Route 1 Jughandle Closures Expected to Be in Place by Saturday

The pilot project to restrict left turns and U-turns on Route 1 at Washington Road and Harrison Street will begin by Saturday, Aug. 4 in preparation for the morning commute on Monday, Aug. 6, according the New Jersey Department of Transporation.

The project will continue for approximately 12 weeks.

The new traffic pattern will affect residents and commuters who travel in and out of Princeton. When the pilot begins, drivers may no longer turn left from Route 1 north onto Harrison or Washington. Instead, drivers may use Alexander Road or continue north to Scudder’s Mill Road and onto Route 1 south.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation seeks to reduce congestion at those intersections 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 indicated that the existing space for left and U-turns at those jughandles is inadequate to accommodate this traffic, resulting in the familiar sight of traffic backing up onto Route 1. 

Temporary barriers will be used to implement the restrictions and will be installed over the weekend of Aug. 4 and 5.

Signs will notify motorists of the restrictions and alternate routes in advance of the start of the pilot project. 

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 impact of the restrictions. 

NJDOT will then meet with stakeholders to present its findings, including the impact of the restrictions on Route 1 congestion and on secondary roads.

If the trial is deemed a success, the turns will not be restored and NJDOT  will replace the temporary barriers with permanent ones.

The project was previously delayed from a tentative mid-March start date. Among the concerns voiced by the public and officials was the planned May relocation of University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro from Princeton Borough to Route 1, just north of Harrison Street.

According to the DOT, the following driving options will still be available to drivers: 

• Motorists heading east from Princeton on Washington Road (CR 571) will continue to be able to make all current movements at the Route 1 intersection.  They may turn right onto Route 1 south, proceed straight through the intersection to continue on Washington Road, or turn left onto Route 1 north.
• Motorists heading west from West Windsor on Washington Road also will continue to have all three movements (left, straight or right) available at the Route 1 intersection.
• Motorists heading east from Princeton on Harrison Street also will have all three existing movements (left onto Route 1 south, straight into the Sarnoff facility or left onto Route 1 north) available.
• Motorists departing the Sarnoff facility onto Route 1 at Harrison Street will be restricted to right turns only onto Route 1 northbound.

For more information, visit the NJ DOT's project-specific website where residents and motorists can get further information.