By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR Quick fix, $40 million Band-Aid and Pilot Program 2.0 these are some of the monikers used on March 4 to describe the state Department of Transportation’s (DOT) latest attempt to address traffic congestion on Route 1.
Two recent forums on the DOT’s concept revealed the general opposition residents had toward the original proposal. However, some residents used Monday’s council meeting as a third opportunity to rally in favor of either modifying the concept or putting it back on the shelf.
”We need to reject this quick fix solution,” said resident David Parris of Penns Neck. “If there isn’t any money, then it’s going to have to wait.”
Under the proposal, Route 1 would be widened to four lanes in each direction from the Dinky’s overpass to the Millstone River. Larger jughandles would be put at Sarnoff Drive and the Eden Institute and would be accompanied by an additional traffic light.
U-turns and left turns would be banned at Washington and Harrison and the Fisher Place jughandle would be eliminated, allowing cars to only make right turns in and out. Drivers would also have the ability to use a new jughandle, which would be at the site of a former Exxon gas station at Washington Road and Route 1.
”There is not one person in support of this without modifications,” said resident Eric Payne of Washington Road. “It will just put the people in Penns Neck in harm’s way.”
There is no official budget for the project, but town officials have estimated it would most likely cost $35 to $40 million. Residents have argued that amount is insufficient to put a thorough solution in place, such as an overpass at Harrison Street and a Vaughn Drive connector.
However, it appears the DOT is not likely to undertake those kinds of projects this time around.
”They’re hugely expensive that’s not going to happen anytime soon,” said DOT Spokesman Joe Dee. “If we can do something that’s relatively modest in cost, but effective, let’s explore those ideas.”
Council President George Borek questioned how the DOT only had $2 million for last summer’s traffic pilot, but could afford up to $40 million this year.
”If we said no, maybe they would find an additional $40 million for an overpass. The DOT is not walking away from this project this (Route 1) is a vital link,” said Mr. Borek. “We’re not going to settle for a half a loaf of bread, we want the whole loaf of bread.”
Currently, the DOT is waiting for all comments and suggestions that were gathered at the previous forums before it moves forward. As of March 6, Pat Ward, the director of Community Development, had gathered 22 comments from the forums, 78 emails and three sketches of alternate concepts. She said she would probably give the feedback to the DOT in a couple of weeks. Ms. Ward appeared confident the DOT had the best interest of West Windsor residents in mind.
”DOT Commissioner Simpson is a man of his word and he was concerned enough about the impact on the residents during the first trial to terminate it early,” she added. “I trust him to listen to our comments and adjust his plan as necessary.”
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh was adamant the township would not accept what is proposed right now, but thought it was necessary to work with the state to come up with a solution everyone could agree on.
”There are modifications to make it better,” said Mayor Hsueh. “If we bring all parties involved and come up with reasonable ideas, maybe the DOT would be willing to stretch the envelope.”

