Engineers forced to rethink Morrisville Corridor
WAYNESBURG – Higher traffic counts in the Morrisville Corridor have forced engineers to rethink their plans for alleviating congestion in that area, though most of the stakeholders still agree on their preferred alignment. According to Ann Bargerstock, Greene County director of planning and development, a recent meeting was held with stakeholders to outline 15 alternatives, which are modifications of three alignments that had been developed to solve the traffic problem.
Trans Associates Inc. came up with three alternative alignments to the corridor, one that involves widening the existing stretch of Routes 19/21 to two lanes traveling in each direction. The other two alignments call for the use of both existing lanes into Waynesburg but using Howie Street to exit the borough and return to Route 21. The final option uses Wade Street instead of Howie Street for outbound traffic from the borough.
Bargerstock said that extra concern was placed at the eastern end of the corridor, where a Sheetz convenience store, Burger King fast food restaurant and traffic signal have been installed since the last traffic counts were taken.
Those additional businesses have caused traffic counts to rise and had not been factored in when a needs study was first completed eight years ago.
At last week’s meeting, Bargerstock said, most of the small group in attendance seemed to agree on the alignment they found most favorable.
“The general consensus was the northern alignment was favored, with the exception of one person,” she said. The northern alignment is the proposed widening of the existing lanes to accommodate traffic flow, she said.
All 15 alternatives are on display in the first floor hallway of the county office building, near the commissioners’ meeting room, for people who want to look at them. Bargerstock said a public officials’ meeting will be held later this summer, and a public display also will be held for more people to get a look at the alternatives.
A public hearing is scheduled for August or September at which discussion and oral and written testimony will be taken on the alignments, she said.