PennDOT unveils Route 136 plan
Ginger Hill resident James Scherer points out his concerns about intersection improvements planned for Route 136 through his neighborhood to Robert G. Prophet, a consultant working on the project. Also shown is local resident Dave Yohe.
The state Department of Transportation mapped out its plans for realigning three close intersection along this dangerous Route 136 S-curve in Nottingham and Fallowfield townships Thursday.
FINLEYVILLE – The state Department of Transportation on Thursday announced nearly $3 million in intersection improvements to a dangerous stretch of Route 136 through Ginger Hill, displaying a map that met with disappointment from local residents.
Several Ginger neighbors in the area expressed opinions that they would prefer PennDOT to straighten out the sharp S-curve along Route 136 than proceed with the plan to realign three intersecting roads that converge within close proximity of each other.
“It just isn’t going to work to make people slow down,” resident James Scherer said. “Take out the curves.”
PennDOT intends to begin construction on the project where Cracker Jack Road, Route 917 and Ginger Hill Road meet Route 136 in Carroll, Fallowfield and Nottingham townships. The bends have been the sites of many bad accidents over the years because of motorists who fail to slow down, residents complained at the meeting in the Nottingham Township Building on Sugar Run Road.
“Can’t you put in a flashing light?” said resident Andrew Kiev. “That would make people slow down.”
“That would be cheaper,” added his neighbor, Dave Yohe.
Robert G. Prophet, a consultant PennDOT hired for the project’s design, said the residents’ concerns would be taken into consideration as the work moves into final design.
He said the current map doesn’t call for the “blind spot” to be removed, either, where Route 136 meets Ginger Hill Road.
In order to removed the curves, that section of Route 136 would need to be lowered nearly 7 feet, said Prophet, a principal with Traffic Planning and Design Inc. in Pottstown.
“If you flatten the curve, it will further speeding. It’s going to get worse,” he said.
“It would be the ideal situation, but in doing so, there would be significant impacts on these homes.”
The only other solution, he said, would be to “blow up the hills and start over.”