Township Eyes Reconstruction Efforts Along Cherry Valley Road, Route 206

Matthew Hersh

In an effort to improve an often gridlocked area near their municipal borders, Princeton Township and Montgomery Township have arrived at a compromise proposal for improving areas around Cherry Valley Road and Route 206.

In a presentation before the Princeton Regional Planning Board March 3, Princeton Township Engineer Robert Kiser outlined two plans for road re-alignment and improvement. The first targeted area, the corner of Route 206 and Cherry Valley Road, across from the new CVS and Commerce Bank, is a location that has been identified by Township Police as a safety concern, Mr. Kiser said. Specifically, he added, both municipalities' police departments had concerns about the hazards of making a left turn onto Cherry Valley off Route 206 during times of increased traffic.

As a result of working with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, both Montgomery and Princeton township have received grants to build two connecter roads that will serve a pupose similar to those of jughandles. Montgomery's connector road will loop behind the Sunoco gas station going north on 206. Princeton Township is working with nearby PNC Bank to create a right-of-way through a portion of the bank parking lot that would connect Cherry Valley Road and Route 206.

With the new roads, vehicles going northbound on 206 intending to make a left onto Cherry Valley Road would make a right immediately after the Sunoco, loop around and go through the traffic signal and proceed west on Cherry Valley. Vehicles headed south on 206 trying to make a left on to Princeton Avenue would also go through the intersection and make a right turn onto a the new connector road at PNC Bank and subsequently proceed through the light headed east on Princeton Avenue.

The plan for the connector roads has been deemed complete by DOT, Mr. Kiser said. The Township will likely hear a response in the next few weeks as DOT is "fast-tracking" the application. Mr. Kiser added that construction for the connector roads would likely occur sometime later this year.

With the building of the connector roads, Mr. Kiser said the Township was looking to "mostly" close off Hillside Avenue by shutting down access at Cherry Valley and allowing a northbound only right turn from Hillside to Cherry Valley and a right-turn only off of Cherry Valley.

Mr. Kiser indicated that both Princeton Township and Montgomery Township have submitted these proposals to DOT together, and that the two municipalities would agree to use one contractor for the project.

Jefferson's Curve

The Township has also made arrangments to smooth the so-called "Jefferson's Curve" just south of the Pulte Homes development off Cherry Valley Road. The re-alignment would carve out a portion of property to straighten the curve. The adjustment would have no impact on nearby residences, Mr. Kiser said. The Township also worked with Mercer County to redo the culvert in that location in order to re-align the road. The alignment calls for the installation a new culvert and the extension of a six-foot wide walkpath along the curve.

The county has hired Hopewell Valley Engineering to do the design work. Construction for that project, however, will not be slated for completion until late 2006, Mr. Kiser said.