SAFETY UPGRADES
Work at Route 100 intersection should be completed by spring
It’s been almost three years since a Pottstown man was run over and killed crossing Route 100 at Shoemaker Road to get to work at a nearby fast-food restaurant.
A colorful floral memorial adorns the grass on the south side of the four-lane highway, serving as a reminder of the night when Donald J. Purnell was hit by a pickup truck and killed on March 3, 2017.
Work completed since Purnell’s death has reduced the risk of traffic fatalities.
PennDOT is also making improvements to reduce the risk of an accident involving Colebrookdale Railroad, since tracks cross there.
All of the antiquated pedestrian safety devices have been replaced with state-ofthe-art pedestrian crosswalks and timers.
Pedestrians can even push a button, and
there will be an audible announcement when the coast is clear to cross.
Work is continuing to upgrade traffic signals to alert motorists when a Colebrookdale Railroad train, which could be passenger or freight, is crossing the highway.
The upgrades include synchronizing the traffic lights at the intersection to turn red for northbound motorists when the train crosses the tracks. Also being installed are advance-warning flashers for the railroad that will turn yellow when a train approaches the crossing. The speed limit is 45 mph.
The safety upgrades are part of a $13.7 million federally funded project to reduce traffic congestion in Pottstown and Lower Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County, and North Coventry Township, Chester County. Road-Con Inc. of West Chester is the general contractor for the project.
Pottstown police said since there have been no fatal pedestrian accidents at the intersection since Purnell’s death.
“This is a heavily traveled intersection for pedestrians,” Pottstown police Capt. Robert R. Thomas said.
Shoppers walk across Route 100 from Pottstown with shopping carts to the Pottstown Center complex.
“Historically, we have had problems there, but the traffic patterns have changed,” Thomas said.
He said the upgrades at the intersection that have already been installed are working well in preventing crashes.
Nathaniel C. Guest, executive director and founder of Colebrookdale Railroad, said the railroad has tourist and freight trains regularly crossing the intersection.
Guest said the safety upgrades will help motorists be prepared to stop when the train crosses the busy highway, noting there have not been any train accidents there.
“It’s great to provide additional warning signs,” Guest said. “It’s an area where there are speeders. They should now be able to stop in advance. PennDOT has done a wonderful job.”
Brad E. Rudolph, PennDOT spokesman for King of Prussia-based District 6, said PennDOT consulted with Pottstown police since the Purnell fatal on upgrading safety features.
He said that the upgrades include a crosswalk marking on the highway, new hand signals, and a pedestrian signal that says, “Wait” when the button is pushed if it is not clear to cross.
Signs reading “no turn on red” and “pedestrians ahead” before the intersection will also be installed.
PennDOT distributed a flyer to Pottstown-area residents alerting motorists how the use the push button crosswalk.
Rudolph said signs to warn motorists of pedestrians ahead are crossing the highway and no turn on red at the intersection are expected to be installed in the spring.
Some of the measures to install the safety devices at the intersection were planned before Purnell’s death.
In May 2018, Adam J. Timbario of Pottstown, was sentenced to five to 12 years in prison in the case.
Timbario, now 33, was convicted by a jury of leaving the scene of an accident involving death and tampering with evidence.
During his trial, Timbario testified he had no idea he hit the pedestrian, saying he thought that a tire fell off his truck and hit another truck.