By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
It has been years in the planning, and on June 27 the lights finally went on at the newly installed traffic light at the intersection of Route 206 and Darrah Lane.
Installation work on the traffic signal began several weeks ago. The traffic light cost about $110,000, said state Department of Transportation spokesman Joseph Dee. The township will reimburse the department for 25 percent of the cost.
The DOT conducted an analysis of the intersection and acknowledged that a traffic signal was warranted, said Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun.
”I think it will improve traffic safety and pedestrian safety at that intersection with the control of the new traffic signal. It’s a busy intersection,” he said.
Township officials had been concerned about the intersection for many years. The DOT installed a left-turn lane on Route 206 southbound to make it safer to turn from the state highway onto Darrah Lane several years ago.
The suggestion for a traffic light grew out of a study of Route 206 from Province Line Road to its intersection with Princeton Pike at Harney’s Corner by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
At the time of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Comission study, which was completed in 2006, it was noted there had been five accidents at the intersection between 2002 and 2005.
Darrah Lane provides a direct connection between Route 1 and Route 206. Although Darrah Lane is a residential street, its expansive width attracts high volumes of traffic and entices motorists to speed, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission study said.
The commission study is a long-term plan and vision for the state-controlled highway. The $97,500 study was paid for by the U.S. Deparmtent of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.
