ROAD WATCH for March 29….
Springfield Doesn't Need Billboards
Springfield commissioners are leading the fight against a developer’s proposal to erect up to seven double-faced billboards – 14 signs in all – along the so-called Golden Mile, Baltimore Pike.
The commissioners say the 14 signs, each measuring 672 square feet and 62 feet high, would present a major safety hazard to drivers.
Commissioners are working with township Solicitor Jim Byrne to coordinate the response to an application by the Bartkowski Investment Group to the zoning hearing board challenging the township’s zoning ordinance which bans billboards.
Bartkowski has also filed a second request seeking a township variance to construct the billboards.
The first hearing was held Thursday at the township building.
“This proposal to erect massive billboards poses a serious safety hazard to drivers along Baltimore Pike,” said Second Ward Commissioner Gina Sage whose ward encompasses much of the pike.
“Billboards are a distraction to drivers and studies have shown that anything that distracts a driver’s attention for more than two seconds greatly increases the chances of crashes and near crashes,” Sage said.
The seven proposed sites are located near Springhaven Square, the T-Mobile store, Pandolfi Carpet, the former Ferraro Cadillac property, Primo’s, Hobbytown and Klaussner Furnishings.
Bartkowski has made similar challenges to zoning laws in other communities in the county, including Marple and Haverford.
“Don’t Start Bart,” is my slogan when it comes to flooding the Golden Mile with unsightly huge billboards like they have on interstates. There’s enough accidents on the pike what with all the shopping strips. We don’t need any more distractions.

With negotiations looming with the union representing SEPTA’s Victory Division (formerly Red Arrow) workers whose contract expires Wednesday, labor talks are continuing with Transport Workers Union Local 234 which represents some 4,700 employees in the City Transit Division.
On the heels of the TWU’s decision not to strike after its four-year contract expired March 15, the United Transportation Union Local 1594, representing about 340 vehicle operators in Delaware County, has agreed not to strike.
The suburban workers union traditionally resumes negotiations after the city transit unit reaches a settlement.
Key issues have been wages, job security, pension benefits and health care.
SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney late Friday afternoon said, “we are still communicating with the TWU. Lines of communication are open.”
Negotiations haven’t really begun yet with the UTU because of the latter talks, he said.
TWU Local 234 President Willie Brown has said he “will not hold the riding public hostage” by striking in this down economy as many riders depend upon SEPTA to commute to and from their jobs.
Both sides have indicated they want a four-year contract for the City Transit Division.
At a meeting of SEPTA officials with the Daily Times editorial board, General Manager Joseph M. Casey said, “what we’re trying to do is balance our needs and also their demands and their concerns.
“They’re asking for significant increases in the pension, but we have to balance that with wages and we have to balance that with the increase in health-care costs,” he said.
From a Road Watch standpoint, fortunately motorists won’t have to endure the major gridlock to and from the city that accompanies such a transit strike, not to mention the hardship on those who depend on SEPTA daily to go to work.
AQUA ROAD WORK
Starting Monday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays, and through May 8, Thomson Avenue in Springfield will be closed/detoured between Baltimore Pike and Sproul Road (Route 320) for roadway restoration.
Also starting Monday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays, and through May 1, Media Line Road will be closed/detoured between West Chester Pike (Route 3) and Gradyville Road in Marple and Newtown. The detour will follow West Chester Pike, Newtown Street Road and Gradyville Road.
Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
Maintenance Web Site
To help educate motorists about maintenance operations on state roadways, PennDOT has posted information “cards” on its Web site – www.dot.state.pa.us – explaining 12 of its most common procedures.
“PennDOT crews work year round, but motorists may not recognize what work is under way or why that work is essential to the safety and efficiency of our transportation network,” said PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler.
“We developed these Web-based maintenance cards so customers can easily access a description of our maintenance activities, including what equipment is required, how the work is performed, and why it is necessary,” he said.
To view the cards, visit PennDOT’s site and then click on “What Is Maintenance?” The cards explain bridge maintenance and cleaning, joint and crack sealing, line painting, manual patching, mechanized patching, pipe replacement/cleaning, shoulder cutting, shoulder grading, signing, surface treatment, vegetation management and winter operations.
I-76 Bridge Inspection
On Tuesday, the right lane will be closed on I-76 West between Gulph Mills and Route 202 in Upper Merion 9 a.m.-noon for bridge inspection. The eastbound right lane will be closed noon-3 p.m. the same day.
Operation Safe Driver
State police and officers from more than 20 municipal departments statewide conducted 2,419 commercial motor vehicle roadside inspections and placed 118 vehicles and 114 drivers out of service for violations during Operation SAFE (Seat belt And Fatigue Enforcement) Driver on March 24, state police said.
State Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski said 948 citations, including 88 for drivers not wearing seat belts, were issued during the daylong operation.
Although national studies indicate that only 65 percent of commercial vehicle drivers buckle up when they climb behind the wheel, 94 percent of commercial drivers checked during the operation were wearing seat belts, Pawlowski said.
Roosevelt Extension
Monday begins a $5.9 million project to repair/resurface the Roosevelt (Boulevard) Extension between the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) and Ninth Street in Philadelphia. Construction is expected to finish in late September, PennDOT said.
Crews will work Monday-Wednesday nights from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to eradicate traffic lines and paint new traffic lines and install temporary concrete barriers.
Once the concrete barriers are in place, the northbound/southbound left lane will be closed between I-76 and Broad Street.
“This section of the Roosevelt Extension will be reduced to two lanes in each direction for approximately three months,” said PennDOT District Executive Lester C. Toaso.
The barriers will provide a work zone for crews to remove the existing median barriers, mill and pave the asphalt pavement, repair concrete damage, install concrete median barriers, he said.
Under this project, crews will also install shoulder rumble strips and reflective pavement markings.
Traffic Delays
I-476 North/South (Blue Route) – Radnor and Marple, raised pavement markers, left lane closed between Montgomery County line and West Chester Pike (Route 3), 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Monday-Tuesday.
Concord – Dilworthtown Road, pipe cleaning between U.S. Route 202 and Stoney Bank Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Radnor – Eagle Road, pipe repairs at King of Prussia Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Chester – Edgmont Avenue (Route 352), curb ramp construction between 15th Street and I-95, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. April 1-25.
Chester — Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Chester – 14th Street, curb ramp construction between Providence Road and Esrey Street 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. April 1-25.
Ridley Park – Ridley Avenue, Aqua utility installation, closed/detoured between Constitution Avenue and Cresswell/Tasker streets 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and through Aug. 28. Work began March 9.
Marple – Media Line Road, Aqua installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m weekdays through May 29. Work began Jan. 12.
U.S. Route 1 North — Middletown, PECO Energy utility installation between Red Roof Road and Pennell Road (Route 452) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through April 1. Work began Dec. 22.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.