Green Arrows Coming to Tricky Worthington Exit
PennDOT replies to a Malvern Patch reader's safety concerns.
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Have you had a close encounter with another vehicle as you exited Uptown Worthington onto Matthews Road?
One Malvern Patch reader says the intersection, which is still under construction, is dangerous. A PennDOT spokesman said the finished intersection will have two protected turn lanes.
Read the full exchange below:
Patch reader Norma wrote:
I would hope that the traffic light coming out of the Wegmans exit from Downtown Worthington could be modified, so that there is a left turn arrow heading from the parking lot into Matthews Road (towards Wawa and Ruby Tuesday's). Traffic comes off of 202 pretty rapidly and many people don't stop (or even know to slow down) to see if anyone is trying to left turn from Wegmans. It's a hazardous situation.
PennDOT's Gene Blaum replied:
There will eventually be a signal phase that will provide for two left turn lanes coming out of Worthington onto Matthews Road while the traffic coming off the NB US 202 off-ramp is stopped. Currently there is just a green light for both directions.
After the Department completes all of the US 202 widening for the on and off ramps at Matthews, the Worthington project can complete its traffic signal work which will include a left turn signal head. In the meantime, if drivers don't want to exit the Worthington development at Matthews Road, they have the option to go the opposite direction and through the roundabout to come out at the signalized intersection at Route 29.
Earnest
8:49 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I'm glad to hear that this very dangerous situation intersection be corrected. However, it makes no sense that they didn't put up an arrow light in the first place. They at least could have put caution lights to warn those coming off 202. The lack of safety design at that intersection is completely irresponsible. An accident at that intersection has a high probability and would easily involve several vehicles.
Tim
9:35 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I was a witness to a head on collision at that intersection. Very dangerous.
Mad Dog
9:06 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Hey Gene,
How about the death trap at 352 and King Road. One fatality already! Let's hope we don't have another.
OGC
9:19 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I would like to echo the situation at king road and 352! For years we have been told that there would be a new traffic signal coming and we have yet to see anything. That intersection is an accident waiting to happen! In the meantime, many cars cut through theCarol lane and Summit road neighborhoods. What they forget is that they are driving through roads that are littered with children! Just another tragedy waiting to happen!
amalvernite
3:16 pm on Monday, September 24, 2012
I live on Carol Lane and although we don't have children, I am sick of the amount of extra traffic on my road simply due to people wanting to avoid that intersection. E.W. needs to do something about it.
Uptick
10:03 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I echo the King Road and 352 comments. One of the worst in Chester county. That intersection needs to be widened and re-signaled. Just another example of poor road construction and planning in PA. !!!!
marion1
11:28 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Congrats to Patch for getting a response from PennDOT! you really are our Hometown Paper--so now we can try for a Rt 352/King reply too. Ditton on Worthington, we stay with the roundabout exit now, too many close calls at Matthews road including watching someone turn left toward the 202 onramp and go up the OFF ramp!
Pete Kennedy
1:12 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Thanks, marion1. In fairness, PennDOT has always been pretty responsive to my requests, unlike some other gov't agencies.
Also, I remember that when I first went through that intersection, I wasn't entirely clear on the proper flow of traffic.
OGC
12:02 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Please....PLEASE....PennDot! Spend all of our hard earned money on the Route 352/King Road Signal! It is desperately needed!
Jo
6:04 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Over a year ago I had asked A. Dinneman to look into the King Rd. /352 nightmare.
Since the State, as well as two townships are involved, it needs cooperation from all parties. Even a delayed green, North & South, would be a big help. Does not have to be a major reconstruction/destruction project. There is already a delayed green going East and West. That would be a big help and not major expense, if we equate expense with life. East Whiteland had tried in the past to get things started.
jo
David
6:05 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Please, ask why there is no "yeild on green signal" with the green arrow on rte 29 when turning left on Mathews. At 6:00am, you will sit trying to turn left watching all four straight lanes on green with no cars coming but your light is red.
Thanks
David
Tim Caban
7:00 pm on Monday, September 24, 2012
I agree with the suggestion for a delayed green at 352 & King. Actually it is not a delayed green but an alternating green because the east bound traffic never has a green light at the same time as the westbound traffic on King Rd. All they need to do on 352 is the same thing. North goes at one time and South goes at a separate time. Everyone would get through there faster and safer. And while their at it, add no turn on red signs at all four corners.
It's not poor road design, it's incompatible history with today's traffic. 25 years ago, king road was a stop sign, not because of poor design but because there was no traffic. Way before that it was a trail. If you want to widen the road, you'll have to knockdown a bunch of houses on each side and for what, so you can go through there at 80 miles an hour like the guy who died?
One last point is that the one fatality that was mentioned happened in the middle of the night when no one was in the intersection thank goodness. I guess it was the fault of the houses for being built there 200 plus years ago and the horses going around them and not the guy going 80 miles an hour through the intersection.