One Lane is now open on Meridian Road where the road was recently closed in Renfrew. Butler Eagle file photo

PENN TWP — Activity is afoot in the Renfrew neighborhood, and it is aimed at benefiting the residents of the former oil-boom town.

The township supervisors at their Tuesday meeting announced a revised emergency plan for Renfrew residents has been created in the event of Thorn Creek flooding, an accident at the bridge on Meridian Road that spans the creek, or other incidents.

The plan was revised after the area of Meridian Road collapsed last year and caused the road to be reduced to one lane, then closed, then reopened as a one-lane road again.

Meridian Road is owned and maintained by the state.

Sam Ward, board of supervisors chairman, said per the revised emergency plan:

* The state Department of Transportation will maintain one lane of traffic with stop signs at both ends of the collapsed area, which is the current situation.

* PennDOT will not start construction on a planned Renfrew bridge replacement project until Meridian Road is fully reopened as a two-lane road.

* PennDOT will make provisions during the reconstruction of Meridian Road at the site of the collapse to allow emergency vehicle access and to allow residents to exit and re-enter Renfrew if a flood or other incident closes the Renfrew bridge.

* PennDOT, emergency management officials and Renfrew residents will monitor creek conditions in the event water begins to rise and will implement emergency precautions such as moving vehicles to higher ground above the railroad track and taking precautions in their homes.

* All Renfrew residents, PennDOT officials and county emergency management personnel will be notified of the written emergency plan.

Ward also announced that instead of repairing the collapse and allowing traffic to travel over that section of Meridian Road, PennDOT will cut into the hill across the road from the collapse and place the northbound lane there.

PennDOT made the decision after compiling data from the site, such as core borings, a slope-stability analysis and surveys of the land around the collapse.

Ward said PennDOT officials assured him no structures in the area will be affected by the placement of the new lane.

“PennDOT again stressed the high priority of this project and indicated that right of ways and the relocation of natural gas, phone, and power utilities will be required,” Ward said. “PennDOT is also continuing to monitor the affected area for additional earth movement.”

More information is available under “documents” and “Meridian Road update” on the Penn Township website, penntownship.org.