Town and Country Newspaper

News Article

Traffic a Growing Concern in Lower Salford

Written by Jennifer Butler Kirkwood, Correspondent
2013-04-11

Last Wednesday, Lower Salford officials conducted a brief hearing amending the township’s subdivision and land development ordinance pertaining to traffic impact studies.

The amendment will require a traffic impact study before any development begins on a project involving 25 or more new residential lots, Township Solicitor James Garrity said. A traffic impact study would also be necessary whenever a non-residential project is anticipated to increase daily trips by 200 per day or 20 during peak hours.

During the public question portion of the hearing, one resident asked who would be responsible for paying for the studies. Garrity clarified the costs associated with any studies would fall to the developer.

After closing the hearing, supervisors unanimously passed the ordinance amedment.

In related business, an area commuter asked supervisors for an update on repairs to the bridge over the East Branch of the Perkiomen Creek along Salfordville Road. Township Manager Joseph Czajkowski reported that the project is currently running ahead of schedule and could be completed sooner than the current June projection, possibly as early as the end of April.

This relief will come just as work is scheduled to begin in preparation for the Pa. Turnpike Northeast Extension total reconstruction and widening project with the replacement of the Fretz Road bridge this month and the Ridge Road bridge later this year.

According to the Pennsylvania Turnpike website, the project will widen the existing turnpike from four lanes to six while also constructing new stormwater facilities and providing wetlands and stream mitigation.

Both bridges will be closed entirely with traffic detoured during construction. Three more overhead bridges will be replaced in 2014 and 2015 along Pike Road, Morwood Road and Clump Road. Fortunately, one lane should remain open through construction of those three remaining projects.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will host an informative public open house at 6 p.m. on April 11 at Souderton Area High School. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the project team members and review engineering plans, sound barrier plans, road closure schedules and proposed detours.

Return to Previous Page