By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

 

The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors voted at its Sept. 17 meeting in favor of improving safety conditions at four intersections in the township, based on the recommendations of a local engineering firm that called for enhancements that include the installation of stop signs.

Referring to the findings of a 146-page intersection traffic study conducted in 2009 by PennDOT and Pennoni & Associates of West Chester – as well as the suggestions given to the township's safety committee by township Police Chief Albert McCarthy and the township's engineer -- the board gave approval to the recommendations for improvements at the following intersections:

 

1.      At the intersection of Bayard Road and Hillendale Road, the addition of a four-way stop sign;

at the intersection of Rosedale Road and Bayard Road, several short-term, mid-term and long-term improvements, to be done in order to improve sight distances. If it is agreed that the improvements do not improve sight lines, a four-way stop sign will be installed at the intersection;

because it was recommended that the sight distance can not be increased at the corner of East Hillendale Road and McFarland Road due to the vertical alignment of the intersection, it was recommended that a four-way stop sign be installed; and

at Woodward Road and Norway Road, it was recommended that the signage and pavement markings be enhanced at the intersection, and that the vegetation at the intersection's northeast corner be reduced in order to improve the sight distance.

 

Insufficient sight distances at intersections is one reason to put up stop signs, Board Chairman Scudder Stevens said. “The other one is, 'How do we slow down the traffic so that the traffic is more concerned about everything that is going on around it, so that there is not an improper assumption that other traffic will stop or not?”

The firm also recommended that these intersections can be made safer by the installation of warning signs that advise speed limits and approaching intersections; making sure that crossroad signs are placed an appropriate distance from the intersection to ensure that drivers have advance notice of the coming intersection; warning signs indicating that cross traffic does not stop; signage enhancements such as oversized signage; and both white edge lines and double yellow lines near the intersections.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail [email protected].