By Ed Trzaska | Posted October 24, 2024
Traffic is one of the biggest local challenges we face. What happened and why did it get so bad?
In 1966, Montgomery had about 75 public roads and 6,000 residents. There were no subdivisions or suburban neighborhoods yet. The non-residential roads we use for commuting and errands haven’t changed much over the past six decades. Yet, we now have close to 24,000 residents and more 450 additional neighborhood roads. We have four times the residents, but the same number of primary roads. Not good.
Our traffic problems boil down to Route 206. Sure, Routes 601 and 518 have pockets of traffic at certain times of day, but this is mostly due to drivers avoiding 206. Improve 206 and everything will fall into place.
Many of us have heard about the four new loop roads for the 206/518 intersection. Two are part of the Village Walk (Starbucks) complex and two for the Montgomery Promenade (Whole Foods). There has been a lot of progress over the past year.
The first loop road (Brecknell Way), which goes between the Tiger’s Tale and Starbucks, is already open. The two larger loop roads (Village Drive and Nevius Boulevard) will connect 206 and 518 with traffic signals, and will significantly improve traffic flow by removing left turns and shifting cars away from the intersection.
Some are skeptical of the benefits of these roads, but the engineering study is compelling. Moreover, the Promenade is now much smaller than originally planned. The Princeton Avenue/ Cherry Valley Road/206 intersection also needs to be addressed.
The solution here is straightforward. There are already two smaller loop roads in place, but we need the third and final one completed. This road is partially built and begins at the southern entrance of the Land Rover/Jaguar dealership and ends at the PSE&G substation. Montgomery Township owns the right-of-way to extend the road to Cherry Valley Road. Once completed the remaining left turns at the intersection can be removed and traffic flow will greatly improve. Why has this loop road been delayed?
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Normally, the township makes developers build such roads, like the four 206/518 loop roads. However, there are no prospective developers for the final Route 206/Cherry Valley Road loop. The land is owned by the Volkswagen dealership, but they have no plans for using it. We need this road completed. The township can build it using tax dollars (probably $2-3 million). Maybe there are grants available? Maybe we can partner with the car dealership and NJ DOT to share the costs. Let’s figure it out.
Another way to improve local traffic is to convert the Griggstown Causeway into a two-lane bridge. The problems caused by the existing one-lane crossing are dramatic.
Countless drivers avoid this area and are forced to cross the Millstone River in Rocky Hill, which increases pressure on the 206/518 intersection. If Somerset County converts the bridge, local traffic flow would be redistributed. It would also eliminate unnecessary driver confrontations at the current crossing. Reducing future growth and development is important, but widening 206 isn’t a realistic option for several reasons. I will write more about this in the future.
Ed Trzaska
Ed Trzaska served on the Montgomery Township Committee as a Republican for nine years, including six years as mayor and deputy mayor. He championed local issues such as open space preservation, parks, public safety, and thoughtful land use. Ed and his family have been Montgomery residents for more than 20 years.
To ask Ed a local question, please contact him at: insidemonty@outlook.com.
Converting the Griggstown Causeway to two lanes is not a good idea -- it would increase traffic in that direction and make left turns from the causeway much worse (currently, people will let other drivers make left turns off the causeway because they know it is one lane).
From what I have seen in New Jersey more roads just lead to more traffic.