Major Traffic Changes Recommended For 7-Mile Roadway In Lower Merion

Reconfiguring lanes, upgrading crosswalks and prohibiting left turns at certain intersections are among the preliminary recommendations in an extensive traffic study to improve a 7-mile stretch of Montgomery Avenue.

Lower Merion and Narberth have partnered on a comprehensive study to improve safety, accessibility and mobility on Montgomery Avenue, which runs through both towns.

Recently, officials released an interactive map with block-by-block preliminary recommendations.

Preliminary Recommendations

Better street lighting, higher-visibility crosswalks and clearer speed limit signs are recommended throughout the roadway.

Suggestions on portions of Montgomery Avenue include:

• Lane reconfiguration, which include converting some areas with four lanes (two in each direction) into a three-lane roadway (one lane in each direction and a center, two-way left turn lane).
• Installing traffic lights at several three-leg (T-shaped) intersections.
• Extending curbs
• Upgrading pedestrian crossings for higher visibility
• Only allowing right turns from certain cross streets

About The Project

The "Montgomery Avenue Corridor Safety Study" gave Lower Merion and Narberth an opportunity to comprehensively examine ways to make the roadway safer.

The federally funded study examines Montgomery Avenue from Spring Mill Road to City Avenue.

At a public meeting in February, township engineers presented analysis on traffic and crashes on the roadway.

The preliminary recommendations represent a new stage of the study. These findings will be discussed at a public meeting scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Lower Merion Township Building Board Room (75 E Lancaster Ave., Ardmore).

Final recommendations are expected to be determined late this year or early next year.

The project is merely a study — it doesn't determine which changes will be implemented.

For more information, visit the Montgomery Avenue Study webpage.