Residents present petitions for Bunola River Road repairs

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

The state Secretary of Transportation is being asked for emergency funding to repair the Bunola River Road landslide near Lock 3 after residents petitioned local lawmakers.

The road between Regina Drive and Riverview Road, which had been limited to one lane controlled by a traffic light for the past year, was closed entirely Jan. 23 as a safety precaution after a number of motorists ran the light, causing it to malfunction and creating a hazardous situation. 

Forward Township police Chief Travis Stoffer said the department received nearly 100 calls in the past six months because of the light being tripped. 

The closure has resulted in a detour that takes motorists an additional 15 to 20 minutes to travel, according to state Rep. Mike Puskaric, R-Finleyville.

The petitions, signed by 300 to 400 people, were presented Tuesday morning to Puskaric and state Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport.

“It was a pretty well-responded-to petition,” Puskaric said. “Currently my office, along with Sen. Brewster, are working with PennDOT to resolve the situation.”

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