Opinion: When Accidents Create Commuter Nightmares

The following letter was submitted to Springfield Patch for publication by Patricia Naughton of Drexel Hill.

This letter is to all of my fellow commuters in Delaware County who spend hours a day on State Road trying to get out of Delaware County to the Blue Route. I know you all leave for work early in order to hurry up and wait. The problem grows worse daily, were you wondering why this is happening?

For several years many local residents were involved in gathering traffic information related to the Blue Route at Marple Crossroads Shopping Center. The numbers were already large and we anticipated ramifications when the shopping center was allowed to expand. There is not one shopping center of this size or smaller that has only one entrance. This is also a funnel to the Blue Route. We noted that increased traffic was going to be a big problem, accidents were going to be common. It is just not safe.

We were told that nothing could be done and nothing would be done by PennDOT, Marple Township and Springfield Township. Apparently because the area was already a problem, increasing the traffic and volume is just more of the same. Local residents deserve better, we deserve continual traffic studies of the area and we deserve a safe commute to work. Anyone who has had an accident in the area should notify both townships and PennDOT, they were all aware of the issue.

Tuesday October 22 was an example of how quickly an accident can create a commuter nightmare. Between 8 and 9 AM the entrance to the Blue Route was closed. The accident occurred at the shopping center entrance and the merge to the Blue Route. Traffic was blocked all along State Road past Township Line Road. There were no police to direct traffic or notify commuters, no announcements to the local radio stations. Once in that area there is no way out. There were thousands of lost hours and thousands of commuters who lost money.

When problems occur all townships involved need to be notified and coordinate traffic. Commuters in Drexel Hill and Upper Darby could have chosen to go through Havertown to exit 9. Springfield Police could have directed traffic from Rolling Road to the Media Bypass. Instead we sat. Springfield police were notified after an hour and at that time one lane was opened to allow the movement of traffic, however the merging traffic around the accident was a serious concern. What kinds of remedies and options do we have?

Residents spent several years reviewing the plans for the Marple Crossroads expansion, voicing concerns over traffic and safety. If you are a commuter forced to use this area on a daily basis please contact the local townships,  Marple Township, Springfield Township and Upper Darby Township as well as PennDOT. If you have had an accident in the area please understand it was not an accident, PennDOT and the local townships were aware of the problem, they just did not care. Business and corruption trumped the safety and quality of life of residents of the area.