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A dangerous intersection at Main Street and a private road was discussed.
A dangerous intersection at Main Street and a private road was discussed.
HILLSVILLE, Pa. — Mahoning Township supervisors are looking for a way to improve a dangerous intersection after the traffic death of a local man there Aug. 18.
Township resident Joseph Nestasie attended Tuesday’s supervisors’ meeting and submitted a petition with the names of 61 residents asking that BFI pay a guard to be stationed round-the-clock at the intersection of Main Street and a private road leading into the BFI landfill off U.S. Route 224.
Residents have long complained about truck traffic exiting the Poland Township landfill without stopping at the public road, which is in Mahoning Township. Mark McConnell II, 22, of Edinburg, died after his car collided with a tractor-trailer which was northbound on the private road, according to a published report.
About 25 people attended the meeting and many of them suggested other solutions, such as rumble strips on the private road, spike strips, closing the private road and using a currently closed road in Poland Township for access.
Nestasie said Poland Township should accept the responsibility of providing a safe access road since they receive the tipping fees for the landfill. Supervisor Gary Pezzuolo said the road is owned by Essroc but maintained by BFI. Northwest Lawrence County Regional Police Chief Jim Morris suggested supervisors look into ordaining the private haul road as a township road, which would give the township authority to issue citations and enforce traffic signals.
Currently, although there are oversized stop signs and a blinking light on the private road at the intersection, truck drivers exiting the landfill may ignore them without committing a traffic violation.
The only violation would be exiting the road and failing to yield the right-of-way to a vehicle on Main Street, he said.
Supervisors said they have met with BFI officials since the accident and discussed ways to reduce the number of accidents at the intersection. Township Solicitor Louis Perrotta said discussions with the landfill are “moving forward” but said he could not give details.
Pezzuolo added BFI is very concerned over what goes on at the intersection, but he said the problem is not the BFI drivers but the over-the-road haulers who use the landfill.
Nestasie said some residents are discussing taking their lawn chairs and sitting at the intersection. “I don’t want to promote a bunch of vigilantes, but something has to be done immediately.”
Pezzuolo said supervisors will continue talks with BFI until a solution is found.
Also Tuesday:
•Supervisors authorized advertising for bids for the upcoming sanitary sewer project. Bids are already being advertised for construction of a new sewage treatment plant and can be picked up at RAR Engineering, New Castle. Sewer plant bids will be opened at next month’s meeting.
•Supervisors were informed in a letter from a PennDOT contractor that Skyhill Road will be closed soon and remain closed until Oct. 30 for structure work.
•Morris announced homeowners who received violation letters for high weeds and grass and have not complied will soon be cited in court.
•Supervisors announced some homeowners along the planned sanitary sewer line will be contacted soon to sign easements to allow construction equipment on their property.
•The fall trash cleanup was set to begin Sept. 29 and run for three weeks. A schedule will be announced.
•Trick or treat was set for 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. The time is the same as North Beaver Township and Bessemer Borough.