DO’S AND DON’TS: Princeton University created this graphic illustration to show traffic restrictions under the NJDOT’s current Route 1 pilot project.

The trial program to ease congestion on Route 1 by restricting left turns and U-turns on Route 1 at Washington Road and Harrison Street in West Windsor was two days old on Monday when New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) spokesman Joe Dee allowed that, “We’re going to make some adjustments.”

“We need to get the word out,” said Mr. Dee, noting that some people are making what might be instinctive, but are now illegal, turns. “We have to reemphasize movements that are no longer available to motorists and ease confusion.”

He described the “adjustments” as “some more signs to help people understand where left turns are not allowed, to help guide people a little better. I was out there Friday night and we’ve been looking at how traffic was behaving over the weekend.”

NJDOT is seeking to reduce congestion along the Route 1 northbound corridor in the vicinity of Washington Road and Harrison Street where the rightmost of three lanes becomes crowded with motorists queuing to make left turns, particularly during peak travel periods. Temporary construction barrels are being used to implement the restrictions over the course of a planned 12-week trial period.

After the conclusion of the trial, NJDOT representatives will meet with “stakeholders” to present their findings as to whether the restrictions have proven to be effective in reducing Route 1 congestion and to discuss the extent of any secondary impacts on local streets and roads.

If the trial is deemed a success, the turns will not be restored and the department will replace the temporary barriers with more aesthetically pleasing permanent barriers as expeditiously as possible.

If the trial is unsuccessful, the temporary restrictions will be removed to restore all existing traffic movements.

In the meantime, local municipal offices, the Board of Education, Princeton University, the Merchants Association, and the University Medical Center of Princeton have posted alternative routes for navigating Route 1 on their websites.