By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

Construction began on March 18 on a project that will improve traffic flow and safety at the intersection of Newark Road and Hillendale Road in New Garden Township.

The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2020.

The scope of work will include adjusting the horizontal and vertical alignments to improve driver sight distance; constructing a left turn lane to facilitate southbound movements from Newark Road onto eastbound Hillendale Road; installing guide rail and single-face barrier; reconstructing two culverts; road widening; and extending a sewer line along Newark Road through the project limits.

When completed, southbound drivers on Newark Road will be able to make a left-hand turn onto Hillendale Road, which is not currently accessible.

“This infrastructure improvement project that includes modern safety enhancements to alleviate congestion and move traffic safely is vital to improving the quality of life of Chester County residents,” Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said.

Allan A. Myers, LP, of Worcester, Montgomery County, is the general contractor on the $2.3 million project, which is financed with 100 percent federal funds.

New Garden Township Board of Supervisor chairman Steve Allaband works for a local service company that is located on Newark Road in Toughkenamon, and it’s not uncommon for him to drive by the intersection as many as five times a day. He said that the company he works for joins several other businesses along Newark Road who are sure to be impacted by the year-and-a-half-long construction.

“It’s going to make a huge impact,” Allaband said. “This project has been on PennDOT’s Transportation Improvement Plan for several years. About ten years ago, PennDOT began doing surveys of the intersection, and that’s when they realized that there was not enough sight distance there, and when you arrive at that, you are required to take action.

“We all want to see the improvements at Hillendale and Newark roads, but it’s overwhelming to think of all the construction that will be going on in the meantime.”

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