UNION TOWNSHIP >> Township supervisors, Garey Road residents and the superintendent of the Daniel Boone Area School District are all recommending changes to Garey Road that they say will improve safety on the road.
Supervisors’ Chairman Donald E. Basile said Aug. 15 that the school district will pay for a “no-left turn” sign onto northbound Garey Road from the eastern end of the district’s property, 501 Chestnut St.
A speed bump “further down the street” was also discussed.
The “no-left turn” sign was recommended by the board in April, along with three-way stop signs at Garey Road and Fourth Street.
The board’s sign recommendations came one month before a motor vehicle accident occurred at that intersection – where a boy was waiting for his school bus to arrive.
“That boy was almost hit,” said Supervisor Nelson L. Ott Jr.
Engineering results for the stop signs and “no-left turn” are expected in September but the speed bump study was not approved by the board.
If the “no-left turn” is warranted, Basile said in April that Superintendent James P. Harris would discuss with the school board that the district might enforce the “no-left turn” with a private security guard.
Traffic would then exit the eastern side of the school property by turning right onto Garey Road, which leads to Center Road and then Route 724.
Raymond Benischeck, 328 Garey Road, said in April that the four-way stop signs at Garey Road and Lanie Drive have “really helped.”
“The people from Garey Road – we don’t want to slow those people going to work – trying to get to Route 724,” said Peter D. Biggerstaff, of 262 Garey Road, who had two dogs killed on Garey Road within the last seven years.
Dorothy Geiger, of 96 Mulllen Hollow Road, said that the township is just “moving the issue one road over — moving the problem.”
Ott said the Garey Road and Route 724 crash data will support the “no-left turn” on Garey Road.
“Should we make sure they have their seat belts on also?” asked Geiger, adding, “Can’t do something for everyone.”
Basile said former district Superintendent Marybeth Torchia “was OK with a school zone on Garey Road,” and that he still has her note about that.
