Christie Says Bypass Helps Him—And That's 'Not a Bad Thing'

Central Jersey commuters know Route 206 in Hillsborough can be a real bottleneck—including Gov. Chris Christie, who noted he gets stuck in the traffic just as everyone else does.

In Hillsborough to open the first section of a 3.7-mile long eventual bypass around the township's central business district, Christie said the road will help commuters from "Somerville and points north to Princeton and destinations south."

"Myself, being one of them on a regular basis, I'm really looking forward to the traffic relief," he said. "Because, as you know, on those parts of 206, even having lights and sirens doesn't help, everybody—you're stuck in the traffic, you're stuck in the traffic.

"That's why we kept this in the capital plan—not to make my commute easier," he added. "Although, not a bad thing."

The section opened will provide an alternate route for Route 206 traffic between Amwell and Hillsborough roads, and was completed after three years. It has been named after longtime local legislator Peter J. Biondi,  who Christie said was "persistent, and in my experience, not shy to make the ask" for projects he supported—such as the bypass.