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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation
FHWA Highway Safety Programs

2.0 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The following represents the findings and recommendations of the Aquetong/Windy Bush Roads Road Safety Audit.

CORRIDOR-WIDE ISSUES
SAFETY ISSUES REMEDIAL STRATEGIES LEVEL OF EFFORT POTENTIAL SAFETY BENEFIT
Drainage
  • Poor drainage or the lack of a proper drainage system in the corridor has resulted in a number of safety issues. Potentially resulting in sheeting across roadway during inclement weather.
  • Edge of roadway eroded due to wash out.
  • Swells need to be cut back, near S curve east of Sugan Road
  • Pipes are clogged, some are not visible (due to debris)
  • Conduct a comprehensive drainage study for the corridor to identify specific issues and long term solutions. Consideration should be given to additional pipes and new parallel drainage systems
 High High
  • In the short term: clean clogged pipes and remove debris from the drains.
 Low High
  • In addition, where possible excavate and fill in with ballast (rocks).
 Medium High
Edge Lines and Edge Drop-offs
  • Lack of edge of pavement delineation is consistent through the corridor. In addition, edge drop-offs are consistently evident. This is a result of the poor drainage control.
  • Install edge line as appropriate throughout the corridor to guide motorists and prevent run of the road crashes.
PennDOT should consider minimum 9.5 foot lanes as a safety measure		 Low

 

High
Fixed objects
  • Numerous fixed objects were observed in the clear zone. These included trees (large and small); boulders (many used for landscaping by property owners and, stone headwalls (approx. 3 feet above the ground)
  • All fixed objects in the clear zone should be removed. Initial clearing should be at least four feet from edge of travel.
Many trees along the corridor were already marked for removal		 Medium High
Narrow roadway width
  • Roadway width throughout the study area on Aquetong and Windy Bush Roads varied between 9 and 10 feet
  • Any widening of the roadway may require additional right of way. Given the roadway geometry travel lanes should be at least 12 feet wide in the 40 MPH zone with a shoulder width of at least 2 feet.
 High High
Vegetation
  • Trees and shrubs obstruct the view of many signs throughout the corridor and interfere with sight lines
  • Trimming trees and brush
 Low High
Centerline Delineation
  • The corridor is shadowed during the day due to the canopy of trees and extremely dark at night, a result of the lack of street lighting. Coupled with narrow pavement width.
  • Install raised pavement markers (RPM) the length of the corridor to keep the motorist in his travel lane. Installation of centerline rumble strips to assist in the prevention of crossover head-on collisions were examined but the narrowness of the travel lanes negates this treatment.
 Medium High
Speed Limit
  • Given the geometry of the corridor, the set speed limit of 45 MPH may be excessive
 A speed study was conducted by PennDOT; as a result, the speed limit will be lowered along Aquetong Road from River Road to Sawmill Road to 35 MPH Low High
Passing Zones
  • There are too many passing zones in the corridor given the narrow lanes and edge drop offs which are not forgiving if motorist overcompensate while passing.
  • Eliminate passing zones
 Low High
Signs
  • No “Share the Road” signs.
  • Install “Share the Road” signs throughout the corridor so motorists are cognizant of other users.
 Low High
  • Construction signs located along Aquetong Road with no construction being conducted
  • Remove or cover construction signs at times when there is no work being conducted on the roadway.
 Low High
  • No name plates for advance intersection signs
  • Add street name plates to advance intersection signs
 Low High
  • Add advance signs for hidden driveways as appropriate
 Low High
Pavement Markings
  • Several intersection approaches with stop control do not have stop bars
  • Install stop bars to intersection approaches as appropriate
 Low High
Sight Lines
  • Limited sight lines
  • Maximize sightlines around curves by cutting back embankment and removing trees.
 High High

 

LOCATION SPECIFIC ISSUES
SAFETY ISSUES REMEDIAL STRATEGIES LEVEL OF EFFORT POTENTIAL SAFETY BENEFIT
At Covered Bridge Road
  • Covered Bridge Road is skewed at the intersection with Aquetong Road. Additionally, there are no pavement markings at the Covered Bridge Road approach.
  • Use pavement markings to soften skew allowing easier access to Aquetong Road especially for left turning traffic
 Low High
  • Utility pole to the west of the intersection on Aquetong Road obstructs sight lines.
  • Relocate utility pole
 Medium Medium
  • Rail fence west of intersection on Aquetong Road next to parking lot is in Right of Way.
  • Relocate fence outside Right of Way.
    Fence will be removed as part of new development
 Low Low
At Rockwood Path
  • Tree to the west of the intersection blocks sight lines for Rockwood Path approach traffic
  • Remove tree
 Low High
Between Rockwood Path and Wagner Road (private road)
  • “Curve ahead” (W1-2) sign is too far from the actual curve and is faded
  • Upgrade sign (W1-2) and relocate closer to curve
 Low Medium
  • “Slow Curve Ahead” pavement markings are too far from curve and are wearing out
  • Add pavement marking legend closer to curve and repaint existing ones.
 Low High
  • Eastbound “No Passing” (W14-3) sign knocked down
  • Replace sign (W14-3)
 Low High
  • Hidden driveway at the curve
  • Install advance warning sign for driveway.
 Low High
  • Night time driving difficult due to the darkness which could makes negotiating the curve difficult.
  • Install lighting on curve
 Medium Medium
  • Illegal speed limit sign is installed within the ROW eastbound before the curve
  • Remove sign
 Low Low
Between Wagner Road (private road) and Old Windy Bush Road
  • Junction sign is blocked by tree limbs
  • Trim tree limbs
  • Relocate street name sign to the post assembly of “Stop Ahead” (W3-1) sign
 Low High
  • Cut off sign posts are protruding out of the ground
  • Remove posts
 Low Medium
At Old Windy Bush Road
  • “Stop Ahead” sign is blocked by vegetation
  • Trim vegetation
 Low High
At Windy Bush Road
  • Sign clutter, potentially confusing to motorists
  • Remove or consolidate signs as appropriate
 Low Medium
  • Westbound approach to intersection, poor sight distance which is made worse by vegetation
  • Cut away vegetation to improve sight distance
 Low High
  • Northeast, northwest and southwest corners of intersection has unprotected drainage holes that lead to pipe
  • Install protective grates
 Medium High
Windy Bush Road between Old Windy Bush and Aquetong Road
  • “Intersection ahead” sign on northbound side of the road is blocked by vegetation
  • Trim vegetation
 Low High
  • No advance street name sign for the Aquetong Road intersection
  • Install advance “Aquetong Road” sign (W16-8)
 Low Medium
Old Windy Bush Road at Windy Bush Road
  • Drainage hole on the southeast corner
  • Install protective grate
 Medium Medium
  • Utility pole lying on the ground at the southeast corner of the intersection.
  • Remove pole
 Low Low
Between Windy Bush Road and Sugan Road
  • Aquetong Road is an S-curve in this area with post mounted warning signs only
  • Add “Slow Curve Ahead” pavement markings in both direction
 Low High
  • Vegetation on the westbound side of the road conceals the edge of pavement
  • Cut back vegetation
 Low High
  • Edge drop off in this section of roadway is pronounced as a result of poor drainage
  • Currently a PennDOT project to excavate and fill with rocks.
  • This is a temporary fix and in the long term proper drainage should be installed including pipes
 Medium High
  • Reflector poles are in poor condition. Reflector strips have been stripped from the poles and many are down in the drain.
  • Replace with chevrons (W1-8)
 Low High
  • Aquetong Road westbound curves while Sugan Road continues straight ahead, there is no directional signage.
  • Add graphic directional signage with road names
 Low High
At Sugan Road
  • At Sugan Road the intersection is on the
    curve and very wide. Additionally, travel
    lanes are not delineated.
  • Add dashed double centerline and single edgeline through intersection. This will alleviate driver confusion
 Low High
  • Curve needs to be delineated
  • Add large warning arrow (W1-6) on the curve for eastbound Aquetong Road traffic
 Low High
Between Sugan Road and Solebury Mountain Road
  • Oversized drainage pipes installed by property owners at driveways are unprotected hazards in the clear zone. Some pipes include headwalls.
  • Install appropriate drainage pipes according to regulation.
 Medium High
Windy Bush Road between Aquetong Road and Pidcock Creek Road
  • Open pipe culvert on the side of the road result in unprotected curb drop off.
  • Widen road to 12-foot lanes with paved shoulder to eliminate open pipe culvert that parallels the road.
 Medium High
  • Property owners have installed a variety of drainage pipes and sizes at driveways. They are unprotected hazards in the clear zone and some pipes include headwalls.
  • Install appropriate drainage pipes according to regulation.
 Medium High
  • Pipes at property owners driveways are clogged with debris
  • Clear pipes to prevent flooding on the roadway
 Low High
  • Guide rail needs to be updated
  • Replace guide rail with upgraded end treatments.
 Medium High