Public meeting on Witherspoon Street utility construction update set for March 31

The engineering department for Princeton will host a public meeting on Thursday, March 31, at 7 p.m. to discuss the construction schedule for Witherspoon Street.

People who want to attend the meeting can register in advance online https://bit.ly/WspoonPrecon. Officials said a paper notice will be mailed to residents of Witherspoon Street between Nassau Street and Green Street and areas within close proximity to the project.

On March 24 and 25, the Princeton Public Works Department will be removing all of the remaining Bradford Pear trees on Witherspoon Street, including stumps between Nassau Street and Green Street. Daytime work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Officials said that due to the invasive nature of the trees and their tendency to split, the Bradford Pear has become an undesirable street tree species. The corridor will be replanted with a more desirable combination of species upon the completion of the Witherspoon Street Phase 1 construction, officials said. Some residents have said they wish the trees could have been left until they bloomed one last time this spring.

At night, Verizon Communications will be concluding their installation of new underground facilities and repair of existing facilities. Work will be taking place overnight within the intersection of Wiggins Street/Paul Robeson Place and Witherspoon Street on March 24 and 25. New Jersey American Water will be concluding its valve installation and main abandonment on March 24th on Nassau Street at the intersection of Witherspoon Street. Nighttime work hours for Verizon and the water company are 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.