Township Embarks on Largest-Ever Summer Road Reconstruction Project

Matthew Hersh

A rocky summer could be in store for drivers in Princeton Township as the Township unveiled road paving priorities through September. Coming in just $10,000 shy of $8 million, Princeton Township's 2005 road resurfacing and reconstruction project just about doubles any seasonal roads project in the town's history, and it could not have come any sooner, said Robert Kiser, Township engineer.

"The roads have deteriorated with these harsh, cold winters over the years," Mr. Kiser said, adding that this was the time to tend to roads that have simply been casualties of time's wear and tear. "A lot of these roads have been neglected for many years and we're just working on catching up," he said.

As it stands, the Township has $7.2 million in road projects under contract with out-of-house contractors. Projects still awaiting contract bids are a $448,000 project to improve the Guyot Pathway and Carnahan Place, and an improvement of Oakland Street, which is estimated at around $200,000.

Those projects currently under contract include: the reconstruction of Littlebrook Road and Tyson Lane for $1.67 million; the reconstruction of Clearview Avenue, Dorann Avenue, Tee-Ar Place, and Grover Avenue, for just under $1.5 million; a Snowden Lane improvement project for $1.4 million; the reconstruction of Springdale Road for just under $800,000; and the improvement of Sycamore Road for $850,000.

One major job set to begin this week as part of the $1.47 million Township resurfacing project is on the Great Road where Elizabethtown Water Co. will install a new water main. Starting today, June 15, there will be a one-lane alternating traffic pattern. The Great Road will be under construction all summer, Mr. Kiser said, since a half-mile of water main has to be replaced.

The finishing date for that project is not flexible: "Before school starts," Mr. Kiser said. Princeton Day School and Stuart Country Day, are both nearby. At some point, the Great Road may have to close down entirely with detours put in place, but the project is not far enough along for planners to start figuring out where and how those detours might develop, Mr. Kiser added.

This week, crews will be working between Mountain Avenue and Stuart Road.

Motorists should expect delays, Mr. Kiser said, adding that the Great Road could be avoided by using Stuart Road to Cherry Hill Road to Mountain Avenue coming into Princeton and the reverse going out.

If you've noticed things getting a bit rocky out by the Princeton Shopping Center, that's because crews have begun working on Harrison Street between Franklin Avenue to just north of Terhune Road. That project is part of the aforementioned $1.47 million contract. Work there is schedule from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. this Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17. That work will continue to Monday, June 20, and Tuesday, June 21.

Other roads included in that project are Lovers Lane between Stockton and Mercer streets, portions of Winant and Edgerstoune roads; Terhune Road between Ewing Street and Snowden Lane; and Bunn Drive, between Ewing Street and Herrontown Road. Those projects will begin in July.