NJDOT to begin reconstruction of Route 1 in Edison
(Trenton) - Commissioner Kris Kolluri today announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation will begin a $53.9 million project to reconstruct and improve Route 1 in Edison between I-287 and the Garden State Parkway.
“This project represents the final piece of a decade-long investment in the rehabilitation of the Route 1 corridor in Union and Middlesex counties,” Commissioner Kolluri said. “Taken together with our other improvements, this work will improve traffic flow and safety along a 10 mile segment of one of the state’s critical arteries.”
The 2.5-mile project consists of construction of a third through-lane in each direction and auxiliary lanes to improve safety for vehicles entering or exiting the highway.
The Route 1 intersections at Grandview Avenue, Parsonage Road and Ford Avenue will be reconfigured with new jughandle ramps and traffic signals. The Amboy Avenue Bridge will also be widened as part of the project. Improvements will be made to the Roosevelt Park Ampitheater, including a new berm, landscaping, fencing, and access paths.
The existing Route 1 Bridge over the former Conrail rail line will be removed, and Route 1 will be significantly lowered to eliminate the substandard crest curve. A 945 foot long pedestrian bridge will be constructed along the abandoned Conrail rail line, which will be converted to the Middlesex Greenway.
In addition to these improvements, median barrier curb, retaining walls, overhead sign structures, traffic surveillance cameras, guide rail and crash protection devices will be installed as part of the project.
The project will be constructed in three stages:
Stage 1 (September 29, 2006 to November 2007) – Work will include utility relocations, roadway widening and construction of new loop ramps and jughandles. The right lane on Route 1 northbound will be closed to traffic, and two travel lanes will be provided in each direction.
Stage 2 (November 2007 to July 2008): Improvements will be made to the Route 1 median.
Stage 3 (July 2008 to June 2009): Construction on Route 1 southbound will provide for two travel lanes southbound and three travel lanes northbound. When completed, three travel lanes in each direction will be in operation.
“Route 1 is one of the most heavily-traveled roadways in New Jersey, and we have taken steps to mitigate the impact this work will have on motorists,” Kolluri said. “These efforts include Variable Message Signs to alert motorists to changes to traffic patterns and real time updates on our website www.nj.commuter.com.”
