Good-bye Rt. 15 crossings – nine are affected

Carolyn Hoffman

By sometime in 2022, if all goes according to PennDOT’s plans, drivers will have just one place to cross from one side of Rt. 15 to the other between the Mountain Road traffic light and County Line Road, a distance of 6.7 miles. Nine intersections are affected.

PennDOT’s plan was reported at the January 8 Franklin Township meeting. PennDOT plans to open bids for the project this March and will likely issue a notice to proceed the following month, with work to be finished in 2022. The plans show construction of “jug handles” or “Michigan lefts” at County Line Road. Most of the intersections between the Mountain Road light and County Line Road will be reconfigured similarly to the one now at the intersection of Range End Road and Rt. 15. This means drivers will be able to turn right onto and off Rt. 15 but won’t be able to cross the highway or make a left turn onto Rt. 15.

The project impacts the intersections at Glenwood, Franklin Church-Range End, Century Lane-Cabin Hollow, Hickory, Scotch Pine, and North and South. Ridge roads, Adams County. Specifically, the medians will be closed to cross traffic on Scotch Pine and Hickory Roads. These roads will become “right-in, right-out” only intersections. On Clear Springs Road, traffic will be prohibited from crossing or making a left turn “during morning and afternoon peak hours.” At Glenwood Road, left turns will allowed off Rt. 15, and traffic will be able to make right turns onto Rt 15 from Glenwood, but traveling across Rt. 15 from Glenwood will not be allowed. The crossing of Rt. 15 at Century Lane and Cabin Hollow Road will remain the same as now, which will make it the only place drivers can routinely cross from one side of Rt. 15 to the other along the impacted stretch of highway.

At the Franklin Church and Range End roads, crossing, left turns will only be allowed from Rt. 15 onto both side roads. An acceleration lane will be built for Rt. 15 North from Franklin Church Road to Cabin Hollow Road. Traffic will only be allowed to make right turns in or out of the side roads, and drivers will not be allowed to cross from Range End Road to Franklin Church Road. The total project is estimated to cost $2.3 million.

Another change for Rt. 15 that will impact traffic in the Dillsburg area is a planned new coat of asphalt between Golf Course Road to the Cumberland County line. For that project, bids will be opened in May, and work “could” start this summer with an estimated completion in 2021 and a projected cost of $7.3 million.

For more information see the January 16, 2020 edition.