W. Penn continues dialogue to make intersection safer
West Penn Township presses on in its journey to make the intersection at Blue Mountain Drive and Route 309 as safe as possible for motorists.
It was stated at last week’s board of supervisors meeting that Lehigh Engineering met with the property owner to discuss the additional right of way needed to complete the project.
The board said details of the property for the legal description are being prepared, and that township solicitor Paul J. Datte will need to prepare a deed of dedication.
Board Chairman Tony Prudenti said last month that he believes the township needs to go ahead with trying to square up the side of the intersection, almost making it a safety lane without actually designating it as a safety lane.
Supervisor Tim Houser said at that time they also have to correct the water drainage problem.
Township police Chief Brian Johnson noted at that time that it’s not always about the trucks, but also the cars that travel.
Supervisor Ted Bogosh previously said he believes draining the water and fixing the shoulder is the best way to go.
The consensus of the board was that a cost estimate needed to be put together to redo Blue Mountain Drive.
Prudenti said the township recently received a cost estimate from its roadmaster that came in at a little less than $10,000, less than what was initially expected.
He said at that time that in order to make the intersection safer, they’ll have to widen the shoulder on the north side of Blue Mountain Drive so that any truck coming off there would have an area on the north side that they could still drive onto to get off Route 309.
That decision came after the board in July agreed to inquire about the cost to widen Blue Mountain Drive to four lanes to address truck traffic, and at that time, agreed to have the township engineer obtain price estimates to potentially widen the highway.
At that time, Bogosh — who in the fall suggested widening Blue Mountain Drive and making it three lanes — addressed the problems at Blue Mountain Drive and Route 309.
Bogosh said residents have complained about when vehicles turn off 309 onto Blue Mountain Drive, but are held up on 309 as they wait for trucks to exit south onto 309 because they take up the entire road in order to make the turn.
He then suggested widening Blue Mountain Drive to four lanes for a 100-foot length along 309 to the north side of Blue Mountain Drive (the downhill side), and crosshatch the existing two lanes to allow for trailer swings.
Bogosh said that would also leave a lane open to traffic that enters Blue Mountain Drive, and added that the property owner agreed to the land acquisition in the interest of safety.
In addition, he said the state Department of Transportation would also need to create a left-turn lane on northbound 309 to reduce the possibility of rear-end collisions, which could be done by making the southbound 309 a single lane with no passing until after Blue Mountain Drive.
Bogosh said he’d like to be proactive, “rather than wait for accidents to occur.”
Houser said regardless of the outcome, the board would need to get approval from PennDOT since 309 is a state road.
Comments
I don’t think it’s a secret that the West Penn Board of Supervisors is involved in conflicts of interest, corruption, and likely in the pocket of Jay Land. Where is the ordinance revision report from water extraction attorney Jordan Yeager? The citizens have paid in excess of $8000 for this expert attorney, but inexplicably WP Township has stopped communicating with Jordan Yeager and refuses to disclose his results to the public. West Penn needs to stand up to these water villains, because they are playing us for fools. In our hearts, we know this is wrong. Why won’t someone do the right thing?