The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has proposed a roundabout to replace the current Route 222 and Long Lane intersection in Maxatawny Township, with construction starting in spring 2017.
PennDOT, along with Urban Engineers, Inc., held an information session regarding the improvement project for the community at Kutztown University on Wednesday evening, Jan. 28, setting up displays of project details and answering questions.
Imtiaz Nathaniel, a project manager at PennDOT, confirms that the plan will be carried out. He estimates the cost at $6 million. Construction will start in spring 2017 and end in fall 2018.
The first and second phases involve widening 222 and the third and fourth phases, Long Lane.
PennDOT spokesman Ron Young said that Route 222 will remain open during construction. Traffic will be closed on either side of Long Lane an estimated one to two months for the third and fourth phases, when they work on the road. The traffic signal will be taken down once the construction is completed.
With the proposal, Route 222 would have two 15-foot lanes through the roundabout. It will also have five 11-foot lanes adjacent to the roundabout, which include four travel lanes and one, two-way left turn lane.
According to Nathaniel, while the current speed at the intersection for 222 is 55 mph and 45 on Long Lane, the speed at the roundabout would be 25 mph.
Michael Mastaglio of Rummel, Klepper & Kahl Consulting Engineers and a consultant project manager at PennDOT, was on hand to explain the project as well. He said that the roundabout intersection was recommended after RK&K completed a study about the intersection. Mastaglio said that the intent during construction is to maintain road access.
“Constructability is going to be a high priority,” he said.
Kutztown resident Michelle O’Donnell lives on 222 and is concerned about getting out of the driveway without the traffic light.
“I just think they need to take into better account the people that live there,” said O’Donnell, also citing nearby businesses at the intersection.
“All access to businesses and residences will be maintained,” said Young.
Jason Hoover, a farmer from Kutztown, is considering how the lack of a traffic light would affect driving on 222 with farming equipment. He said that the farmers run equipment on 222 during growing season. The equipment reaches a maximum speed of about 18 miles per hour.
“It is going to be very difficult to cross the road,” Hoover said.
Maidencreek’s Osborne Buchanan has attended four similar meetings, and said that a year ago there was an “entirely different plan for the same stretch.” He has signed a 2,000-strong petition against roundabouts in the area.
“They work well in a residential community with minimal traffic,” Buchanan said.
He believes that a roundabout does not work well in busy roads like 222.
“I feel they’re putting a band aid on a problem,” he said.
According to Nathaniel, about 27,000 cars pass through 222 a day.
While others like Buchanan had background knowledge and strong opinions of the roundabout, Dave Miller of Kutztown and Kutztown Superintendent Kathy Metrick watched a simulation video of a roundabout intersection, trying to learn more about it.
“I think we have a lot to learn,” Metrick said. “In the simulation, they don’t have school buses, and school buses are our concern.”
They had learned about the improvement project in the newspaper a few years ago but just recently found out about the informational meeting to attend.
When asked what they thought of Long Lane being closed for an estimated several months of the project, Miller and Metrick said they were not aware. Metrick said she might have to consider a new route to work.
A Maxatawny resident who wished to remain anonymous was most concerned with truck traffic, a current problem at the intersection.
“With all of the truck traffic, I just don’t see [the plan] happening,” she said. “[Cars are] not going to stop long enough for trucks to get through.”
