West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh this week unveiled a concept plan for the reconfiguration of Route 571 through the Princeton Junction business district. ##M:[more]##The announcement came on the heels of an accident in which an elderly woman was killed and her husband hospitalized after both were struck by a car while crossing the road.
The concept plan calls for a three-lane Route 571, including a center turning lane, between Clarksville Road and Cranbury/Wallace roads. The plans also show medians located at key intersections.
The fatal accident, which occurred at about 9:15 p.m. February 15, took place when Tsyliya Grunsman, 79, and Grigori Grundman, 83, were struck while crossing Princeton-Hightstown Road about 100 feet east of Alexander Road.
Tsyliya Grundman was pronounced deal on arrival at the hospital, and her husband is listed in critical condition at Capital Health System at Fuld in Trenton.
The Grundmans are residents of the Gables, an age-restricted apartment complex near Alexander and Princeton-Hightstown roads. Police Chief Joseph Pica said the couple were crossing the dimly-lit section of the road to visit with friends in a nearby development.
Hsueh says the township had planned to present the concept plan for Route 571 at a planning board meeting next month, but decided to show them at a press conference instead in response to the concerns raised by the accident.
The draft concept is scheduled to be discussed by the Planning Board on Wednesday, March 16. Plans are available at town hall for public review.
Because Route 571 is a county-controlled road, any plans for reconstruction must be approved by the county. County Executive Brian Hughes has agreed to move forward on the project if the county and township can come to an agreement. “I want to stress that this is only a concept plan,” says Hsueh. “We will continue to work with the county on a final plan.”
Both the mayor and Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardner, who was also present at the press conference, said that while the details of the overall plan are negotiated, the Planning Board will soon begin a review of interim measures that can be implemented sooner.
These include pedestrian crosswalks, sidewalks, lighting, and traffic calming strategies. Although money is not included in the proposed 2005 budget for these imrpvements, the town might be able to transfer money from the surplus if an urgent public safety need is identified, says Hsueh.
