Route 206 Project Taking 'Baby Steps' Forward: Hillsborough Update

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Construction on the second phase of the Route 206 widening project in Hillsborough is progressing in "baby steps," said Mayor John Ciccarelli.

Ciccarelli offered residents an update on the Doctors Way to Valley Road Phase 2 Project at the Tuesday Township Committee meeting.

"Baby steps" are being taken at the Valley Road bridge and jughandle, along with secondary utility relocation ongoing.

"Sometimes it's at night, so you don’t always see it," said Ciccarelli of the construction. "Again, they are taking baby steps."

Phase 2 of the project is expected to finish in the fall of 2026.

"So we are going to have this summer and next summer to deal with different phases of work," said Ciccarelli.

The Mayor also wanted the intersection of Falcon Road, Triangle Road, and Route 206 would be shut down for a weekend sometime in July or August. This will be coordinated with the Hillsborough Police Traffic Bureau, with details shared with the public once ready.

Additionally, the Township has submitted a local aid grant to pave Farm Road from Route 206 to Triangle Road.

If the Township is awarded that grant, that work will be done in 2026 since that transition is in the state's easement.

Some residents have called this stretch of roadway "pothole road," said Ciccarelli. "We continue to pass these along to the DOT in hopes that they will patch or smooth these over sometime soon. It can become dangerous, so we relay those to DOT."

Phase 3 will encompass Valley Road to Brown Avenue (the railroad track and the bridge) and is not expected to begin until Phase 2 is completed in 2026.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation has funding agreements for Phase 3 that run from 2027 to 2030.

The project at the bridge entails working with Norfolk Southern Railway.

"Which is not easy to deal with, they want certain things done a certain way. It's increased the cost and time, so they will detour the railroad tracks so they can remove the bridge. It's a very complicated process," said Ciccarelli.

He concluded that Phase 3 will likely be completed in 2030.

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