Road changes proposed to improve safety
MENALLEN TWP. – PennDOT is proposing moving the intersection of Dearth and Canistra roads with Route 40 west about 800 feet to improve traffic safety.
According to PennDOT project manager Sean Sepe, visibility is poor at the current intersection, resulting in numerous accidents.
“It’s an intersection safety project. We have a sight distance issue here,” Sepe said.
“Even if we had a traffic light, cars coming over the hill would come upon cars stopped there.”
Menallen Township Supervisor Robert “Tweety” Yatsko said the intersection improvement is long overdue.
“It will be a big improvement on safety. Being in the fire company for 44 years, I’ve seen a lot of accidents there. We’ve needed it for a long time. If we save one life, it’s worth it,” Yatsko said.
Renae Phillipy, who owns the Torchlight restaurant along with her husband, Peter Phillipy, said the proposed changes will not resolve issues they have with motorists turning in their parking lot and will create new problems for their customers trying to access their business.
“I live there. I’d rather they do it the right way and take the hump out of the road to improve the visibility,” Renae Phillipy said.
Sepe said that option was considered, but it would mean lowering the road 16 feet, still creating access issues for the Torchlight.
It would also create problems with utilities running along Route 40, including a fiber optic cable, water and sewer lines. Sepe said it also would have disrupted traffic during the construction period.
The proposed project will cost between $3 million and $6 million and includes creating cul-de-sacs on Dearth and Canistra roads prior to their current intersections with Route 40, building new roads to the new intersection, and putting left turn lanes on Route 40 at that intersection.
Sepe said portions of about 10 properties will be affected by the change.
“We’re looking at putting it out to bid at the end of 2014, so construction will begin in 2015 at the earliest,” Sepe said.
“We’re moving forward so we can start the acquisition process. That usually takes 18 to 24 months.”
No changes are expected at the current intersection prior to the start of construction.