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Springfield traffic will be disrupted
NEW SPRINGFIELD
Construction of two new turnpike service plazas, which will begin in April, will be “a huge inconvenience” for township residents, according to Springfield Township Trustee Robert Orr.
He told residents attending Wednesday’s trustees meeting that township officials attended a pre-construction meeting last week and learned the $30 million project will bring as many as 400 workers per day to the township during construction. Township officials are concerned about the number of vehicles that will be on township roads. Orr said the county is designating a route for construction vehicles to take that would include state Route 617, Beard Road and South Range Road. The affected parts of the roads then will be repaved once construction is over, according to a tentative agreement with county and turnpike officials. The project is expected to take 441 days to complete. He urged local residents who work in the trades to register with their local halls so they can work on the project.
Orr said that the township is trying to get a gas line to serve the plazas to South Range Road so some residents could hook in.
Also Wednesday, Trustee Rick Jones reported that work is expected to start Monday for the new TicToc convenience store and gas station at Calla Road and state Route 170, and the estimated completion date is June or July.
Police Chief Matthew Mohn complained that New Middletown police were on the scene when township police and EMS responded to a call Jan. 13 on Golden Rye Road, which is a township address in a new development. Mohn pointed out that New Middletown’s police chief, Vince D’Egidio, had stated in September that township police are not allowed in the village unless by permission. He questioned why village police would be at a call in the township.
However, Jones asked, “That township-village line is real crazy there, is it not?” Road Superintendent Rich Kennedy agreed it is confusing and said the same confusion exists near the Calla Road and Route 170 intersection. Fire Chief Matt Gebhardt said that the township in the Jan. 13 case never received the call from 911 because Golden Rye Road was never set up so that calls would go to Beaver Township, which dispatches for Springfield.
He said the problem has been remedied and future calls will go to the township. EMS Chief Karen Philibin said New Middletown’s contracted ambulance, Clemente, also responded even though the township notified them the address was in the township and they already had an ambulance at the scene. She said Clemente employees told her they are under orders to respond when called even if there is another ambulance at the scene.