The state Department of Transportation has begun work on replacing the bridge on Route 1 over the Millstone River, a project that was part of the 2008-2011 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
The bridge replacement is the only one of three major roadway improvement projects affecting West Windsor that the state has kept in its 10-year capital program. The two others — the Vaughn Drive Connector, estimated at $19 million, and the Penns Neck Improvements, estimated at $159 million, were removed from the state’s budget in 2007 after what state officials deemed a lack of movement from the township on a redevelopment plan.
However, the Millstone River bridge replacement, estimated to cost more than $8 million, remained on the list because it lies on the township’s border with Plainsboro, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said.
The Millstone River bridge was constructed in 1928 and rehabilitated in 1959. The existing bridge is 104 feet long and 76 feet wide and carries six travel lanes on Route 1 with no shoulders or sidewalks on either side. The bridge also carries gas, water, telephone, and fiberoptic utilities.
But it is in poor condition. The new structure will be two spans, 110 feet long and 126 feet wide and will accommodate six travel lanes with full shoulders/auxiliary lanes for bicycles, and two sidewalks for pedestrians. The state is fully funding the project, the mayor said.
Work began on March 16 on the bridge and the associated roadway improvements from Harrison Street to Princeton-Plainsboro Road in Plainsboro. State officials issued a statement stating that the contractor expects to work day and evening shifts, and that work involving lane restrictions on Route 1 will be performed between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Construction is expected to be completed by July, 2010.
Hsueh says he hopes that the council will adopt the redevelopment plan on Monday, March 23, to help in recovering the funding lost for the other two projects.
The purpose of the Penns Neck Improvements is to address traffic congestion, mobility constraints, and safety concerns on Route 1 and the east-west cross streets in the Penns Neck area. The final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision resulted in a Route 1 in a cut at Washington Road, with Washington Road crossing over Route 1; a new grade-separated, single-point interchange at Harrison Street; a new west-side connector road parallel to Lower Harrison Street connecting the new Harrison Street interchange with the existing road near the D&R Canal crossing; a one-way frontage road system on both sides of Route 1 between Washington Road and the new Harrison Street interchanges.
The Vaughn Drive Connector Road would be located west of the existing Station Drive, connecting Washington Road and existing Vaughn Drive.
