Hearing Discusses Traffic Flow on Route 1

The Princeton Council discussed a draft concept plan Tuesday on ways to improve traffic flow along Route 1 in West Windsor. 

Dubbed the "Princeton concept," the map was posted on the Princeton web site over the weekend, prompting concern from some West Windsor residents who say the idea of constructing a traffic circle in the middle of the Penns Neck neighborhood makes no sense and would effectively make Penns Neck an island. 

But Princeton Land Use Engineer Jack West said Monday afternoon that this is not set in stone, only a discussion starting point, created by engineers from Princeton, Plainsboro and West Windsor, who met with representatives from Mercer County and Princeton University. 

Where New Jersey DOT Commissioner James Simpson proposed eliminating the traffic signals at Washington Road and Harrison Street and create a new jughandle roughly halfway in between the two intersections, West said local engineers believed this could hamper traffic, not help it. 

The plan eliminates the DOT's proposed new jughandles, but includes a new road that would connect Harrison Street and Washington Road on the Princeton side of Route 1.

The drawing to be discussed tonight includes a bypass road through the Sarnoff property- accessible from both Route 1 and from Washington Road. The access from Washington Road would be via a traffic circle near the intersection of Washington Road and Fairview Avenue, effectively carving up the Penns Neck neighborhood in West Windsor. It's an idea that that Penns Neck residents have seen before, but say it's not the solution. 

But nothing is set in stone or even a tentative plan right now, West said. The engineers simply met to brainstorm and then put some ideas down on paper. The drawing does not accurately depict where roads might be located. 

"It's a concept to show how traffic would move, not necessarily where roads are located," he said. "It's not ready to go public."

The thinking behind it is to maintain the three roads (Washington, Harrison and Alexander) going in to Princeton, West said.