State Route 453 Safety Concerns
By: Kevin Flanigan
Updated: May 7, 2010
TYRONE TOWNSHIP, BLAIR COUNTY - The number of trucks traveling on a portion of State Route 453 is a big safety concern. Traffic has been increasing on the road that runs from Northern Blair into Clearfield County.
The safety concerns came into focus last last month when a tanker driver lost control of his rig just north of Tyrone and died in the the resulting one vehicle crash. Some people who live near the busy highway say they are seeing a lot more truck traffic and they would like to see some safety changes implemented.
Many of these trucks are traveling in convoys over Janesville Mountain at relatively high speeds. Some people who live along the road say they have noticed a dramatic change in the number of trucks in recent t months. They attribute the increase in traffic to the Marcellus shale drilling that has been expanding in the region.
The increased truck traffic has some people worried because it appears many of the big rigs are traveling well over the posted speed limit. And because the three and an half mile long section of highway coming down the Janesville mountain toward Tyrone has a steep, 12% grade, residents say there is a real potential for mechanical or other safety problems to develop.
That's why they are hoping Penn-DOT will make some changes that would force drivers to proceed in a safer manner.
One suggestion is that the state could require trucks to pull over at the top of the mountain and then engage a low gear for the drive down into Tyrone. Both Penn DOT and the state police were contacted today to get their take on the growing truck traffic and any changes to State Route 453 that may be under consideration. But so far nothing has been reported.
The safety concerns came into focus last last month when a tanker driver lost control of his rig just north of Tyrone and died in the the resulting one vehicle crash. Some people who live near the busy highway say they are seeing a lot more truck traffic and they would like to see some safety changes implemented.
Many of these trucks are traveling in convoys over Janesville Mountain at relatively high speeds. Some people who live along the road say they have noticed a dramatic change in the number of trucks in recent t months. They attribute the increase in traffic to the Marcellus shale drilling that has been expanding in the region.
The increased truck traffic has some people worried because it appears many of the big rigs are traveling well over the posted speed limit. And because the three and an half mile long section of highway coming down the Janesville mountain toward Tyrone has a steep, 12% grade, residents say there is a real potential for mechanical or other safety problems to develop.
That's why they are hoping Penn-DOT will make some changes that would force drivers to proceed in a safer manner.
One suggestion is that the state could require trucks to pull over at the top of the mountain and then engage a low gear for the drive down into Tyrone. Both Penn DOT and the state police were contacted today to get their take on the growing truck traffic and any changes to State Route 453 that may be under consideration. But so far nothing has been reported.
Comments
Without a doubt, this road needs some safety improvements. The vehicles traveling down have very little warning of the steep incline, the winding turns. What I find interesting is that you have zeroed in on the increased truck traffic as the scapegoat for the safety problems. How about the passenger cars and trucks that pass in a no passing zone, the lack of space for bicyclists, and the camera crews illegally and unsafely set up beside the road that force the trucks across the double line?
Jennifer S.
May 8, 2010 at 1:22 am
