By Charley Falkenberg, Packet Media Group
WEST WINDSOR — Motorists and commuters will find out what happens to local traffic patterns when the New Jersey Department of Transportation begins its controversial traffic analysis project involving two jughandles on Route 1 in a little more than a week.
Starting Aug. 6, northbound motorists will not be able to make left turns or U-turns at Washington Road and Harrison Street on Route 1 in West Windsor for approximately three months. The DOT will start putting up temporary barriers during the weekend of Aug. 4 and Aug.5.
As part of the trial, northbound drivers will also be restricted from making right turns and U-turns at Varsity Avenue and Fisher Place. Drivers are also prohibited from entering Fisher Place via the Route 1 southbound jughandle. They also won’t be able to make lefts from Fisher Place onto Route 1 south.
Drivers will be able to make right turns from Varsity Avenue onto Route 1. They can also make right turns from Fisher Place onto Route 1 north and make U-turns from the southbound side via the jughandle.
People will only be able to make right turns from the Sarnoff Access Driveway, which is opposite Harrison Street, onto Route 1 north, but will still be able to enter the road from Route 1 north and Harrison Street.
During this time, the DOT said the traffic lights at Washington Road and Harrison Street will be tweaked to improve traffic flow.
The DOT recommends that northbound drivers use the U-turn at Scudders Mill Road interchange to get to Washington Road or take the Alexander Road off ramp to make a U-turn. Southbound motorists are encouraged to use the U-turn ramp at the Alexander Road interchange to either make a U-turn or get to Washington Road.
Northbound drivers who use the Harrison Street jug handle are encouraged to use the U-turn ramp at the Scudders Mill Road, which would put them on the southbound side of Route 1 and then to Harrison Street.
The pilot is the DOT’s potential solution to reduce traffic along the northbound side of Route 1, which backs up when motorists try to make left turns at the Washington and Harrison jughandles, especially during rush hours.
The study aims to decrease congestion, but the surrounding towns and nearby businesses are concerned the road closures will only create inconveniences, more traffic on local roads and hinder potential customers.
West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said he has been prepping the town residents for the Route 1 changes by providing information and explanations about the study so that they better understand it and can plan alternate routes.
”People will get confused and frustrated during the first couple of weeks, but they will find new routes,” said Mayor Hsueh. “Eventually people have to sacrifice a bit here and there to get the greater good for the whole community.”
He encouraged people to support the state’s study because it implies there is a better chance for improvements.
In addition to making residents well informed of the situation, Mayor Hsueh said more police forces will be assigned to the area to make sure the implementation runs smoothly.
The president of the Princeton Merchant Association, which has expressed business concerns, could not be reached for comment.
The DOT will collect data from the traffic volume and trip-time at various locations in Princeton Township, Princeton Borough, West Windsor and Plainsboro before and during the pilot to assess the impacts of the restrictions. The analysis will take into account the changes in the traffic patterns when schools open up again in September.
At the end, the DOT will discuss its findings with various stakeholders. If the trial is deemed successful, the closures will become permanent and the DOT will move quickly to replace the temporary barriers with more attractive ones.

