Washington Road Bridge Closure and Detours Announced in Princeton, NJ

PRINCETON, NJ – The Princeton NJ Police Department announced the closure of the Washington Road Bridge over the D&R Canal from 6 a.m. Tuesday, January 2, until Saturday, January 13, 2024. This closure is essential for replacing temporary bridge bearings with permanent ones, following installations made earlier in the year.

Local access will be maintained between Route 1 and Nursery Road during the closure. However, extensive detours will affect both northbound and southbound traffic on Washington Road.

Southbound Detours:

For southbound travel, motorists will be directed to turn left on Faculty Road, then right onto South Harrison Street/Lower Harrison Street, and finally right onto Route 1 southbound towards Trenton. The detour includes a right turn to CR 571/Hightstown/Princeton, leading back to Washington Road.
Alternatively, drivers can turn right onto Harrison Street from Route 27/Nassau Street, then follow the same route to Washington Road.

Northbound Detours:

Northbound motorists before the Route 1 intersection will be directed to turn right onto Route 1 northbound, take the Harrison Street exit, and continue westbound to Princeton via Harrison Street, turning left onto Route 27/Nassau Street southbound to return to Washington Road.
Another option for northbound traffic involves turning left onto Route 1 southbound, taking the ramp to Alexander Road westbound, then turning right onto University Place, and finally turning right onto Route 27/Nassau Street northbound back to Washington Road.

Route 1 Detours:

For those traveling on Route 1 northbound or southbound and wishing to enter Princeton via Washington Street northbound, the detour involves using Alexander Road/Alexander Street or South Harrison Street/Lower Harrison Street.

The police department urges motorists to plan for additional travel time and to use the detour routes during this period. The replacement of the bridge bearings is a crucial step in ensuring the long-term safety and functionality of the Washington Road Bridge.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.