STATE HIGHWAY 64 DANGER ZONE IN PRINCETON JUNCTION, RESULTING IN A RECENT FATALITY

We are writing to urge you to direct the installation of a section of steel guardrail on a short stretch of State Highway Route 64, known as the Princeton-Hightstown Road in West Windsor Township.

Specifically, we are asking you to extend the guardrail on the westbound side of that certain curve of State Highway 64 that takes traffic over the Amtrak rail lines in Princeton Junction. The guardrail currently in place terminates at a point not fully around the curved section of the overpass, and inadequately protects drivers from a perilous condition inherent in the roadway.

On Sunday, March 12, 2006 (as reported in the Princeton Packet and on NJ.com on March 14, 2006), a car driven by Stephanie Au-Yeung, a beloved 17-year old girl from our community collided into a tree just a few feet beyond the terminus of the guardrail at that portion of the overpass. A sweet, loving daughter, hard-working honor student, and caring friend was lost to us on that day, in an accident that would have been far less deadly had the guardrail been just a few yards longer.

We understand that another accident occurred in the same spot less than two months earlier, and believe that other incidents will occur in the future if you do not take the actions we are requesting.

The remainder of Princeton-Hightstown Road which is owned by the Township has guardrails in place, but this portion of roadway that is owned and controlled by the State does not. Since the roadway runs on a slope and curves, it is a dangerous road warranting protection.

We strongly urge you to direct the installation of guardrails so that others in our community can remain safe. We do not wish to see any further accidents falling upon our neighbors which could have been prevented had there been guardrails.