DOT Plans To Block Jughandle Turns Off Route 1 North Into Princeton

In an effort to eliminate congestion along northbound Route 1, the state Department of Transportation is planning to eliminate the jughandle intersections at Harrison Street and Washington Road into Princeton.

That would leave the Alexander Road overpass as the main road for commuters traveling north on Route 1 to travel into Princeton.

DOT Spokesman John Dee said that, when DOT puts the plan in place–and there’s no firm timeline yet--officials will monitor the results and do their best to get the word out to drivers to minimize confusion.

“On Route 1 north during rush hours the third lane becomes clogged because people are trying to loop around and get on Washington Road and Harrison Street,” he said. “We lose one-third of the capacity on the highway.”

The hope is that some traffic will use the Alexander Road overpass and others will continue north on Route 1 to Scudder’s Mill Road, where they would take the jughandle and loop back to Harrison Street or Washington Road and into Princeton, he said.

Motorists who need to cross Route 1 at Washington Road and Harrison Street would still be able to travel through the intersection, he said, noting that only the jughandle access points from Route 1 will be blocked.

The DOT had initially planned to close the jughandles this spring, but at least one township official balked at that suggestion.

Princeton Township Mayor Chad Goerner said such a major change so soon would have a detrimental effect on traffic, especially with the planned Alexander Road construction by West Windsor Township and upcoming graduation and reunions at Princeton University.

But he also has concerns about the DOT's plan going forward. 

“What worries me is this will just exacerbate the traffic problem getting into Princeton.” It could affect our merchants in Princeton and people may chose to go somewhere else.”

He wonders if the proposed change will just move the problem further south onto Route 1 as cars looking to exit onto Alexander Road begin to queue up along the highway.

“I am sympathetic to the way they approach the issue, but we need to be cognizant of the impact on the Princeton community," Goerner said. “This has the potential to make Alexander Road a nightmare."