The Somerville Circle is a traffic circle located on the border of Bridgewater Township and Raritan, in Somerset County, New Jersey in the United States. The circle lies 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.
Description
thumb|left|300px|At-grade view of the circle looking west from Route 28, US 202 passes over the circle on the overpass
The Somerville Circle joins U.S. Routes 202 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 lights. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the circle averages 11,786 vehicles a day. 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. As the area became more developed and traffic and road speeds increased, the circle became notorious for being confusing for people unfamiliar with it, and for 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.