Princeton has street signs that tell motorists when to stop and to yield and, most recently, when to watch out for turtles.
Mercer County installed, on sections of Harrison Street in Princeton and in neighboring West Windsor, signs with an image of a smiling turtle.
The origin of how the signs got there began after Access Princeton, the municipality’s customer service center, received a report that turtles were spotted crossing at Harrison Street, a municipal official said this week.
Municipal engineer Deanna Stockton said on Aug. 14 that officials followed up with the county, which decided “to put a sign out there.” She said another sign was installed in West Windsor around the bend of Harrison Street.
“The signs were installed in late July on the approaches to the Carnegie Lake bridge on Harrison Street,” county spokeswoman Julie Willmot said by email on Aug. 13. “Similar signs have also been installed on Clarksville Road in West Windsor near Grovers Mill Pond. I am not aware of any other such signs on Mercer County roads.”
“I think there are a lot of turtles in that area,” Mayor Liz Lempert said on Aug. 13 when asked what the point of the sign was. “As a motorist, I see there might be a turtle in the road.”
The mayor said that if she saw a turtle in the road, she would “definitely” stop for it.
The turtle and Princeton have enjoyed some recent history together. In June, Gov. Phil Murphy came to town to sign a bill making the bog turtle the official state reptile. At a signing ceremony in Riverside Elementary School, Murphy told students of wanting to have a “shellabration.”