Ten years ago, a loop road project in Middletown seemed to be the answer to solve heavy congestion where Baltimore Pike meets Route 452.
Now, rising costs have made the project less attractive, writes Justin Udo for KYW Newsradio.
The poor traffic flow at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and South Pennell Road has been a driver’s grievance for years.
“It causes backups, backing up into many parts of the township, which impacts fire services, people getting home from work, access to Riddle Hospital,” said Middletown Township Council chair Chris Stump.
In 2014, the Lima Loop was proposed to give drivers an alternative route. Middletown Township Council unanimously canceled the project last month.
Stump said the project would have torn up resident yards and torn down public woods.
Plus, cost estimates had ballooned, from a start of $2 million to now above $6 million for a project that would have only reduced traffic by 10 percent, Stump said.
“There’s consideration of a PennDOT project that is slated for 2034 that is going to do construction on the same intersection,” Stump said, which could potentially solve the congestion problem.
Read more about the Lima Loop road project and why it was cancelled at KYW Newsradio.
