Efforts To Restart Route 206 Project Continue In Hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Efforts to restart construction on the $41 million federally-funded project to widen Route 206 after it came to a halt in Hillsborough are underway.

Hillsborough Deputy Mayor Robert Britting updated residents on current and future road paving and repair projects including the Route 206 project at the Tuesday night Committee meeting.

"We are working very hard to make sure that we rectify the state for stopping that project early," said Britting.

Britting noted that many Hillsborough businesses have called the Township to discuss how their business is struggling during these uncertain times.

"First they went through COVID and now they go thorough this. It's just not right," said Britting.

The work on the project was temporarily halted after the New Jersey Department of Transportation(NJDOT) terminated its contract with Konkus Corporation in May. Read More: Route 206 Widening Project Halted In Hillsborough

Britting noted as of Sept. 12 it has been 149 days since the project was halted.

Since then the Township has been working with the NJDOT and they assure the Township they are working expeditiously to restart the construction work, according to the Township.

The next phase of Route 206 between Valley Road and Brown Avenue is currently in final design with construction and is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2026.

A local officials progress meeting has been scheduled for Winter 2023 to update the Township on progress.

Township officials urged residents to sign a petition in hopes of getting NJDOT to restart the project again. Read More: Petition Pushes To Restart Route 206 Widening Project In Hillsborough

Amsterdam Drive, Other Township Roads

Along with the Route 206 project, Britting shared an update on other road projects in the Township.

Phase 2 of the Amsterdam Drive repaving project, from Vliet Drive to Murphy Drive, is complete. Phase 3 of the Amsterdam Drive repaving project, from Murphy Drive to Amwell Road, will go out to bid in winter 2024, as part of the 2024 Capital Budget. Additionally, a grant application has been submitted to repair Auten Road as part of the Capital Budget for 2025.

The following roads are scheduled to begin repairs this week, which include new, updated handicapped ramps and drainage inlet replacements, all to meet the latest handicapped and NJDEP standards:

• Independence Drive
• John Hancock Avenue
• Liberty Trail
• Fairfield Lane (from Valinor Road to Radnor Court)
• Slater Court
• Radnor Court

Falcon Road

The reconstruction of Falcon Road is a requirement of the Gateway Development Project. In order to complete the reconstruction, additional right-of-way land needed to be acquired. Though the land acquisition took time, the Right-of-Way land acquisition is now complete.

The utility poles along Falcon Road need to be relocated to accommodate the widened pavement and new drainage facilities. The utility poles could not be moved until the additional right-of-way lands were acquired.

The developer is now completing survey work with markings to show the road improvements. The utility pole location and multiple wire relocation is a time-consuming process.

The Hillsborough Township Committee and the Engineering Department are working with the developer and PSE&G to expedite the process. Hillsborough has made it clear to the developer and PSE&G that this is a critical road improvement project for the Township and requested this to be treated as a high priority.

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