in Somerset County

In 2011, work was underway to bypass a very old railroad bridge that forced US 206 into a sharp S-curve. These photos look north at the future mainline.


Within a month (August-September), the new roadbed extended just about to existing 206.


Looking south at the future connection of Pike Run Rd. to realigned US 206, which will run past the outhouses. Part of the now-former US 206 ROW has been used by Township Line Rd. to stay connected. Originally, that road went straight across the railroad at-grade and intersected US 206 right there. It's quite possible the earliest incarnation of US 206 crossed at that same point, on a diagonal, before the first railroad overpass was built.


Photos look west from "old 206" at "new 206" as it takes shape across the railroad.


Right now, US 206 SB turns sharp left at these chevrons, and CR 601 comes in at the stop sign. Soon, US 206 will curve left across the new bridge, and CR 601 will meet it at a "T" in the middle. It will come to a traffic light that will be horribly timed, resulting in long delays for CR 601 NB traffic turning left. Call me Nostradamus.


Right before the horrible shield atop this page was a very decent Somerset County shield. They're both gone post-reconstruction. I accept the demise of one good shield to cancel out the horror of the other.


For nostalgia's sake, here's one last trip over the old bridge, SB. It wasn't remarkable, but it's ancient history now.


The old Belle Mead Station peeks its roof over the side of the old bridge. It's farther from the new bridge, but whether it's more or less visible depends on the trees in the way.


Just north of the commercial stretch of US 206 and south of the new bypass, SB at Andria Rd. Gone now (for the better, with this fade).


From something old to something new, in 2023 the Hillsborough Bypass (Bypass US 206) is now the through route and US 206 is being widened north of there. All of my construction photos were taken SB. Here you can see the new curb taking shape behind the old as utilities are relocated on both sides. The bypass begins in the background in the last photo, taken in December 2022. From then to April 2023 (first two photos, you can see how much work has been done.


In the next set, I'm driving past a future jughandle to Falcon Rd. (Triangle Rd. west of here, if the overhead sign had you wondering). Old meets new in the last photo, as you can see a former driveway - still with its arrows - along with a brand-new detention basin.


The next set is north of Falcon Rd. The first two photos are left and right in the same stretch, and you can see that construction is being allowed on both sides of the road. Normally that is limited to one side at a time to mitigate disturbance to traffic, but US 206 is so bad they must have decided to just let it slide. It's a substantial widening from 2 lanes with narrow shoulders to a divided 4 lanes with full shoulders. Another thing they apparently let slide is safety, as the new curb grates are only protected by drums. Granted, there's no way to put out barrier safely with the number of driveways to be maintained, but there should at least be temporary dirt or gravel here to avoid a wheel-damaging impact.


Looking west along Valley Rd. Is the road going to be realigned to a 'T' with the widened US 206, or is this going to be a U-turn jughandle? Or something else? Plans are not public, but I would love to think what's now an offset signal with the new development (Lake Dr.) will become a standard 4-way.


Some more widening down to Valley Rd., featuring earth ramps as needed to get vehicles over the curb. Didn't I just mention that being important?


Closing out construction (as of 2023, anyway), these NB "finger" and SB loop jughandles will connect to an existing commercial driveway south of Camplain Rd. and... nothing yet, but with a stub for future development to the east. The last photo looks back north as the jughandle takes shape in December 2022.


SB under the notorious railroad outside Manville that is now singlehandedly preventing the four-lane Somerville bypass from connecting to the Hillsborough Bypass and all the work you saw above.


Original county line sign and a control section sign that's only newer by comparison, courtesy Doug Kerr.

US 202/206
Bypass US 206 construction
Continue north on US 206 to Chester and beyond
Continue south on US 206 to Princeton and beyond
Back to US 206 main page
More bypass construction from CR 514

Onto Somerset CR 601
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