Oct 5, 2013 2 min read

The proposed Route 519 roundabout is not so stupid as some may think.

The intersection in question is one of many that are no doubt the legacy of the horse-and-buggy days of early North Strabane Township. Route 519 is intersected with two roads on a curve which create the problem. Furthermore, the traffic load twice daily of drivers getting to Interstate 70 or returning to Route 19 at the Hill Church cloverleaf via Brownlee Road and/or the Eighty Four intersection with I-70, plus the school zone for Wylandville Elementary School, certainly overload the situation beyond modern demands. A traffic light controlling the intersection would only serve to worsen the problem and fail to alleviate the congestion.

Certainly, the solution proposed by PennDOT is designed to reduce accidents, but it also proposes to resolve the traffic flow problem. Admittedly, the proposed construction costs appear pricey, but traffic lights can be a hindrance to smooth traffic flow. In this situation, a traffic light would solve very little while adding to the traffic backup as drivers wait in long lines for their turn at the light. A roundabout allows for constant traffic flow as drivers peel off from it onto their chosen exit points without needing a traffic light.

Permanent solutions to difficult problems are often expensive, but they usually prove to be the best investment for current traffic demands and for the future. I truly look forward to an effective solution to this very old traffic headache in our township.

Ronald Yamka

North Strabane