Work crew installs temporary all-way stop at problematic intersection in Allegheny Township

Update: The temporary stop signs that were expected to be erected next week were put up Friday evening, according to Allegheny Township Police Chief Duane Fisher.

PennDOT is addressing traffic concerns raised by the Allegheny Township supervisors about a rural road heavily used as a detour.

The intersection at Bonfire Shortcut and White Cloud roads has seen an increase in traffic because of the multimillion-dollar, multiyear Penn DOT project on Route 356.

In a May 1 letter to Township Manager Greg Primm, PennDOT District 12 maintenance executive Robert Dean said Primm’s request for an all-way stop has been approved.

But the sign is temporary.

PennDOT safety officer Melissa Maczko told the Trib on Friday that Ligonier Construction would install the all-way stop sometime next week.

But Allegheny Township Police Chief Duane Fisher on Saturday said the stop signs were erected Friday night.

Up until now, there has been only one stop sign at the location.

“The department has coordinated with the contractor on the project, and the three-way stop at the intersection of White Cloud Road and Bonfire Shortcut Road will be implemented next week. This three-way stop is temporary and will be removed once the project ends,” Maczko said.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

A temporary three-way stop sign is scheduled to be installed by PennDOT next week at the intersection of Bonfire Shortcut and White Cloud roads in Allegheny Township.

PennDOT conducted 24-hour traffic counts on multiple days to make the determination to implement the all-way stop.

“I’m very glad to see this hazardous situation is going to be addressed,” township Supervisor Mike Korns said. “An informal request had been made to PennDOT in March, but was denied. After discussions with PennDOT officials to ensure they fully understood the conditions there, they agreed to the all-way stop signs. I was pleased that going through the proper process worked.”

Supervisor James Morabito said he noticed the traffic congestion at this intersection in the fall.

“I reached out to PennDOT and Ligonier Construction and requested stop signs be put there. PennDOT assured me that would be taken care of before the 2023 closing project would begin,” Morabito said.

“PennDOT is speculating they will reopen Route 356 in September, so the residents only have to deal with this issue for a couple more months.”

Supervisor Ren Steele described the traffic volume along the Bonfire Shortcut as a “nightmare.”

“This stop sign is much needed for safety. Making a left-hand turn at that location is extremely dangerous,” Steele said.

The detour is necessary to accommodate the ongoing $15.9 million PennDOT project on Route 356 that began in 2020 to improve its connection to Route 28 near Freeport.