Narrowness of Crawford Ave. to be fixed in spring
CONNELLSVILLE – Vehicular travel along the eastbound lane of Crawford Avenue will continue to be restrictive until spring, according to the state transportation department. “We’re going to get to it as soon as possible,” said Valerie Peterson, PennDOT community relations coordinator on Thursday. “We need it to be dry and a certain temperature before we can do anything.”
Following the reconstruction of the roadway last year, the double yellow lines that divide the route were inadvertently placed between Snyder Street to Robbins Street without consideration to the availability of parking along the east side of the road.
“The lines definitely need to be moved over six or seven feet,” said city police Chief Stephen Cooper.
Peterson, however, said the lines would be removed and not replaced by workers.
“They will be eradicated,” she said. “We won’t be putting any lines back down.”
The three-month project, completed by Donegal Construction, included the reconstruction of the Crawford Avenue/Breakneck Road intersection and the replacement of pavement along the roadway to Snyder Street.
Cooper said with some restrictions, on-street parking is permissible within the four-block area.
“Over the years, some of the homeowners have taken measures to move their vehicles off the road, but in some cases it’s just not possible,” said Cooper.
Although officers have not responded to any accidents in the area, Cooper said he has observed parked vehicles with broken mirrors and minor scratches that could have occurred because of traffic being restricted to a more narrow path.
Resident Gino Gallo approached council at its recent meeting and noted that the mirror on his vehicle had been bumped on two separate occasions as he traveled through the area.
“It’s a bad situation,” he said. “The road is a direct path to (Highlands) Hospital, Zachariah Connell (Elementary School) and Geibel High School.”
According to PennDOT figures, approximately 4,500 cars, buses and trucks daily utilize the artery to enter or exit the city via Route 119.
“It’s almost impossible not to go over the double line (when traveling eastbound),” said Gallo.
Mayor Judy Reed said she was made aware of the matter shortly after the construction was completed in November.
“We notified them immediately,” she said. “We have placed telephone calls and letters, but we have not heard anything.”
City clerk David Pinkosky said Thursday that he has been directed by Reed to submit another letter to PennDOT officials seeking a resolution to the matter.