West Windsor’s Closed Clarksville Road Bridge To Reopen Temporarily In 9 Months

WEST WINDSOR, NJ — West Windsor's long-closed Clarksville Road bridge will be temporarily reopened as a one-lane structure controlled by traffic lights on either side, the New Jersey Department of Transportation has determined, with the work expected to take approximately nine months.

Mayor Hemant Marathe announced the update in a May 11 letter to residents following a site walk with NJ DOT Commissioner Priya Jain on May 10 and a township presentation by her engineering team on May 11.

The bridge is classified as an "orphan bridge" — not owned by West Windsor Township or Mercer County — placing it under NJ DOT jurisdiction. Its poor condition rules out a full-capacity reopening in the near term, leading the agency to recommend the one-lane temporary fix as the fastest path to reopening.

Because the bridge spans Amtrak's Northeast Corridor with high-voltage electric lines, work can only be performed during overnight hours and weekends when trains are not running. NJ DOT has arranged line outages for those windows, contractors are lined up, and materials procurement is underway, Marathe said.

"Given the complexity of the project and constraints beyond their control, NJ DOT is hesitant to provide a firm timeline," Marathe wrote. "When pressed, they expect the temporary repair to take about nine months, though they are making every effort to accelerate it."

The mayor said he is confident the project is a genuine priority for the agency under Commissioner Jain, who approved overtime and weekend staffing following her recent appointment.

NJ DOT is concurrently evaluating proposals for a permanent replacement bridge. Marathe said he will provide updates as that process advances.

Marathe thanked residents who signed petitions and contacted elected officials, as well as Council members Sonia Gawas, Andrea Mandel, and Joe Charles for their advocacy on behalf of residents and local businesses affected by the closure.

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