West Windsor hears urgent pleas from Clarksville Road businesses after bridge closure; mayor outlines interagency steps

Business owners from Village Square/Clarksville Plaza told the West Windsor Township Council on Jan. 14 that the unexpected, indefinite closure of the Clarksville Road bridge has driven steep revenue losses and threatened the survival of multiple small firms.

Rosalyn Westlake, an attorney speaking on behalf of Clark Plaza LLC, said the landlords’ tenants reported declines of "as much as a 50% downturn in business" since the closure, and that the owners have already spent "close to $300,000" on capital work at the center. She urged the township to coordinate better signage and additional relief for affected tenants.

Multiple business owners gave similar accounts: "My sale is 50% down, and I'm starting to lose the spoiled inventory," said Ishwarth (Ashrit) Kamal. Sangeeta Warrior said her pottery business was "down 20% in November, 50% in December" and was struggling to qualify for the available SBA grants. Ernesto Gonzalez, owner of Capano Restaurant, asked for large, clearer signs saying "local businesses are open" and suggested student and teacher coupon outreach to draw customers.

Mayor Hemant Murate acknowledged the losses and described steps the township has taken and is pursuing. He said the township temporarily suspended sign rules to allow additional wayfinding, placed names of affected businesses on the municipal electronic sign, and will contact utility providers to explore hardship programs. On coordination with higher authorities, Murate said the township has pressed NJDOT and Amtrak for inspections and permits and that "the permit should be issued either tomorrow, day after, before end of this week" but added he could not give a firm repair timeline.

Murate said the county is studying a temporary reopening solution that "may go for years" but could restore vehicular access sooner than the full Amtrak/NJDOT process; he emphasized that the township cannot control Amtrak or NJDOT but is actively coordinating with county and state partners.

Council members outlined immediate support steps: a Google form and a Jan. 20 in-person meeting in Village Square Plaza will collect detailed business impact data (sales for November, December and through Jan. 15) to strengthen requests for state assistance, including a possible targeted emergency program. The council also noted it had authorized a 12% temporary property tax reduction for impacted properties earlier in the meeting, which some business representatives said was insufficient relative to their losses.

Why it matters: the bridge closure has produced cascading local impacts — lost revenue, employee layoffs, and traffic shifts that affect emergency response and townwide congestion — and businesses and the council said assembling clear, documented data is a vital next step for securing state or county relief.

What’s next: state and county representatives will meet with affected merchants on Jan. 20; the council requested businesses complete the township's form documenting sales losses and other impacts before the meeting so state officials can evaluate relief options.