Route 206 Update: NJDOT To Address Hillsborough's Safety Concerns

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough is starting to make progress on the road to restoring the stalled Route 206 widening project.

Mayor Robert Britting, Jr., who has made it his mission to get the project back on track, recently updated residents on the progress.

"I am incredibly happy to report that the NJDOT[New Jersey Department of Transportation] department has responded to our Hillsborough Township Engineering Department's concerns in regard to safety with the current state of 206. You will see numerous safety components that are out there and different resources that the state has put out there," said Britting in a video to the community on Thursday.

The NJDOT is evaluating multiple areas that are safety issues that Hillsborough pointed out after Township officials headed to Trenton in February to sit down with NJDOT officials. Read More: Hillsborough Heads To Trenton To Restart Stalled Route 206 Project

"They have responded to us in a very positive way and they are actively pursuing solutions for numerous issues along 206," said Britting.

Issues include:

• Entrance to Hillsborough Promenade Shopping Center: Potholes in the entrance - Complete
• Detention Basin at Triangle Road: Water is not draining – DOT actively investigating
• Detention Basin at Falcon Road: Water is not draining – Inspected; Remedy in place by NJDOT
• Flooding on Valley Road: Ponding on Valley Road - NJDOT investigating; underdrain as temporarily fix; Township following up for permanent fix fron State
• Doctor’s Way - Double Type B basin significantly higher than the roadway - NJDOT operation contractor to place additional traffic safety devices; Sewer manhole significantly higher than roadway - Operation’s contractor placing additional traffic safety devices
• Lindstrom Drive: Utility pole is in close proximity of roadway; Operation contractor will place cones around the utility pole
• Jughandle; Daisy Garden Center: Operation contractor will block the unfinished ramp with traffic safety devices
• Opie Road: Vehicles are driving on proposed shoulder causing rutting; operation contractor will place additional traffic safety devices

"Now yes that is a band-aid for the larger problem but in the moment those are critical that we need to have addressed and the NJDOT had been amendable to that and they are showing action which is very good," Britting.

Additionally, Britting said he has met with Assemblyman Roy Freiman(District 16), who lives in Hillsborough, to see what his team can do to get 206 back on track.

"This just shows you the critical nature of making sure the right people are involved for the right reasons to ensure we get this project back on track as soon as humanly possible. Because we all know, we all know, the critical nature of 206 and how it has caused significant issues for our township from a safety standpoint, it has impacted our businesses negatively. It really is challenging getting to and from work. Just going north and south is just a major major issue," said Britting.

Britting also noted that retailers and larger businesses want to come to Hillsborough but the Route 206 project must be completed first.

While the project hasn't resumed fully yet, Britting told Patch that he has a good feeling about it.

"I feel good. It is still cold now but when the warmer weather arrives who knows what will happen," said Britting.

The $41 million federally-funded project to widen Route 206 was halted in May 2023 after the NJDOT terminated its contract with Konkus Corporation.

This prompted Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. to visit the halted Route 206 widening project and spoke with impacted business owners on Sept. 15, 2023. Read More: Congressman Kean Visits 'Abandoned' Route 206 Widening Project

Following the visit, Kean sent a letter to NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti urging that the department take all necessary steps to restart construction on the Route 206 Widening Project.

A petition was also created and signed by the Hillsborough businesses that are impacted with hopes of getting NJDOT to restart the project again. Read More: Petition Pushes To Restart Route 206 Widening Project In Hillsborough

NJDOT previously said in September that it is the Surety’s obligation to complete the contract. Read More: NJDOT Addresses Halted Route 206 Project Concerns In Hillsborough

Since becoming Mayor in January, Britting has made it his mission to address the Route 206 Project.

"You have my commitment to get 206 back on track as soon as humanly possible," said Britting.

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