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How much do you think the bridgewater/somerville area will grow in the near future? this also includes raritan, bound brook, manville. it feels a lot busier and more congested in the area than 10 years ago. will this trend continue? and will somerville become very built up, almost like a new brunswick, with tall high rises?
They aren't really seeing any major growth. Bridgewater mostly finished building out in the 90s. At this point they're all pretty flat.
2000-2010 population changes (US Census):
Bridgewater: +3.5%
Raritan: +8.6%
Somerville: -2.3%
Bound Brook: 2.4%
I can't see major growth in the future to be honest, as all the towns are basically out of land and high rises seem unlikely. 202/206 and 287 are nightmares and constrain growth, and there's a number of local bottlenecks that make many of the more local commutes an issue as well. (Ex: You'll lose 15 minutes trying to get over the Queen's Bridge in Bound Brook at rush hour).
The only way I'd see that changing is if the Raritan Valley Line was significantly sped up or gained one-seat rides at rush hour. Otherwise, I think it'll stay fairly level in population. It's close enough to the city that a commute is still plausible (unlike living west of 287/202/206), but not close enough to be highly desirable.
Now the that flood control appears to have worked, I expect to see Bound Brook "gentrify", not gain population.
I don't see any of those towns growing much. They're pretty much built out. And as MillerM mentioned, the highways in that area are congested badly. Driving down 202 during rush hour to that awful light on 1st avenue in Raritan...
How much do you think the bridgewater/somerville area will grow in the near future? this also includes raritan, bound brook, manville. it feels a lot busier and more congested in the area than 10 years ago. will this trend continue? and will somerville become very built up, almost like a new brunswick, with tall high rises?
Agree the Bridgewater/Raritan area of Somerset co.is just about full with very few if any building lots available.
IMO that area is about the maximum distance from NYC for any auto commute but as others have said a one seat ride on the RVL durring commuter hrs whould make that area much more attractive to city commuters.
In the 25 years I lived in Bridgewater I think traffic almost doubled on I78-I287-Rt 22.
I think that area is one of the finest areas in NJ to have lived in.
Somerville has had a good amount of mixed-use development downtown in the past few years; that could continue as people continue to move back to higher density areas.
I would also think some of the big office complexes in Bridgewater might see redevelopment, either as parks or mixed-use projects. Maybe even a conversion of the Bridgewater Mall.
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