Officials to meet to discuss Rt. 1 expansion
By: Joseph Harvie
Township officials will meet with the state Department of Transportation and representatives of surrounding townships Tuesday in the Plainsboro municipal building to discuss a study to widen Route 1 in South Brunswick.
Township Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz said the meeting is not open to the public. Representatives from Plainsboro, North Brunswick, West Windsor and Lawrence are expected to attend the meeting to discuss the use of $7 million in federal transportation money to study the road.
Route 1 is a four-lane highway in South Brunswick, but just north in North Brunswick and just south in Plainsboro it is a six-lane highway. Township officials have been complaining for years that the road has to be widened because of congestion in the township.
In February 2005 the Township Council hired lobbying firm Cavarocchi, Ruscio, Dennis Associates LLC to help get federal money for the widening of Route 1. In August 2005, the Senate and House of Representatives approved a $286.4 billion transportation bill with about $7 million set aside to study Route 1 in South Brunswick.
"This meeting is important because we can get a handle on where this project is going," Mr. Schmalz said.
Because the meeting is Tuesday, the Township Council Work Session will be held 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Main Meeting Room in the Municipal Building on Route 522.

