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State shrinks planned upgrade

‘Dangerous’ intersection won’t get drastic remodel

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Planned adjustments to a “dangerous” set of intersections, commonly called the “Bermuda Triangle” may be less drastic than expected, as PennDOT officials move forward with planned improvements.

But Hollidaysburg Borough Council members have weighed in on those plans, making recommendations to eliminate an opening at Front and Mulberry streets by extending a sidewalk.

“If anybody ever drove through that Bermuda Triangle, you know what it’s like down there,” Borough Manager James Gehret said, discussing what he believes is a “safety issue.”

The Bermuda Triangle in Hollidaysburg is made up of numerous intersections on the outskirts of the borough’s downtown.

There, South Juniata Street intersects with both Allegheny Street and Route 22.

And, via a pair of bridges, Route 22 also intersects with Newry Street and another portion of Allegheny Street.

Heading east, Front and Mulberry streets also meet Route 22, in a strange three-way intersection.

All of those crossroads form a confusing and “dangerous” triangular configuration of streets, garnering the Bermuda Triangle name.

A remedy for the triangle has long been in the works, and, in early 2016, PennDOT officials hosted an open house, where drawings of eight alternative improvements were displayed.

The prospective solutions ranged in price from $1.9 million to $10.7 million, with each calling for at least some change to the existing landscape and road layout.

On Monday, PennDOT Project Manager Melissa Irwin said a plan with only minor alterations is moving forward, meaning the Bermuda Triangle will largely remain intact.

“We did not think spending all the money on a new alignment was any more effective in dealing with the problems than what we are proposing,” she said.

Irwin said Monday that it would be cumbersome to discuss all proposed improvements, but a public meeting about the project is tentatively scheduled for July 17.

However, she disclosed a few parts of the plan, including a slight shifting of Newry Street to better align with Allegheny Street.

Other improvements include upgraded pedestrian crossings and signaling, as well as rehabilitation of a bridge that spans a stream passing beneath Allegheny Street near the intersection.

Irwin called the proposal an “enhancement of the existing configuration.”

At a Thursday meeting, borough officials discussed mostly the three-way intersection of Front and Mulberry streets with Route 22.

Originally, plans were made to close Front and Mulberry streets at one end, Gehret said, by extending a sidewalk along Route 22 to eliminate the ability for motorists to turn from the route toward Front or Mulberry streets.

Now, motorists often turn quickly from Route 22 to “slingshot around the corner” toward those streets, Councilman Jeffrey Ketner said.

Ketner also pointed out a sight-distance issue when turning at the intersection.

“We probably skated the issue for a while,” Ketner said, anticipating a traffic accident in that area. “It might just be one in a million, but, hopefully, nobody here will be that one in a million.”

Borough Police Chief Rodney Estep also called the intersection an issue.

However, PennDOT planners have asked borough officials to reconsider their previous request to extend the sidewalk, Gehret said.

“They are proposing just to leave it open,” he said.

Gerhet made that proposal known to council members, asking for their input.

While a few council members said they were indifferent to changes

at the intersection, Councilman Brady Leahey spoke in favor of extending the sidewalk.

“You said it’s unsafe, and it is,” he said.

Councilwoman Joyce Lowe agreed, as did Councilman Sean Burke who said he believed the extension of the sidewalk was a “done deal.”

Ultimately, borough officials said they plan to contact PennDOT to reiterate a desire to extend the sidewalk.

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