Project aims to improve pedestrian safety and reduce traffic speed, congestion
PRINCETON, N.J. — The Mercer County Department of Transportation and Infrastructure reopened County Route 604 — Rosedale Road — after completion of a mini-roundabout at the intersection of Rosedale Road and General Johnson Road, announced County Executive Brian M. Hughes, Thursday.
The roundabout, located at the intersection of Rosedale Road and entrances to Johnson Park Elementary School and Greenway Meadows Park, was engineered to increase pedestrian safety, control speeds along Rosedale Road and decrease congestion in the area during peak school and park operation hours. The roundabout aligns with Mercer County’s Complete Streets Policies by providing improvements to support all road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. It also complements Princeton’s Safe Routes to School project by calming vehicular traffic along Rosedale Road.
In addition to the construction of the Mini-Roundabout, Mercer County also reduced travel lane widths to 11 feet on Rosedale Road approaches, lowered the posted speed limit to 35 MPH between Elm Road and Province Line Road while maintaining the 25 MPH school zone, and installed Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB’s) on both Rosedale Road approaches, to increase driver awareness of pedestrian crossings. Mercer County collaborated with Safe Routes to School Program Coordinators during the conceptual design phase, resulting in the addition of the rumble strips and “school ahead” pavement markings. Johnson Park Elementary School and Greenway Meadows Park officials were consulted during the construction staging design process with a focus on always maintaining access to the school and park entrances.
Construction began on June 30, 2022, and was completed on August 25, 2022, while public schools were not in session. Mercer County had committed to completing the project within the anticipated two-month timeframe and opened the road prior to the new school year start date in September.