By Mike Deak, MyCentralJersey.com
August 28, 2023
Route 202 and First Avenue may be one of the busiest and most dangerous intersections in Central Jersey.
It’s also one of the most frustrating as southbound Route 202 motorists trying to go south on First Avenue into Raritan and Hillsborough face the daunting and dangerous challenge of trying to maneuver across the left-hand turn lane of First Avenue to the through lane.
Traffic backups on Route 202 and First Avenue are common at all hours of the day and all days of the week. The state Department of Transportation has graded the intersection as “F,” meaning that traffic volume on Route 202 exceeds the capacity of the highway.
The DOT’s crash data shows the accident rate is almost three times the statewide average.
But all that could be changing, but it will take a while.
The DOT has unveiled the long-awaited plan to improve the intersection in a $7.5 million project that is tentatively scheduled to be completed by summer 2026 with construction beginning in spring 2025.
The DOT is holding a public meeting on the project 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 31 in the basement community room of Raritan Borough Hall, 22 First St.
The DOT also has an online presentation that will be posted through Sept. 6.
The project will have two major features – a new jughandle from southbound Route 202 to First Avenue and the widening of Route 202 in both directions to three lanes.
The new jughandle will run along Leland Street and tie into First Avenue north of the existing jughandle on the other side of the Alternatives office and parking lot. The existing ramp will be filled in and grass will be planted.
That will result in Danbury Avenue ending in a cul-de-sac.
According to DOT, the project includes the demolition of four homes and the construction of two drainage basins.
In all, the DOT said the project will affect 22 properties, including the acquisition of six. Seventeen residential driveways along Route 202 and First Avenue will be reconstructed to comply with current Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
According to DOT, the widening of the highway will be in the existing grass median which will be replaced with a concrete barrier.
The DOT also plans to install a camera at the intersection to monitor traffic.
The construction will be done in six stages, starting with the construction of the jughandle, followed by the widening of the highway.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com