After facing opposition from residents, and environmentalists for years, and under Governor Jim McGreevey’s emphasis on smart growth, NJ DOT has tabled plans to build the unnecessary and sprawl-inducing Millstone Bypass in central NJ.

The bypass highway — which would have traversed Sarnoff Corporation property between Washington Road and the Millstone River in an area along Route 1 just east of Princeton — threatened drinking water and several historic sites. Large-scale development along its route would bring even more traffic into the congested Penns Neck district.

At a meeting last Wednesday, DOT officials announced a preferred alternative that avoids these impacts, omits construction of a new highway and will alleviate traffic with cheaper means. It will place Route 1 in a below-grade underpass in one intersection, build Route 1 frontage roads to keep driveways from interfering with through traffic and add a minor connector road west of Route 1.

The preferred alternative is a slight modification to one option among many in the draft environmental impact statement. It is projected to improve traffic flow on Route 1 and reduces delay at several intersections. The Tri-State Campaign testified in favor of this option during proceedings in 2003.

The final environmental impact statement is due this summer. Although the plan has been scaled down significantly, fixing Route 1 and rearranging intersections could still cost $65 million or more.

Though the project decision is a win for the McGreevey Administration, transportation reformers and smart growth advocates will keep a close eye on the area. Without careful zoning, big-box stores could appear along the frontage roads and add to traffic. It’s also possible that Sarnoff Corporation could attempt to build the bypass as a private road.

The McGreevey Administration could follow this important decision up with a similar smart fix for the Route 92 conflict in Middlesex County. The re, the state wants the Turnpike Authority to build a new limited-access highway across open space. It would be a major inducement to sprawl and additional traffic. However, there are cheaper fixes to existing roads that can relieve traffic without spurring big new green-field developments.

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