Washington Valley Road Construction Changes Expected Next Week

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Washington Valley Road (County Route 616) construction project continues this week with a change in plans for next week, Somerset County announced.

Work will continue in the section of the roadway, between Chimney Rock Road and 700 feet east of Eastbrook Road, this week and remain closed at all times.

On or around Monday, July 22 the contractor is expected to advance to the second stage of the project by moving the active work zone area to west of Van Nest Drive.

The detour for Washington Valley Road will remain in effect.

The second stage of work will include excavation for storm pipes, curb, and the new roadway pavement in the area of 1000 feet west of Van Nest Drive to Van Nest Drive. This work will occur over the next few weeks, the county stated.

The roadway has been closed since April and construction is not expected to be completed until late this year.

The construction is part of the county's efforts to reconstruct Washington Valley Road due to several issues contributing to traffic accidents along the corridor and roadway condition maintenance.

"The goals of the road work are to make the road safer and more effective by improving intersections and adding shoulders to aid with accident avoidance, aid in turning movements onto side streets and driveways, and to carry storm water to a new storm sewer system," according to Somerset County.

Improvements include reconstruction of about 1.3 miles of Washington Valley Road, drainage work, new curbing, and an expansion of the lanes to 30 feet wide or 11 feet wide each with 4-foot wide shoulders.

At the intersection of Vosseller Avenue, Washington Valley Road will be widened to 38 feet wide and a left turn lane will be added.

A new traffic signal will also be installed at the intersection of Chimney Rock Road, which will have the ability to be actuated by vehicles sitting in the turning lanes and have pedestrian crossing signals installed.

For more information on the reconstruction project click here.

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