Witherspoon Street Construction To Finish By October In Princeton

PRINCETON, NJ — Good news for Princeton residents and visitors. Construction work on Witherspoon Street is on schedule and is expected to be complete by October, Municipal Engineer Jim Purcell said.

At its first in-person meeting since the coronavirus pandemic two years ago, Council heard an update on the two construction projects underway on Witherspoon Street and Chambers Street.

Purcell told Council that Witherspoon Street between Nassau Street and Spring Street will be complete by the end of October, and will be completely open to traffic and pedestrians in time for the holiday season.

“They will not be working over the winter, so there'll be completely out of our way while all the shopping revelry takes place during the holidays,” Purcell said.

Businesses on Witherspoon Street have long complained that the improvement work has caused a downturn in business. In response, Council introduced an ordinance to increase free parking in the Spring Street Garage from 30 minutes to one hour every day. This will be in effect until July 31, 2023, or when phase I is completed.

Free parking will be allowed on certain holidays as well. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on Sept. 27.

In a memo to council, Deputy Administrator and Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton estimated a revenue loss of approximately $40,000, based on the revenue report for the Spring Street Garage.

Graduate Hotel construction on Chambers Street is expected to take 20 months to complete. "The contractors are moving along as diligently and efficiently as possible and hope to be out of our hair right on time," Purcell said.

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