NESHANNOCK TWP. PennDOT plans road improvements for '04

A traffic signal is planned at a dangerous township intersection.
By LAURA A. MILOSER
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NESHANNOCK, Pa. -- Long-awaited road improvements in the township are being planned, most of which will start next year.
Officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation notified township supervisors that work on Mercer Road is scheduled to begin in late 2004.
Frank Cippel, a PennDOT spokesman, says plans are to widen the lanes to 12 feet and also construct shoulders along the roads.
Supervisor John DiCola Jr., who also serves as the township's director of public services, said the project would improve the drainage problems on Mercer Road.
PennDOT also is addressing traffic concerns expressed by many residents and the supervisors.
A traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Mercer Road and Maitland Lane. DiCola said there have been a number of accidents, some serious, at that intersection.
"Traffic signals don't get installed unless they meet specific warrants," Cippel said.
Sight problem to be fixed
A sight distance problem where Mitchell and Sunset Valley Roads intersect with Mercer Road will be corrected when the road is widened.
DiCola said the dip in the roadway would be removed. A car turning from Mitchell or Sunset Valley has difficulty seeing another car if it is in the dip on Mercer, he added.
PennDOT already has taken action to correct a sight distraction at the intersection of Shenango and Mercer roads. Pine trees were removed from the northwest quadrant to improve the view of southbound traffic.
DiCola said supervisors hope that PennDOT will continue north for road projects in Wilmington Township in future years.