By Anne Levin

Motorists anticipating the reopening of Quaker Road between Province Line and Mercer roads may have a long wait ahead of them. Thanks to the ravages of Hurricane Ida last month, the scenic stretch favored by many drivers entering and exiting Princeton remains closed until a date to be determined.

According to an update on the municipal website princetonnj.gov, the previously anticipated start date of October 18 has been postponed as the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) awaits authorization from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). But repairs are expected to begin next week between Mercer Road and the Historical Society of Princeton located at Updike Farm at 354 Quaker Road.

It is also anticipated that the NJDOT will begin work near the canal and Port Mercer to rebuild the towpath and road embankment. Princeton will replace the guiderail once the NJDOT work is completed.

“A lot of agencies are involved,” said Princeton’s Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton.  “A stretch of the road embankment was washed away, so the guiderail is hanging in the air, which just isn’t safe.”

Several spots on Quaker Road sustained significant damage during the September storm. The Princeton/Lawrence side of the bridge over the Delaware and Raritan Canal collapsed. Close to Updike Farm, repairs are needed on a pipe that goes from a ditch to the Stony Brook at three different locations. “That is being fixed by our contractor, so at least we’ll be able to open up between Mercer Road and Updike Farm once that’s done,” Stockton said.

A sinkhole in the Lawrence Township portion of the roadway, approximately 10 feet by 10 feet, also needs repair. According to a prior update on Princeton’s website, a date for Lawrence to fill the sinkhole has yet to be determined.

Before work on Quaker Road gets underway, the town is making repairs on Rosedale Road, which was also damaged during the storm. That work will start this week.

“We will do that first, and then go to Quaker Road,” Stockton said. “We will keep updating the website as soon as we get information.”

Visit princetonnj.gov for updates.