A major bridge replacement program on Princeton-Hightstown Road (Route 571), which had been scheduled to begin Monday, December 3, has been delayed — possibly until February.
West Windsor mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said that the county had run into delays with the bidding process for the project, which involves replacing the bridge located just south of the Lanwin Boulevard and Rabbit Hill Road traffic signal.
Once begun, the construction will take up to nine months and will require the closing of one lane of traffic in each direction, reducing Route 571 from a four-lane road to a two-lane road in the area of the bridge construction.
Replacement of the bridge over the Big Bear Brook is necessary due to substantial deterioration of the critical bridge structure members and the poor deck condition. Further, environmental permit constraints require commencement of the project at this time since no work is permitted in the stream between May 1 and June 30. Upon completion of the project, the bridge will accommodate four lanes of traffic, with shoulders, as well as sections of sidewalk on both sides of the bridge.