White Oak may have PennDOT check intersection
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
White Oak council plans to take PennDOT up on an offer to evaluate the safety of the busy intersection at Long Run (state Route 48) and Ripple roads.
That portion of Route 48 connects Route 30 and the shopping district of White Oak to state Route 148 (Walnut Street) and McKeesport’s Christy Park neighborhood. Ripple Road, which is a state-owned road, connects White Oak to Versailles.
During Monday’s workshop meeting, White Oak Manager John Palyo said PennDOT District 11 recently contacted the borough after receiving complaints from area motorists who feel the intersection is dangerous.
Palyo said PennDOT is asking borough officials to weigh in on whether they think a traffic signal should be installed there.
“They’ll come down to the intersection and they’ll review current conditions,” Palyo said. “I think they’ll go back five years and look up reportable accidents. I think we’ll have to ask our police department to provide non-reportable accidents that we have in the system.”
Palyo cautioned the council that findings and any safety upgrade suggestions that come as a result of the assessment will likely come with a cost to the borough.
“I don’t know what obligation would be upon us by doing a safety assessment, but whatever would be discovered would probably have to be addressed,” he said, later adding, “If a signal is to go in, the borough is paying for it.”
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