HILLSBOROUGH - When the Route 206 bypass was first proposed, few could imagine that we would be reading about its completion on a tiny screen in the palm of a hand.

Decades after it was first proposed, the end may be in sight for construction of the Route 206 bypass from Mountainview Road to Old Somerville Road.

And, maybe just as important, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) has set aside money to begin the the lengthy process of widening Route 206 to four lanes between Valley Road and Brown Avenue, where the four-lane stretch of highway south of the Raritan River currently ends.

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That project will replace the railroad bridge over Route 206, the primary roadblock that has delayed the widening project. Also included are relocation of two traffic signals, with the addition of two new jughandles.

The DOT has set aside $5 million in this fiscal year's budget, which runs until July 1, 2018, for right-of-way studies. No date has been set for the construction.

That will leave only the stretch of highway between Valley Road and Old Somerville Road to be improved.

"We're very excited that the DOT is including money in this year's budget for the project," said Township Committeeman Doug Tomson. "We very encouraged that this project, which will benefit both current and future Hillsborough residents, is coming to completion."

The DOT has a $20 million budget to finish the bypass, which is named for former township Mayor Pete Biondi, who championed the work as a municipal official and a state assemblyman.

The first 1.7-mile section, which will direct through traffic on Route 206 around the townnship's central retail area, was opened by Gov. Chris Christie in October 2013. Work on the section between Amwell and Hillsborough roads started in 2011.

But completion of the remaining two bypass sections was delayed by the state's Transportation Trust Fund running out of money and all nonessential work was postponed.

But last fall, state legislators and Christie agreed to increase the state gas tax by 23 cents per gallon, which has replenished the fund.

The DOT's Transportation Capital Program for the fiscal year totals $3.669 billion and is funded primarily by the Transportation Trust Fun, federal and third-party resources. Of that money, the DOT plans to spend $2.302 billion on roads, and NJ Transit will spend $1.367 billion.

Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com