$1.6M awarded for Route 1 project
Federal funds will help finance N.B. bridge replacement
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

North Brunswick has received $1.6 million in federal funding to help pay for the replacement of the Route 1 bridge between Ryders Lane and Milltown Road.

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) on Tuesday presented Mayor Francis "Mac" Womack, council President Bob Davis and Councilwoman Cathy Nicola with the contribution to aid the $30 million construction project expected to be completed from spring 2008 to summer 2009.

The project will replace the existing bridge on Route 1 near DeVry University and SilverLine Windows and remove the abandoned Conrail railroad tracks. A new single-span bridge will be constructed, becoming compatible to both pedestrians and bicycles.

Existing ramps, travel lanes, access lanes and the overall roadway geometry will be improved, making the commute from the northbound side to the area of the Technology Centre, Economic Development Authority and College Farm Road safer and easier for vehicles.

The route to the Milltown Road exit will be adjusted to provide for safer traveling when accessing the highway.

"In North Brunswick we believe in the concept of Smart Growth and we understand people in this region and in this country want to get to their goals, get to their destinations ... as easily as possible," Womack said. "To many people this is just a different flow of traffic along Route 1, but to us in North Brunswick this is much, much more symbolically and pragmatically."

The funds were secured through the fiscal year 2006 appropriations process.

"Maintaining our roads and bridges is vital to our region's economic health and I'm glad we were able to get North Brunswick the funds it needs to get this project off the ground. Easing traffic congestion helps improve the air quality and it makes each day's commute a little easier for everyone," Holt said. "If you study the diagram you can see how nice this is going to be, having access across the highway without impeding traffic along the highway. This is really an interesting vision of what it is going to be."

Steve Dilts, the deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, is looking forward to the partnership between his department, the township and the federal government.

"This project is an example of some of the great work [the DOT] can do with funds," he said. "It also highlights the important partnership we have with local communities."

In April, DOT authorized funding for design phases and studies of various traffic points in town, including the Six Mile Run bridge on Route 27; Route 27 through Veronica Avenue, How Lane and Bennetts Lane; the widening of Route 1; and the reconstruction of the overpass on Route 1.