WEST WINDSOR: Troopers on patrol for U-turns near jughandles

By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
   WEST WINDSOR — New Jersey state troopers are joining forces with the West Windsor police starting Tuesday to make sure drivers on Route 1 follow the law in the Penn’s Neck area — and hand out tickets to those who don’t.
   The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) 12-week traffic pilot is almost a month in and since it closed the jughandles at Washington Road and Harrison Street, drivers have made their own alternate routes by doing illegal U and K-turns in the driveways of Penn’s Neck residences.
   Northbound drivers trying to get into Princeton have been making rights down Fisher Place, Varsity Road and Washington Road east of Route 1 and turning around in residential driveways instead of continuing north and reversing direction at Scudders Mill Road.
   After receiving several complaints from concerned residents, the state is now sending its troopers starting Sept. 4 to patrol the area with the town police and fine violators, according to Joe Dee, a spokesperson for the DOT.
   ”We knew there would be a learning curve for some motorists when we made the changes, but it has been a few weeks now so we’re starting to assist in police enforcement,” said Mr. Dee. “The idea is to enforce this and send the message that there is no left turn there — motorists are not supposed to work around that.”
   The DOT has also been receiving complaints from drivers, who have reported that the already lengthy line of traffic in the morning on Washington Road has become even more backed up for those on Route 571 coming toward Route 1.
   In response, the DOT made an adjustment to the traffic light at Route 1 and Washington Road, which will be monitored as the traffic analysis progresses.
   ”We will make adjustments and tweaks to the traffic signals accordingly to get the right balance to achieve the through put on Route 1 and accommodate motorists on the side roads trying to get onto Route 1,” explained Mr. Dee.
   The DOT is not only trying to remedy illegal turns and increased traffic on side roads, but is working to prevent potential accidents.
   Mr. Dee said the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro hospital has voiced concerns about possible collisions between rushing ambulances and cars on Harrison Street.
   Although the DOT widened the mouth of Harrison Street before the pilot to ease congestion, there are times when there is still a long line of traffic on the road heading toward Route 1— forcing ambulances under emergency conditions to swing out into the oncoming traffic lane to get to the hospital faster.
   Mr. Dee explained these ambulances now have technology that quickens the traffic light cycle so they can get a green light sooner. However, the hospital is worried that when these ambulances in the opposing lane of traffic get the green light, they might collide with unsuspecting drivers making legal rights on red off of Route 1 south onto Harrison.
   To prevent accidents, Mr. Dee said they are going to cut down some vegetation near the intersection to help drivers see an ambulance approaching. The DOT is also going to install a warning sign at the intersection, so when the ambulance activates the traffic signal, it will make a sign flash to warn drivers to refrain from making a right on red.
   ”It’s to create safety there, not for us to tell ambulances what to do or how to get to the hospital,” he said.
   Mr. Dee was uncertain when these signs would be put into place.
   When asked if the DOT has been getting any other complaints, Mr. Dee said there was some discussion from the usage of Fairview and Fisher Place, but was unsure if it was still an issue.
   ”The start of this pilot program has gone fairly smoothly,” said Mr. Dee. “There have been some complaints and we are addressing them the best we can.”