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Vol. LXIII, No. 32
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
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Vol. LXIII, No. 32
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
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With the Rosedale Road Bridge project on target for completion in November as scheduled (135 calendar days after construction began on July 6), and traffic-alleviating measures in place, “the real test will come in September when the normal schedule is resumed at the schools,” Princeton Borough Mayor Mildred Trotman said at a recent Council meeting.
Though Rosedale Road will be closed to through traffic for the duration of the project, work has been progressing steadily, with the Mercer County Department of Transportation reporting that the east footing, abutment, and wingwalls have been formed and poured, and that the prestressed concrete beams are being precast and will be placed on the site during the first week of September.
The previous bridge structure had been built in 1937, and was rated “structurally deficient” last October, with a sufficiency rating of 50.3 out of 100. The initial capacity of the bridge was 37 tons, but it was determined that the capacity at the time of its closure was six tons.
Upon hearing the capacity of the bridge last year at a meeting with County officials and engineers, Princeton school officials rushed to reroute school buses entering and leaving Johnson Park Elementary School that go over the bridge since “school buses weigh more than [six tons] even when they’re empty,” said the school’s principal, Bob Ginsberg.
While traffic from the road closure did affect the first day of summer programs, with attendees arriving a bit late, the subsequent adjustment of the traffic light at the intersection of Route 206 and Elm Road has mitigated the situation, according to Mr. Ginsberg.
Princeton Borough Police Lieutenant Dave Dudek noted that the green light at Lover’s Lane has also been extended to ease through traffic, and that officers have been specifically assigned to 206 during the morning and afternoon rush hours.
The detour route involving Carter Road, 206, and Elm Road is posted on the Princeton Township website at www.princetontwp.org.