Politics & Government

Public Meeting Tonight to Discuss Jughandle Proposal

The New Jersey Department of Transportation has scheduled a public forum from 5 to 8 p.m. at Princeton Borough Hall.

 

A Patch poll shows roughly 80 percent of respondents oppose a state plan to temporarily close left and U-turns for drivers heading north on Route 1 at Washington Road and Harrison Street. 

“Worst idea ever,” reader Amanda Coe commented on Patch’s Facebook page. “Alexander Street is a mess as it is. It can’t handle more traffic.”

Find out what's happening in Princetonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I sit for 10 minutes every morning in backed up traffic on the Scudders Mill ramp,” reader Sheryl Brown added. “Sending more traffic to this ramp will be disastrous to every Plainsboro resident who needs to get to Route 1. Who the heck thought it was a good idea to send traffic from West Windsor into Plainsboro back into West Windsor to get to Princeton??"

Residents are encouraged to attend a public forum tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. at Princeton Borough Hall, where state officials will outline an upcoming eight-week pilot program to test the closure of left and U-turns off Route 1 north into Princeton. 

Find out what's happening in Princetonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The project is an effort to reduce Route 1 congestion where the three right lanes of traffic become crowded with those queueing to make left turns, particularly during peak travel periods. 

Instead, drivers will be directed to use Alexander Road or Scudders Mill Road for access into Princeton.

One reader said Scudders Mill is already jammed during rush hour commuters from Merill Lynch and Bristol Myers Squibb, along with drivers accessing the New Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury. 

Another reader said she once saw a man get out of his car and pound on another vehicle trying to merge onto Route 1 from Scudders Mill. 

Patch reader Jim works in Princeton Township and predicts that closing the juglandles will double, if not triple, congestion in town. 

“Last year when some of the roads had shut down do to storms, it took well over an hour and a half to get here," Jim wrote. "That was with both Harrison St. and Washington Rd. inaccessible. Other roads into town, became the only ways in. It was horrid.”

But some readers support DOT's plan. 

“Thank Goodness!,” wrote reader Khürt Williams. “I hope they rip out the light at Harrison Street or Fisher Place as well.”

Caralien Miller Speth said the jughandles are something she has loathed about New Jersey since the 80s.

DOT officials plan to evaluate both the Route 1 congestion and the traffic impact to local roads before and during the pilot plan. The resuts will help determine if the restrictions become permanent, are modified or discarded. 


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