RARITAN, NJ — Drivers will see a permanent traffic change starting Tuesday as part of a larger Route 202 and First Avenue intersection project in Somerset County.
Beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Leland Street access to and from Route 202 southbound is scheduled to be permanently closed to allow for utility relocation in Raritan.
Residential access will be maintained through North Thompson Street. The closure will not affect traffic on Route 202 South, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation(NJDOT).
The change is tied to the $11.4 million federally funded Route 202 and First Avenue Intersection Improvements project in Raritan.
The improvements are intended to enhance safety, reduce congestion, and improve operational performance at that intersection.
The project will widen Route 202 in both directions by removing the grass median to provide an auxiliary lane. It will also lengthen and realign the ramp from Route 202 southbound to First Avenue. Those changes will alter how nearby local streets connect in the area.
Danbury Avenue will become a cul-de-sac where it currently meets Leland Street. Leland Street will become part of the realigned exit ramp.
First Avenue westbound will also be modified to include an exclusive left turn lane, a through lane, and an exclusive right turn lane.
Signal timing at the intersection will be readjusted as part of the work. The overall project centers on improving traffic flow and safety at one of the borough's key roadway connections.
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