German Twp. residents, officials protest Route 21 expansion plan
GERMAN TWP. – “PennDOT don’t pass us by” was a popular refrain Tuesday, as residents and supervisors discussed unpopular aspects of the state Department of Transportation’s Route 21 expansion plan presented last week. PennDOT plans to widen 5.2 miles of Route 21 to four lanes, from the intersection with Route 166 to S-T Drive near Balsinger. Preliminary plans for the section will be completed in 2004, with the final design coming in 2005 and construction beginning about two years afterward, according to
PennDOT.
The largest problem with the expansion project, said Supervisor Bob Belch, is the plan to install a median that would cut off access to local businesses and homes. Instead of free turning lanes,
PennDOT plans to install turnaround areas, known as “jug handles,” every 11/2 miles so that motorists can cross traffic.
Supervisor Robert Croushore added that the change also will put an uncalculated burden on township roads, which he predicted will see increased traffic as residents work to avoid traveling back and forth on Route 21, he said.
“There was no consideration of the added use to our local roads. There needs to be some consideration, because this is going to impact us big time,” Croushore said.
Some township residents also protested the PennDOT plan.
“It’s ridiculous. You can’t even cross the street anymore. You’re cutting the township off,” said resident Stella Miller.
Resident Nancy Floyd, who was happy about the idea of widening the road to allow for greater traffic flow, was disheartened to learn that the area near her home, near Revere, would remain narrow and congested. Route 21 would return to two lanes in this area, according to the PennDOT plan.
“My husband was struck from behind by a speeding car while he was just trying to pull into our driveway. We need a wider road to make it safer for us to pull in and out. Some days it takes 30 to 45 minutes just to get onto (Route 21),” said Floyd.
Local businessman and resident Lou Ansel also noted that PennDOT wasn’t taking into consideration development of utilities such as gas, water and sewer lines for future development.
“Basically, if we don’t have those things in place when they go to move on this, they won’t be going in. Then there really won’t be a reason to stop. You think it’s barren here now, just wait and see,” he said.
The supervisors asked residents and business owners along Route 21 interested in serving on a panel to represent the interests of all those affected by the expansion project to call the township office at 724-737-5130. Belch explained that PennDOT had asked for local input on the project and suggested forming a committee or finding a spokesman to survey the area.
While he wasn’t there to address the expansion project, Pat Richter, project director for the Masontown Bridge project, directed residents with Internet access to look up http://www.rebuild21.com to see what proposed Route 21 plans are on the table and for a contact list of people at PennDOT.
Regarding the bridge replacement, Richter explained that his portion of the changes to Route 21 focuses primarily from the Paisley interchange of Route 21 and Route 88, over the Masontown Bridge to the small tip of the township just outside the borough limits.
Right now the bridge replacement project is still in the preliminary design stage. He said an environmental impact study is nearing completion, and his department is starting to look over possible places to locate the bridge. The new bridge will be four lanes wide, and bridge designers are looking to have a different approach location at least on the Fayette County side, said Richter. Glenn Stickle of SAI Consulting Engineers is handling construction management for the Masontown/Route 88 section.
Moving to other matters, Supervisor Dan Shimshock told Duff Road residents that officials from the Public Utility Commission and representatives from area gas companies will meet with him to discuss recent gas leaks.
Last week, township workers became ill from a leak while working along Duff Road, Shimshock said, residents along the road had been complaining of gas fumes, but local gas companies seemed unable to find the problem until it got worse. Resident Terry Janosek said the problem was coming from a line near his property that appears damaged.
Leaks also have been located at other spots along Duff Road, including a privately owned well, Shimshock said. State environmental officials are going to join with the PUC and gas companies in the meeting along Duff Road at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Shimshock said any resident with a gas leak complaint should try to meet up with them to have the matter resolved.