Route 1 Repaving Project Begins

Work began Monday on an extensive project to improve driving conditions on Route 1 in South Brunswick. The New Jersey Department of Transportation plans to mill and repave the roadway from College Road in Plainsboro through South Brunswick and into North Brunswick. 

“NJDOT is committed to improving our state’s infrastructure, so this concentrated effort to repair the deficient roadway on Route 1 in these locations will go a long way in providing a safer and smoother ride for the tens of thousands of motorists passing through here each day,” said Transportation Commissioner James Simpson via release.  

The work will be performed by the DOT during the overnight hours on weekdays and on weekends. Once the repaving work is finished, the DOT is expected to begin a project to reconfigure the jughandle at the intersection of Route 1 and New Road. Township officials said they expect the repaving work to be completed by the end of this summer, with the New Road jughandle project expected to be complete by the summer of 2013.

The $8.5 million project will mainline in both directions, with a new surface course of asphalt pavement, according to the DOT. The paving will also address Route 1 shoulders and selected ramps. 

Route 1 southbound will be resurfaced from south of Route 91 (Jersey Avenue) interchange in North Brunswick to just north of the College Road interchange in Plainsboro.

Site mobilization and sign installation will begin towards the end of the week, which will require shoulder closures.  The mainline resurfacing operations are expected to begin at the end of July.

The work on the 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.

"Right now we can only stack about two cars at that intersection," said Mayor Frank Gambatese last month. "It's crucial for our residents to have that stacking lane be able to fit about five to ten cars. It's a mess because cars are sitting at that intersection for two or three lights just to get through."

New Road will be widened east of Route 1 and will be restriped, which will provide an additional travel lane in both directions.  A right-hand turn lane from New Road east onto Route 1 south will be reconfigured to accommodate a shared thru lane/right-hand turn lane, the DOT said. The traffic signal will also be modified at the intersection.

The DOT expects the jughandle project to be completed during the summer of 2013, weather permitting.

In addition to the work repaving Route 1, the DOT will also address drainage issues at the intersection of Route 1 and Ridge Road next year. The $2.2 million project is expected to begin in the fall of 2013, with officials hoping the work will eliminate the flooding issues at the location during heavy rainfall.

Motorists are encouraged to check the DOT’s traffic information website at www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.