Township OKs traffic signal on Ridge Pike
LIMERICK >> As part of the township’s effort to decrease accidents at one busy intersection, a new traffic signal will be installed later this year along Ridge Pike.
The board of supervisors unanimously approved a design agreement for a traffic signal at the intersection of Ridge Pike and North Limerick Road Tuesday night.
The construction design plan goes back to PennDOT for final approval. The hope is to hold the bidding and construction of the signal later this year and have the work completed sometime between the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017, depending on how quickly PennDOT approves the construction design plan.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of happy people in the township,” said Supervisor Elaine DeWan. “This is a much needed traffic signal. It’s been a very unsafe intersection.”
“This is a good move for the motorists in that area,” added Police Chief Brian Skelton.
The approximate cost of the project is $325,000, but the township won’t use local taxpayer money to fund it, Township Manager Dan Kerr said. Instead, the township will use liquid fuel money from PennDOT and Act 209 traffic impact fees collected from develop-ers who build in the township.
For months, the township has waited to hear whether the intersection needed a traffic signal. In September, the board requested PennDOT study the intersection to see if it warranted one. The intersection has a notorious history of traffic accidents and a signal was desperately needed, the board said at the time.
Now six months later, PennDOT has signed off on the signal request with the following conditions: left turn lanes would need to be installed on Ridge Pike going onto North and South Limerick Road, and the signal would need to be connected to each of the other traffic signals along the Ridge Pike corridor that feed into PennDOT’s District 6 traffic management center.
“PennDOT will have access eventually to all the signals along Ridge Pike,” said Joseph Platt, of Traffic Planning and Design. “Not only will they be synced but they’d be actively monitored by the traffic management center where they look at all the cameras and everything. So if they see any issues, they can jump right into that computer and take a look at the settings.”
While everyone seemed to support PennDOT’s decision, board Vice Chairwoman Kara Shuler asked where the traffic poles would be installed, given how close businesses are to that intersection. A number of accommodations will need to be made, not only for the traffic pole installations, but also to make room for the left turn lanes and pedestrian sidewalks, Platt said. A land survey will be used to help make those decisions.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of happy people in the township. This is amuch needed traffic signal. It’s been a very unsafe intersection.”
— Limerick Township Supervisor Elaine DeWan