By John Chambless
Staff Writer

Anyone who has driven through the intersection of Route 796 and Old Baltimore Pike in Jennersville knows that the layout is inadequate. Anyone trying to turn left has probably given up.

The intersection where the former Red Rose Inn occupies one corner has been a choke point for traffic for decades, and it's only getting worse following the commercial expansion of Penn Township. But on April 27, local politicians and township officials held an announcement at the front door of the preserved Red Rose Inn to say that intersection improvements will finally be happening.

Penn Township's director of operations Karen Versuk said before the event that the preliminary work – designing the new intersection – has been underway for a while, and that PennDOT should start digging for the project next summer or early fall. That seems like a long way off, but for those who have been pushing for years, the firm commitment is very welcome.

Curtis Mason, chairman of the Penn Township Board of Supervisors, said, “I've spent 21 years in the township, trying to make this happen. This shows power of bipartisanship. Fixing this intersection will have a positive effect on Penn Township and all of southern Chester County.”

Rep. Lawrence said, “Nearly three years ago, a group of PennDOT officials, township supervisors and community stakeholders met in my office down the street here in Jennersville to talk about what could be done to address the Red Rose Inn intersection. After several years of hard work, countless meetings at my office and the Township Building, emails, phone calls, engineering drawings and legal reviews, we are here today to announce that the repair and realignment of this intersection is going to happen.

“Early on, we were able to obtain a commitment from PennDOT for $800,000 towards this project,” Lawrence said. “Later, through the efforts of Sen. Dinniman, the township was able to secure an additional $250,000. With more than $1 million in state taxpayer funding in hand, Penn Township has moved to institute a traffic impact fee on new development that will provide the remainder of the funding necessary to get this project across the finish line.”

Lawrence said that the improvements will have left turn signals for all four legs of the intersection.

“As exciting as it is to be here today, I think I speak for everyone when I say that it will be more exciting when we cut the ribbon once the intersection project is completed,” he said. “I'm looking forward to that day.”

Sen. Dinniman said he came on board with the project “to try to find funding to move forward, and to work with PennDOT to explain the importance of this project. My experience with PennDOT is that they are a true friend of the people of this county. It's amazing what a partnership can do. Nothing gets done until everyone accepts the fact that we're in this together. This is a great day, and this is the way you get something done,” Dinniman said, smiling.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].