Somerville Circle
Encyclopedia
The Somerville Circle is a traffic circle
located on the border of Bridgewater Township
and Raritan
, New Jersey
, United States
. The circle is at the intersection of U.S. Routes 202
and 206
, and New Jersey Route 28. The circle was built in the 1930s when the area was rural, but as the region became more populated the circle became notorious for being confusing for drivers and a frequent spot for traffic accidents
and traffic backups
. In the 1990s a bridge was built that allowed Route 202 to bypass the circle completely. The Somerville Circle is no longer officially considered a traffic circle by the New Jersey Department of Transportation
.
and 206
, and New Jersey Route 28. A bridge over the circle allows Route 202 to bypass the intersecting roads. Ever since the bridge was built in the 1990s, the New Jersey Department of Transportation
no longer considers the Somerville Circle a traffic circle
, but the intersection still contains a 360 degree loop, interrupted on one side with traffic light
s. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the circle averages 11,786 vehicles a day.
The Somerville Circle is located on the border between Bridgewater Township
and Raritan, New Jersey
, just slightly northwest of Somerville
. The border runs down Route 28 with Raritan having a slightly larger portion of the circle within its borders. The border bisecting the circle usually causes minor confusion when accidents are reported as drivers are often not sure what side of the border they are on and which town's police department has jurisdiction. More traffic accidents
occur on the Raritan side of the circle than the Bridgewater side.
At the time the area around the circle was mostly rural, with the circle being named after Somerville because it was the nearest largest town. In its early days, the area included the Raritan Valley Inn, a place that was frequented by Irving Berlin
. The home of New Jersey Senator Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen, Sr. was also located by the circle. Frelinghuysen had supported the construction of the circle, but moved away years later because of noise from the traffic.
After World War II
the area began to become more developed. In 1956 New Jersey's first shopping center
, Somerset Shopping Center, opened next to the circle. As the area became more developed and traffic and road speeds increased, the circle became notorious for being confusing for people unfamiliar with the circle and frequent car accidents and traffic backups
. Many drivers would attempt to bypass the circle by using nearby local roads. In 1991 there were 195 reported traffic accidents on the circle.
In September 1991 construction began on a project to improve the circle. The project included an overpass that allows Route 202 to bypass the circle, and the inclusion of traffic signals. The project was completed in 1994. In the year after the overpass opened the circle saw 302 traffic accidents. In an attempt to lower the accident rate the New Jersey Department of Transportation installed yield
ahead signs for approaching vehicles in February 1995. The signs made little difference and the accident rate remained high. Another attempt to make the circle safer came in November when the Transportation Department painted lane lines and arrows on the roads and replaced a yield sign with a stop sign
. The new changes resulted in fewer accidents.
Despite the state spending US$26 Million on the circle local officials called for to be bisected and turned into a five-way intersection with traffic lights. They cited that circle is still confusing, but no major changes have occurred since. In 2007 the circle had 294 traffic accidents.
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
located on the border of Bridgewater Township
Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. , the township population was 44,464.Bridgewater Township was originally created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of...
and Raritan
Raritan, New Jersey
Raritan is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 6,881.-Geography:Raritan is located at ....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The circle is at the intersection of U.S. Routes 202
U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 is a highway stretching from Delaware to Maine, also passing through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire....
and 206
U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206 is a long north–south United States highway in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, United States. Only about a half a mile of its length is in Pennsylvania; the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge carries it over the Delaware River into New Jersey, where it is the remainder of the route...
, and New Jersey Route 28. The circle was built in the 1930s when the area was rural, but as the region became more populated the circle became notorious for being confusing for drivers and a frequent spot for traffic accidents
Car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
and traffic backups
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
. In the 1990s a bridge was built that allowed Route 202 to bypass the circle completely. The Somerville Circle is no longer officially considered a traffic circle by the New Jersey Department of Transportation
New Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey Department of Transportation is the agency responsible for transportation issues and policy in New Jersey. It is headed by the Commissioner of Transportation...
.
Description
The Somerville Circle joins U.S. Routes 202U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 is a highway stretching from Delaware to Maine, also passing through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire....
and 206
U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206 is a long north–south United States highway in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, United States. Only about a half a mile of its length is in Pennsylvania; the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge carries it over the Delaware River into New Jersey, where it is the remainder of the route...
, and New Jersey Route 28. A bridge over the circle allows Route 202 to bypass the intersecting roads. Ever since the bridge was built in the 1990s, the New Jersey Department of Transportation
New Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey Department of Transportation is the agency responsible for transportation issues and policy in New Jersey. It is headed by the Commissioner of Transportation...
no longer considers the Somerville Circle a traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
, but the intersection still contains a 360 degree loop, interrupted on one side with traffic light
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
s. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the circle averages 11,786 vehicles a day.
The Somerville Circle is located on the border between Bridgewater Township
Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. , the township population was 44,464.Bridgewater Township was originally created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of...
and Raritan, New Jersey
Raritan, New Jersey
Raritan is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 6,881.-Geography:Raritan is located at ....
, just slightly northwest of Somerville
Somerville, New Jersey
Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,098. It is the county seat of Somerset County....
. The border runs down Route 28 with Raritan having a slightly larger portion of the circle within its borders. The border bisecting the circle usually causes minor confusion when accidents are reported as drivers are often not sure what side of the border they are on and which town's police department has jurisdiction. More traffic accidents
Car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
occur on the Raritan side of the circle than the Bridgewater side.
History
In the late 1920s New Jersey was planning a series of highways to allow out of state traffic to bypass towns and called for counties in the state to build and maintain another series of roads for local traffic. Routes 202 and 206 were part of this plan and the design called for them to intersect west of Somerville at New Jersey Route 28. To improve traffic flow the intersection of the roads was turned into a traffic circle. The circle was built in the 1930s by the New Jersey Highway Department. The Somerville Circle was among many others built in New Jersey at the time, because the Highway Department believed that circles were an effective way to move traffic through three or more roadways.At the time the area around the circle was mostly rural, with the circle being named after Somerville because it was the nearest largest town. In its early days, the area included the Raritan Valley Inn, a place that was frequented by Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
. The home of New Jersey Senator Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen, Sr. was also located by the circle. Frelinghuysen had supported the construction of the circle, but moved away years later because of noise from the traffic.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the area began to become more developed. In 1956 New Jersey's first shopping center
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
, Somerset Shopping Center, opened next to the circle. As the area became more developed and traffic and road speeds increased, the circle became notorious for being confusing for people unfamiliar with the circle and frequent car accidents and traffic backups
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
. Many drivers would attempt to bypass the circle by using nearby local roads. In 1991 there were 195 reported traffic accidents on the circle.
In September 1991 construction began on a project to improve the circle. The project included an overpass that allows Route 202 to bypass the circle, and the inclusion of traffic signals. The project was completed in 1994. In the year after the overpass opened the circle saw 302 traffic accidents. In an attempt to lower the accident rate the New Jersey Department of Transportation installed yield
Yield sign
In road transport, a ' or ' traffic sign indicates that each driver must prepare to stop if necessary to let a driver on another approach proceed. A driver who stops has yielded the right of way to another...
ahead signs for approaching vehicles in February 1995. The signs made little difference and the accident rate remained high. Another attempt to make the circle safer came in November when the Transportation Department painted lane lines and arrows on the roads and replaced a yield sign with a stop sign
Stop sign
A Stop sign is a traffic sign to notify drivers that they must stop before proceeding.-Specifications:The Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals proposed standard stop sign diameters of 0.6, 0.9 or 1.2 metres. UK and New Zealand stop signs are 750, 900 or 1200 mm, according to sign...
. The new changes resulted in fewer accidents.
Despite the state spending US$26 Million on the circle local officials called for to be bisected and turned into a five-way intersection with traffic lights. They cited that circle is still confusing, but no major changes have occurred since. In 2007 the circle had 294 traffic accidents.