#b#Route 571#/b#
Milling and resurfacing work on Route 571 (Princeton-Hightstown Road) between Slayback Drive and Rabbit Hill Road will begin on or about Monday, August 22.
Mercer County officials estimate that the work will take 12 working days to complete, weather permitting. Work will occur from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays only. While work is performed, two lanes of the road will be closed, and a single lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction. After these hours, all four lanes will be open to traffic. Emergency access and access for businesses and residents will be permitted during work hours.
Anyone with questions can call the West Windsor Township Engineering Division at 609-799-9396.
#b#Alexander S-Curve#/b#
Final paving on the Alexander Road S-curve between Canal Pointe Boulevard and Canal Road has been pushed back from a start date of August 10 to August 24. That portion of Alexander Road will be closed in both directions from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. — reopening in time for rush hour commutes.
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said that difficulties with existing utility lines caused the delay. To ensure that problems with utility lines under the road’s surface don’t persist come fall or winter, some lines may require a new connection. Hsueh said each one will be inspected before final road paving begins.
Lucas Construction, the contractor on the project, will address a few minor punchlist items. Some daytime lane closures and alternating traffic patterns will be necessary in late August but no specific outlines have been stated.
Township Business Administrator Bob Hary said that West Windsor had advised Princeton Borough and Princeton University of the construction closure. The final paving was specifically planned to end before Princeton’s fall semester officially starts.
#b#Harrison at Route 1#/b#
Work began last month on a project to widen and improve the Harrison Street intersection with Route 1.
According to state Department of Transportation officials, the $797,000 project aims to improve safety and reduce congestion at the intersection by widening Harrison Street eastbound to include a new dedicated right-turn-only lane.
Harrison Street currently features only one travel lane at the intersection, which leads to traffic backups for motorists headed to Route 1 during peak travel periods. The additional lane will provide increased access to Route 1 southbound, while freeing up the current lane for motorists turning left onto Route 1 northbound, officials said.
“This is a cost-effective solution that will reduce congestion on the local roadway system in Princeton and provide better traffic flow at this important intersection,” Commissioner James Simpson said.
NJDOT’s contractor, Earle Asphalt Company, began overnight single-lane closures with alternating traffic patterns on Harrison Street on July 25. The overnight lane closures will only be needed periodically. Most of the work will take place offline and will not impact motorists on Harrison Street.
Officials expect the improved intersection will better accommodate higher traffic volumes that are anticipated when the new University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro opens nearby in 2012.
