A busy Hellertown intersection that has some visibility issues due to buildings bordering it could be the subject of a request to PennDOT to install a “No Turn on Red” sign and green turning arrows, after borough council voted unanimously Monday night to have staff begin preliminary work on a traffic study request.
The intersection of Main Street (Rt. 412) and Water Street in Hellertown, looking west down Water Street.
Thousands of vehicles per day pass through the intersection of Main and Water streets–which is next to Borough Hall–but truck traffic has increased in recent weeks due to construction work taking place two blocks away at Water Street Park.
The increased truck traffic sparked concern from readers who recently posted on Saucon Source’s Facebook page about southbound trucks turning right (west) from Rt. 412 onto Water Street and veering into the eastbound left lane–and oncoming traffic.
Publisher Josh Popichak shared those comments with borough officials–a fact council president Tom Rieger acknowledged at Monday night’s meeting.
Hellertown police chief Robert Shupp said that as a result of the feedback, he took a look at the turning movements of vehicles heading in that direction and concluded that “you effectively cannot make that turn without going into their lane.”
“UPS trucks can’t make the turn (without veering into the opposite lane),” Shupp said.
He also recommended that council consider requesting a left turn arrow light, since there are already designated left turn only lanes on all four sides of the intersection.
Councilman John Bate said he thinks a “No Turn on Red” sign should be installed at Water Street for southbound vehicles on Rt. 412.
Borough engineer Bryan Smith, of Barry Isett and Associates, said that for PennDOT to implement that restriction certain conditions have to be met, such as poor visibility to the left of the vehicle that is making the right turn.
In the case of the intersection at Main and Water Streets, visibility is relatively unrestricted to the left, where a strip of grass separates Borough Hall from the curb.
However a “lack of space” for a right turn is another reason to approve a restriction, and Smith said that condition appears to be present at the intersection in question.
Getting approval for the installation of turn arrows is “much more involved” and would require the entire traffic light system at Main and Water to be upgraded, he noted.
Since both Main and Water streets are state roads, a traffic study is required before any changes can be implemented, Smith confirmed.
With council’s vote Monday, Smith and borough manager Cathy Hartranft will begin the preliminary work on a request to PennDOT for the study.
