For Oct. 12 column, Road Watch…

As daylight hours shrink this time of year, motorists are reminded by PennDOT to be on the lookout for white-tailed deer darting onto roads across the state.
“We typically see an increase in the number of deer-related crashes at this time of year,” says PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler.
“Deer are very unpredictable, but motorists can reduce their risk of being involved in a crash with a deer by driving defensively and staying alert, especially when driving between dusk and dawn,” he said.
Deer are most active during the fall, particularly between sunset and sunrise. According to PennDOT statistics, 46 percent of all reportable crashes involving a deer in the past five years have occurred in the months of October and November, with 90 percent happening in clear weather.
Last year, there were 2,482 crashes statewide involving deer, resulting in 596 injuries and eight fatalities. Between 2003 and 2007, there were 12,442 crashes involving deer, resulting in 44 fatalities and 3,038 injuries.
During the fall, deer move around more, travel longer distances and are less wary of their surroundings, increasing the potential for collisions with vehicles.
The possibility of a deer-related crash further increases in October as thousands of hunters take to the woods for the opening of the archery and small-game seasons.
The following list includes the number of fatalities, injuries and crashes per year, respectively: 2003 – 14 fatalities, 672 injuries, 2,526 crashes; 2004 – 2, 585, 2,396; 2005 – 9, 575, 2,341; 2006 – 11, 610, 2,697; and 2007 – 8, 596, 2482.
GOOD GAS NEWS
There was good news for once for motorists Friday as the five-county Philadelphia gas average fell overnight to $3.29, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.
The Pennsylvania gas average fell 4 cents to $3.30. The South Jersey gas average fell 4 cents to $3.01.
The national gas average went down 5 cents to $3.35 on Friday.
A week ago, the average for the five-county region was $3.49; a month ago it was $3.57.
GLENOLDEN
At 9 a.m. Monday, Amtrak has scheduled railroad bridge-painting work at Chester Pike (Route 13) and South Avenue. Work will be done 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays until completed.
Glenolden Police Chief Michael Donohue said the work will take at least a week, maybe two.
There will be detours on East/West South Avenue before Chester Pike and lane changes/reductions on Chester Pike.
Motorists should expect traffic delays in the area.
I-76 & UNIVERSITY AVENUE
Friday began the first of three weekends this year – and nine weekends next year – that the Schuylkill Expressway will be reduced to one lane at the University Avenue/Grays Ferry Avenue Interchange (Exit 346B) in Philadelphia.
The restriction began 10 p.m. Friday and will end 5 a.m. Oct. 13 for the placement of a new concrete surface on the adjoining nine-span and 16-span bridges carrying the expressway over the Schuylkill River, CSX railroad tracks, Grays Ferry Avenue and 34th Street.
The single-lane westbound pattern also will occur the weekends of Oct. 31-Nov. 3 and Nov. 7-10.
TRAFFIC DELAYS
I-95 North/South – Lower Chichester, Upper Chichester, Chester, Upland, Ridley Township, Ridley Park and Tinicum, vegetation control with lane closure between Chichester Avenue and Route 291, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
I-476 North/South (Blue Route) – Ridley Township, Nether Providence, Springfield and Marple, reflective pavement marker installation with lane closure between I-95 and Route 3 (West Chester Pike), 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
Newtown – St. Davids Road, bridge repairs with lane restrictions under the Route 252 overpass 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
Radnor – U.S. Route 30 East/West, inlet repairs between Conestoga Road and Wayne Avenue 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
Springfield Road – Darby Borough and Collingdale, PECO utility installation between South Ridge Road and Lynbrook Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday through Nov. 3
Media Line Road – Marple and Newtown, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation, closed/detoured between Route 3 and Gradyville Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 15. Work began Oct. 6.
Nether Providence – Rose Valley Road, utility installation, closed/detoured between Golf View and Hawthorne roads, 24-hour detour posted through Oct. 20. Work began Sept. 29.
Springfield – Thomson Avenue closed/detoured, Aqua installation between Baltimore Pike and Route 320 (Sproul Road), 24-hour detour posted through Oct. 22. Work began Sept. 24.
Upper Darby – Lansdowne Avenue, PECO installation between Garrett and Marshall roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Oct. 31. Work began Sept. 22.
Ridley Park – Sellers Avenue, Aqua Pennsylvania water main installation, lane restrictions between Chester Pike and Ward Street 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 25. Work began Aug. 27.
Tinicum – Wanamaker Avenue, utility installation by Aqua Pennsylvania, closed/detoured between Route 291 and Second Street, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 31. Work began July 21.
Haverford – Darby Road closed/detoured between Route 320 and Marple Road, road widening/utility installation, weekdays and Saturdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m. through Nov. 24. Work began May 27.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.