Wharton takes steps to get intersection project underway
Wharton Township supervisors have agreed to maintain a traffic light at a proposed intersection on Route 40 and took other steps toward getting the intersection project started. Supervisors approved an agreement with the state Department of Transportation to maintain a traffic signal at what would be a new intersection of Route 40 and Chalk Hill-Ohiopyle Road.
The supervisors authorized the solicitor to prepare an ordinance to accept ownership of a spur road that would connect the new section of Chalk Hill-Ohiopyle Road to three businesses located along the westbound side of Route 40.
Also on Monday, the supervisors agreed to contact the businesses’ property owners to set up a meeting to discuss helping the township maintain the spur road.
Disagreement over who would own and maintain the spur road had created a stalemate between the township and PennDOT.
The spur road would provide access from the new section of Chalk Hill-Ohiopyle Road to a gun shop, a bank and the Chalk Hill post office branch.
Without the spur road, eastbound traffic on Route 40 would continue to have to cross oncoming traffic in the westbound lane to enter the businesses.
The new section of road would run behind those businesses and the spur road would run from the new road to the businesses.
The intersection would be relocated near the Chalk Hill Superette. The new section of Chalk Hill-Ohiopyle Road would run from the intersection to the existing part of the road.
PennDOT planned to proceed with the intersection project, but had removed spur road from the plans because the township would not agree to accept ownership of it and maintain it.
Jim Means, chairman of the board of supervisors, said the supervisors would meet with the businesses’ property owners and try to work out a joint maintenance agreement.
In addition to agreeing to maintain the traffic signal, the supervisors agreed to shop around for a contractor to do the maintenance.
Means said construction could start in late fall or early next spring.