Meridian Road open to 1 lane of traffic
The concrete barriers that blocked traffic from using Meridian Road in the Renfrew area of Penn Township have been removed, and motorists were reportedly using the road Tuesday, Jan. 31.
A Tuesday evening news release from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said core borings, a slope-stability analysis and surveys had been completed to determine a solution to repair a slide that happened in May.
“At this time, the slide has temporarily stabilized, allowing for the installation of guardrail around the slide area and the opening of one lane of traffic,” the news release said. “Traffic will be controlled using stop signs at both ends of the hazard. Advanced warning signs will alert motorists to the upcoming stop conditions.”
This solution allows for the maximum width available to accommodate winter maintenance as needed, and provides a barrier between vehicles and the slide area for safety purposes, according to the news release.
The section of road was closed in late November after months of one-lane traffic due to the collapse of a portion of the road above the railroad tracks.
Since then, residents have lamented the long PennDOT detour and complained that the site was not being repaired quickly enough.
State Department of Transportation crews installed guardrails around the collapse while the road was closed, then recently removed the concrete barriers on either side of the collapse and replaced them with movable barriers.
“Road closed” signs have been replaced with “One-lane road ahead” signs at the site.
Matthew Burkett, PennDOT District 10 manager of maintenance, said on Tuesday afternoon that motorists must have laid aside the movable barriers and started using the single-lane road, which PennDOT had not yet officially reopened at that time.
“We’re trying to get it open as soon as possible,” he said.
Burkett said the concrete barriers will not be replaced.
Stop signs with blinking lights have been returned to the uphill and downhill sides of the one-lane section.
Eagle staff writer Eddie Trizzino contributed to this report.
