Full Notification

Overview
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is seeking to reduce congestion along the Route 1 northbound corridor in the vicinity of Washington Road and Harrison Street where the rightmost of three lanes becomes crowded with motorists waiting to make left turns, particularly during peak travel periods.

A previous study along Route 1 indicates that the existing space for left/U-turns at Washington Road and the left/U-turns at the Harrison Street jug handle is inadequate to accommodate this traffic, resulting in traffic backing up onto Route 1. This condition negatively impacts traffic operations along mainline Route 1.

A pilot project to restrict left turns and U-turns on Route 1 at Washington Road and Harrison Street in West Windsor will begin on Monday, August 6, 2012 and continue for approximately 12 weeks. Temporary barriers will be used to implement the restrictions and will be installed over the weekend of August 4 and 5, 2012. NJDOT will deploy Dynamic Message Signs and static signage notifying motorists of the restrictions and alternate routes in advance of the start of the pilot project.

In connection with the trial, turn restrictions will be implemented at Varsity Avenue and Fisher Place, and the traffic signals at Washington Road and Harrison Street will be optimized with a goal to improve traffic flow for Route 1 motorists.

NJDOT will collect traffic volume and trip-time data at numerous locations in Princeton Township, Princeton Borough, West Windsor and Plainsboro prior to and during the trial period to evaluate the impacts of the restrictions.

After the conclusion of the trial, NJDOT will meet with stakeholders to present its findings as to whether the restrictions have proven to be effective in reducing Route 1 congestion and to discuss the extent of any secondary impacts on local streets and roads.

If the trial is deemed a success, the turns will not be restored and the Department will replace the temporary barriers with permanent and more aesthetically pleasing barriers as expeditiously as possible.


Alternate Routes
Route 1 northbound and southbound motorists will be prevented from making left turns and U-turns at the Washington Road signalized intersection.

Preferred alternate routes:
Route 1 northbound motorists wanting to make a left turn onto Washington Road can make a U-turn at the Scudders Mill Road interchange then use Route 1 southbound to Washington Road.
Route 1 northbound motorists wanting to make a U-turn can use the Route 1 northbound off-ramp to Alexander Road westbound then take the ramp to Route 1 southbound.
Route 1 southbound motorists wanting to make a left turn onto Washington Road or a U-turn can use Route 1 southbound via the U-turn ramp at the Alexander Road interchange then Route 1 northbound to Washington Road.


Route 1 northbound motorists will be prevented from making left turns and U-turns at the Harrison Street signalized intersection.

Preferred alternate routes:
Route 1 northbound motorists wanting to make a left turn onto Harrison Street or a U-turn can use Route 1 northbound via the
U-turn ramp at the Scudders Mill Road interchange then use Route 1 southbound to Harrison Street.


In support of the trial turn restrictions, the following steps are also being taken:

Restrict the right turn movement from Route 1 northbound into Varsity Avenue (the right turn movement from Varsity Avenue onto Route 1 northbound will still be permitted).


Restrict all movements into Fisher Place which include the right turn from Route 1 northbound and the movement from the Route 1 southbound jug handle into Fisher Place.
Restrict the left turn movement from Fisher Place onto Route 1 southbound.
The right turn movement from Fisher Place onto Route 1 northbound will still be permitted as will the Route 1 southbound
U-turn onto Route 1 northbound via the jug handle.

The Sarnoff Access Driveway (opposite Harrison Street) will permit only the right turn movement from this driveway onto Route 1 northbound (movements into the Sarnoff Access Driveway will still be permitted from Route 1 northbound and Harrison Street).