Groups seek action on intersection



PennDOT says the accident total is not large enough to merit more safeguards.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County commissioners are joining supervisors and local residents in asking the state transportation department to do something to make safer the intersection of Pa. Route 18 and Thomason Road, South Pymatuning Township.
Area residents have long complained that a guardrail in the middle of the road causes a blind spot for motorists pulling out from Thomason Road. There have been 46 accidents in 11 years at that spot. None of the accidents was fatal.
But commissioners lamented at their chief clerk's meeting Tuesday that it seems that only a traffic death will spur Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to do something.
PennDOT reportedly has told local officials the number of accidents at the intersection is not high enough to warrant any additional safety measures.
Commissioner Olivia Lazor, a former South Pymatuning Township supervisor, pointed out that complaints about accidents at Ivanhoe Road and Buckeye Drive in the same area were ignored by PennDOT until a fatality occurred.
After the fatality, larger speed limit signs and an "Intersection Ahead" sign were installed.
Police chief's efforts
Mike Nashtock, chairman of the South Pymatuning Township supervisors, said that John Kelly, township police chief, has spearheaded efforts to try to get action at the intersection. He said Kelly and township officials also have "tried to put a bug in the ear" of transportation officials and last year met with the district traffic engineer to try to get action.
"It is my understanding that they are exploring some things," Nashtock said. He commented that the problem is clearly a case of visibility, noting that there are never accidents there in the dark because headlights make the cars visible.
He said a possible way to improve the situation would be to remove the guardrail or at least not run it all the way through the intersection. He said he welcomes the support of the commissioners.
Nashtock added that speeding on that stretch of road also has contributed to the problem, and he noted police have cracked down on speeders in the past seven weeks, issuing nearly 200 citations to motorists going more than 80 mph in the 55 mph zone.

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