Route 206 bridge in Princeton to remain closed indefinitely

The Route 206 bridge over Stony Brook in Princeton will remain closed until further notice as extensive repairs are made to the 224-year-old structure.

NJ Department of Transportation spokesman Kevih Israel said that the full closure of the bridge, which has been in place since Friday, will remain closed between Hutchinson Drive and Lovers Lane.

"The repair of this very old structure will be more involved than first thought," said Israel.

He said this is due to several factors that developed as a project last week to repair a parapet, or a protective wall, on the southbound side of the state's oldest bridge got underway.

Last week's heavy rain accelerated the overall deterioration of the structure, according to Israel, creating cracks in the stone arches that support the structure. An underwater inspection also found that sediment had washed away from around the bridge abutments on piers that could compromise the integrity of the structure, a process called "scouring."

"NJDOT has closed the bridge until further notice to address these issues and inspect the bridge thoroughly to determine the best long-term course of action," Israel said.

Adding to the difficulty in making repairs to the bridge built by hand in 1916 is that "DOT has to work within the guidelines set by federal standards while also considering the historic nature of the bridge and working with local officials," he said. "Our engineers have installed a portable dam around the footings of the bridge to dry the area and inspect the impact of the scour. Crews continue to repair cracks and voids in the structure of the bridge."

The closure has already created extra traffic along the alternate routes.

"Princeton Pike, Carter Road and Rosedale Road have taken the brunt of drivers seeking a detour. It is tough to offer a good alternate because these are all roads with one lane in each direction," said New Jersey Fast Traffic's Jill Myra.