Visit the Federal Highway Administration website to find out more about “road diets.” (http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/road_diets/)

To stay up to date with Somerset County events, road construction or other information, sign up for free email alerts at www.co.somerset.nj.us/subscribe.html or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Amwell Road Bridge

http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2015/03/winter_weather_delays_reopening_of_amwell_road_bri.html#incart_river

Winter weather delays reopening of Amwell Road bridge, officials say
The bridge, which takes Amwell Road across the D&R Canal in Franklin Township, was abruptly shut down in January after New Jersey Department of Transportation officials deemed it structurally deficient, meaning it cannot carry the weight of traffic it was originally intended to. Officials said at the time that oversized trucks were spotted crossing the bridge. The bridge's weight limit was reduced to 14 tons at one point but trucks weighing as much as 40 tons had been seen crossing, according to NJDOT officials. "I never want to close a bridge," NJDOT Commissioner Jamie Fox said at the time. "It is a serious inconvenience but safety has to come first." Officials anticipated repair work on the D&R Bridge would be finished by late February or the beginning of March. "Winter weather continues to delay the completion of repair work and deck repaving," the NJDOT said Friday. "An update will be provided as the weather clears." Weight restrictions signs will be posted to deter large trucks from crossing the bridge, said Meredith Hammond, NJDOT's community relations manager.

Need an Exit to Foothill Road from I-287 South

As I have mentioned in my previous posts, on week days evening rush hour, traffic backs up from the Somerville Circle all the way to the Exit 17 on I-287 South. People spend one hour to cover the distance from the exit 17 to the Somerville Circle every day.

The NJDOT did a cheap work in 1993 when the built the Somerville Circle overpass. They should have had a left lane on the overpass for Route 206 South, which now goes through the Circle. Well, adding that left lane now seems next to impossible.

What the NJDOT can do now to tackle this problem is to build a new exit on I-287 South a couple of miles south at the Foothill Road in Bridgewater.

Route 206 & Harlingen Road intersection

When the traffic signal was installed at this intersection, it used to be traffic sensitive. It used to stay green for 206 and would turn red only when there was some vehicle on the Harlingen Road. Now, it is no longer traffic sensitive and turns red whether there are vehicles on the Harlinger road or not slowing the traffic on Route 206 further.

Daily traffic nightmare at the Somerville Circle.

Two weeks ago, me and my brother picked up our sister from the Newark airport. While coming back, he said he preferred Route 22 because it was as fast as I-78 while being shorter. I didn't believe him then at all.

Today, I dropped off my sister at the airport. While coming back, I realized that my brother was right. Route I-78 West was ok. But as soon as I arrived on I-287 South, I hit the traffic. At first, it was a slow down. A quarter mile later, it was stand still. Soon I figured out it was Route 206 South that was causing the back up on I-287 South. It was probably the Somerville Circle that caused the back up all the way to the I-287/I-78 intersection.

After waiting about 15 minutes, I took the right lane on I-287 to go on towards Bound Brook so I could get off on Route 28. I drove only half a mile before I got stuck again. Another 15 minutes were gone before I reached the exit.

All the while, I was wondering what do the NJDOT do to keep themselves busy. They do not seem to be doing anything these days. Whenever they design something, they come up with something really cheap that does not resolve issues.

I was also wondering why on earth the townships around the Somerville Circle accepted the overpass design. If it is backing up traffic all they way to I-78, then there is something terribly wrong with the design. And are they aware of the problem? If so, what are they doing to resolve this?

I really admire the New Brunswick township administration for rejecting a few years ago a cheap U.S. 1/U.S. 130 intersection design offered by NJDOT and making the NJDOT come up with something better.

Route 206 Bypass - 40 Years in Making

Would you believe it? The Route 206 bypass was first proposed in 1974! And it is still nowhere near completion. The Montgomery township was the major culprit in its delay and the reduction of lanes in Montgomery. In fact, the highway would remain a two-lane highway in Montgomery for a few miles ever after the project completion. While the bypass was being planned, Montgomery kept building right where the bypass was supposed to be, and then claimed the bypass was passing through the development. The DOT was forced to divert the bypass and reduce the number of lanes. Now, after all this, we will have just two lanes and more signals. Hillsborough accepted the plan saying, 'Something is better than nothing.'

This is what the Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_206)  says about the bypass:

Since 1974, a bypass has been planned for the congested part of US 206 through Hillsborough. In 2002, the NJDOT modified plans for the bypass. The bypass is to be mostly four lanes wide and run to the east of Hillsborough, with the southernmost portion only being two lanes; one interchange was planned with CR 514. The road is to meet a Smart Growth goal by preserving land and eliminating two planned interchanges that would have increased congestion. In July 2009, it was announced that construction of the US 206 Hillsborough bypass, which is projected to cost $148 million, would start in 2010. On June 24, 2010, a contract was given to Carbro Constructors Corporation to build the first phase between CR 514 and Hillsborough Road. Construction on this portion, planned to cost $43 million, began on August 18, 2010 with completion planned for 2012. The remaining segments are planned to be bid on in 2012 with the entire bypass completed in 2015.

A legislation sponsored by Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman and Assembly members Jack Ciattarelli and Donna Simon was approved in May 2013 to dedicate the Route 206 bypass to late Assemblyman Peter Biondi, who served the 16th district in the Assembly for 14 years before his death on November 2011. He was a major force behind the Route 206 bypass project.

The following link has the proposed bypass map:

http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/meetings/documents/handout061307CF_002.pdf

Route 206: Innumerable speed zones

How many speed zones are there on Route 206 in Somerset County?

http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/traffic_orders/speed/rt206.shtm

In Somerset County:
	NOTE: State Highway Route US 206 is coincident with State Highway Route US 202 from approximate mileposts 71.64 to 78.32.
	i. In the Township of Montgomery:
(1)	For both directions of traffic:
	(A) Zone 1: 40 MPH between the Princeton Township – Montgomery Township corporate line (Cherry Valley Road) and Sycamore Lane (approximate mileposts 57.23 to 58.56); thence
	(B) Zone 2: 45 MPH between Sycamore Lane and Orchard Road (approximate mileposts 58.56 to 59.10); thence
	(C) Zone 3: 50 MPH between Orchard Road and 240 feet south of Rutland Road (approximate mileposts 59.10 to 60.94); thence
	(D) Zone 4: 45 MPH between 240 feet south of Rutland Road and 1,175 feet north of Harlingen Road (approximate mileposts 60.94 to 61.55); thence
	(E) Zone 5: 50 MPH between 1,175 feet north of Harlingen Road and 100 feet south of Township Line Road (approximate mileposts 61.55 to 62.61); thence
	(F) Zone 6: 40 MPH between 100 feet south of Township Line Road and the Montgomery Township - Hillsborough Township corporate line (approximately mileposts 62.61 to 63.06); thence
	ii. In the Township of Hillsborough:
(1)	For both directions of traffic:
	(A) Zone 1: 45 MPH between the Montgomery Township - Hillsborough Township corporate line and Raider Boulevard (approximate mileposts 63.06 to 64.81); thence
	(B) Zone 2: 40 MPH between Raider Boulevard and Old Somerville Road (approximate mileposts 64.81 to 66.29); thence
	(C) Zone 3: 45 MPH between Old Somerville Road and Brooks Boulevard (approximate mileposts 66.29 to 68.74); thence
	(D) Zone 4: 55 MPH between Brooks Boulevard and the Hillsborough Township – Somerville Borough corporate line (approximate mileposts 68.74 to 69.77); thence
	iii. In the Borough of Somerville:
(1)	For both directions of traffic:
	(A) Zone 1: 50 MPH between the Hillsborough Township - Somerville Borough corporate line and Orlando Drive (approximate mileposts 69.77 to 70.60); thence
	(B) Zone 2: 40 MPH between Orlando Drive and Somerville Borough - Raritan Borough corporate line (approximate mileposts 70.60 to 70.71); thence
	iv. In the Borough of Raritan:
(1)	For both directions of traffic:
	(A) Zone 1: 40 MPH between the Somerville Borough-Raritan Borough corporate line and the northernmost Raritan Borough – Somerville Borough corporate line (Route US 202-Route US 206-Route NJ 28 traffic circle) (approximate mileposts 70.71 to 71.64); thence
	NOTE: Route US 206 is coincident with Route US 202 (approximate mileposts 24.43 to 31.51) from approximate mileposts 71.64 to 78.32.  See Route US 202-206 for speed limits in this section; thence
	v. In the Township of Bedminster:
(1)	For both directions of traffic:
	(A) Zone 1: 50 MPH between the end of coincidence with Route US 202 and Lamington Road (County Route 523) (approximate mileposts 78.32 to 78.93, using Route US 206 mileposts; thence
	(B) Zone 2: 45 MPH between Lamington Road (County Route 523) and 1,100 feet north of Ski Hill Drive (approximate mileposts 78.93 to 80.20); thence
	(C) Zone 3: 50 MPH between 1,100 feet north of Ski Hill Drive and the southernmost Bedminster Township - Peapack-Gladstone Borough corporate line (approximate mileposts 80.20 to 80.22); thence
	(D) Zone 4: 50 MPH between the northernmost Peapack-Gladstone Borough – Bedminster Township corporate line and the Bedminster Township – Chester Township corporate line (approximate mileposts 82.30 to 83.14); thence
	vi. In the Borough of Peapack-Gladstone:
(1)	For both directions of traffic:
	(A) Zone 1: 50 MPH between the southernmost Peapack-Gladstone Borough – Bedminster Township corporate line and the northernmost Peapack-Gladstone Borough – Bedminster Township corporate line (approximate mileposts 80.22 to 82.30);