Hightstown Bypass opened to traffic

"One of Governor Whitman’s priorities has been to get long-stalled projects off the shelf," Commissioner Weinstein said. "Here’s an example in which I’m particularly proud. The Hightstown Bypass has been on the books for over 60 years and it has finally become a reality for the residents of Mercer County."

"The Hightstown Bypass will relieve unprecedented traffic congestion in the Borough of Hightstown, and allow through traffic to reach its destination without creating a headache within one small community," the Commissioner said. "I would like to thank NJDOT’s Division of Capital Project Management for working hard to deliver this project as quickly as possible."

The Hightstown Bypass is a 3.8 mile, four lane freeway that connects Route 571 to Route 33 in a northerly alignment around the Borough of Hightstown. The project is located in East Windsor Township. Work began on the $65 million project in September of 1996. The project had been expected to open earlier this fall, but substantial erosion damage caused by Tropical Storm Floyd pushed back the scheduled opening.

The designation "Route 133" will be applied to the Bypass. The project was originally proposed as part of Route 92 to provide a direct link between routes 571 and 33, and connect with Route 133. In 1987, it was determined that the project had independent utility and could be constructed separately from the proposed Route 92.

The project is paid for by the Transportation Trust Fund. The contractor was Schiavone Construction Corporation of Secaucus, New Jersey.