RETURN TO GVA ACTIVITIES

 

The following letter was sent to residents of the Great Valley  to present the results of a protracted review, with resident participation, of the Church Road traffic congestion with proposed approaches.

 

June 14, 2000

                           Urgent

Re: Church Road Realignment

 Dear Affected Neighbor,

 As outlined in the newsletter recently sent to you by the Great Valley Association, there are a number of options being considered, and acted upon, to alleviate the traffic/safety problems on Church Road and Shadow Oak Drive. At the various meetings held on this subject the Association has maintained that to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number resolution of the traffic problem on Church Road and environs would require the incorporation of more than one of these options. Two of the most promising options are restricted access to Carrie Lane and Shadow Oak Drive and the possible realignment of Church Road.

 A recent traffic survey, conducted by Tredyffrin Township during the morning commuter rush, revealed that approximately 500 cars an hour are accessing Swedesford Road from Church Road. This study also revealed that 500 +/- additional cars per hour avoid Church Road to access Swedesford Road from Shadow Oak Drive.

 On Monday June 5, in response to a petition of the residents, the Township Supervisors made the decision to make Shadow Oak Drive and Carrie Lane, where they meet Church Road, one way exit-only streets, thus preventing commuter traffic from cutting through the Shadow Oak subdivision. This change is scheduled to become effective on July 6th. After July 6th, those one thousand (1,000) cars may all be using Church Road to access Swedesford Road. This obviously will create a traffic situation, which could be untenable if left unchecked, especially for those who live on Church Road, Dickson and Pheasant Hill Lanes. This leaves the realignment of Church Road to be acted upon and that is the reason for this letter to you.

 To accomplish the realignment, it has been proposed that Chesterfield Parkway be extended to intersect with Swedesford Road at the existing traffic signal at Swedesford and Cedar Hollow Roads. The southernmost section of Church Road is to be realigned, at a point somewhere between the home located at 1050 Church Road (second on the left, going north) and the pond just north of that address, to connect with the Chesterfield Parkway extension (See the diagram attached). The original section of Church Road at Swedesford Road will be blocked permanently to prohibit any through traffic. The traffic signal and improved visibility from the realigned road will have a significant and positive impact on safety and will efficiently move traffic onto and across Swedesford Road. Listed below are some of the pros and cons of this proposal for your consideration.