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Resident raises Fisher Place traffic concerns; mayor outlines Millstone bypass plan and sidewalks as long‑term fixes
Summary
A resident told the council that traffic backups along Fisher Place are causing regular congestion; the mayor responded that a Millstone bypass has been planned and tied to future development of the Sarnoff (SRI) property, with an estimated cost of about $10 million, and that sidewalks or bike lanes would be considered during repaving.
A West Windsor resident asked the township council on Oct. 14 to address recurring vehicle backups on Fisher Place and requested consideration of traffic‑calming measures when the roadway is repaved.
Larry Cohen, who provided his West Windsor address during public comment, told the council that traffic along Fisher Place has become congested and that drivers often use the street as a bypass to avoid delays at the Washington Road/Route 1 intersection. Cohen said the traffic sometimes backs up nearly the entire block to Fairview and urged the township to include traffic calming in future repaving plans.
The mayor responded that a Millstone bypass has long been discussed and would not require Princeton or Plainsboro participation if built along the SRI (Sarnoff) property. The mayor said the township has been requiring developers of SRI property to include a bypass connection from Alexander/Harrison Street to a new circle, and that the estimated cost is approximately $10,000,000 because portions of the route must be elevated over water. The mayor said the township will not allow development of SRI property without the bypass and that repaving plans for Fisher Place can include sidewalks and bike lanes — but cautioned that past proposals for sidewalks on Fisher Place met opposition from some property owners and urged residents to support such improvements when formal proposals are advanced.
The mayor also said Princeton University has agreed to extend a lane nearly to Route 1 on the far side of Fisher Place, and that a new pedestrian signal across Route 1 would offer a safer crossing than the existing circle at Washington Road. The mayor did not provide a construction schedule but said the bypass requirement will remain part of developer conditions and a project will proceed when funding and approvals are in place.
The council did not take formal action at the meeting; the exchange was recorded during the public‑comment period and the mayor’s reply in the council reports section.
For residents, the mayor advised engagement during future design discussions and noted that repaving efforts provide an opportunity to add sidewalks and bike lanes where the council and neighbors reach agreement.
