New Road-Route 1 Jughandle Upgrade Could be Finished by June

Work to upgrade one of the major problem areas on Route 1 in South Brunswick is nearing completion.

Township officials said the state Department of Transportation is close to finishing an improvement project on the northbound jughandle of Route 1 and New Road.

"The New Road and Route 1 project is moving along," said Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz. "The DOT has done the widening of the street for New Road on the east side of the intersection and have removed the poles. They told us it should be completed in June."

The approximately $8.5 million project will reconfigure the jughandle at the intersection of Route 1 and New Road on the northbound side. The project will move the jughandle outlet further back towards the middle of New Road in the direction of Route 522 to allow improved access for motorists.

Unfortunately for long suffering commuters, this will be the only project the state has slated to improve Route 1 in South Brunswick for at least the rest of 2013. The DOT  was expected to begin drainage improvements at the intersection of Route 1 and Ridge Road this year, with a project to alleviate the constant flooding issues that affect the intersection during periods of heavy rainfall.

However, the state will not move forward with the $2.2 million project this year. Other projects to improve the intersections of Route 1 and Henderson Road, and Route 1 and Deans Lane, are also in limbo due to a lack of state funding.

While intersection improvements would certainly provide small relief to some issues, the traffic problem on Route 1 is still dependent on the state committing to finally expand the roadway through South Brunswick from two lanes. 

It's estimated that in order to expand Route 1 into three lanes on both sides of the roadway through the township, it would cost anywhere from $300 to $500 million dollars. The township has been waiting since the mid-1980's for that project to move forward.

While the DOT does have in place a $100 million concept plan for the long awaited widening of Route 1, the plan remains in the discussion phase with nothing imminent.

What other intersections along Route 1 would you like to see improved? Tell us in the comments.