Follow the Arrow: New Traffic Pattern a Go at Route 19 Intersection
As a result of an increase in traffic accidents, motorists will have to wait for a green arrow before turning left at the intersection with North Boundary and Glen Eden roads.
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Starting Wednesday, motorists on Route 19 in Cranberry will no longer be able to make left turns onto Glen Eden or North Boundary roads without a green arrow to guide them.
Prior to Aug. 8, northbound traffic on Route 19 was permitted to make a left turn at the traffic signal onto Glen Eden Road if there was a green light. The same went for southbound traffic on the highway turning left at the same traffic signal onto North Boundary Road. In both scenarios, drivers with a green light would yield to oncoming traffic.
No longer.
In response to an increase in accidents at the intersection over the last year and a half, drivers will now be prohibited—as indicated by a red light—from turning left unless a green left arrow is showing.
“Unfortunately, people were not yielding to traffic,” said township manager Jerry Andree.
Andree said the township had received complaints from residents who said the intersection was dangerous. A traffic analysis done by the township also showed drivers pulling in front of oncoming traffic when making a left turn, despite “plenty of site distance,” he said.
The signal change, which was made in cooperation with PennDOT, has been under review for the last four months, he said.
Andre did not expect the signal change to slow traffic on the busy highway.
Justin
8:25 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
While they are in the spirit of checking lights, they should put some focus on the lights around the Cranberry Mall after 10PM. They are absolutely awful. You sit on 19 with no traffic going in any direction for what seems like forever. I don’t really understand why they have the lights set on a pre determined pattern after a certain time. Why not always have the sensors running? Makes no sense... This isn’t the South Hills, if we have the technology and an “advanced traffic light technology”, why do we not use it all the time!?
Karin
9:26 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I'm sure this will fix some of the issues at this intersection to make it safer. Your article didn't mention any changes to the traffic flow of cars turning left from Glen Eden onto northbound 19. This is also a dangerous turn at the same intersection because there is limited sight distance and one can't see all of the cars on the hill approaching 19 from North Boundary to know whether they are going to turn onto 19 or cross it.
AC
9:43 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I'm happy about it. I live off Ehrman Road and always get nervous driving through that intersection!
Summer Craze Fowler
12:13 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I echo Karin-the real problem is turning from Glen Eden onto Rt 19 North. I sincerely hope that it doesn't take four months and another costly study to just put arrows in all directions at that intersection!
Walt
1:01 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
It's too bad that people are such bad drivers that they can't make a left turn without a signal. How will it not delay traffic when the light will stay red longer to allow the turns?
Renee
3:58 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I honestly think that there are people that don't know that they are supposed to yield to traffic on a green left turn. I say this because my husband and myself have discussed how many times we have each had people just turning with no regard to oncoming traffic.
Summer Craze Fowler
7:04 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Walt, that particular intersection isn't solely an issue of bad drivers. There is a steep grade to North Boundary approaching Rt 19. If you are on Glen Eden and turning onto Rt 19 north, it is very difficult to see cars approaching from North Boundary. Likewise, of you are coming from North Boundary and going straight into Glen Eden, you cannot see those cars turning onto 19 until you are into the intersection. I'm not one to defend careless driving, but the addition of a green arrow in that direction would help!