Traffic Troubles Over Warminster Bridge Closure In Hatboro

HATBORO, PA —"Oy Vey."

Hatboro Councilwoman Amanda Jacobus stated the Jewish phrase for dismay when she provided an update on the Warminster Road Bridge closure at Monday night's Borough Council Committee Meeting.

One week into a potential 6-month closing to replace the bridge, borough officials are trying to cope with a heavy dose of congestion as motorists try to navigate their way through detours and get around town.

"We are experiencing much higher traffic volumes and a lot of traffic on our side streets," said Jacobus, in delivering the public safety committee report. "We hope traffic will calm down in a bit."

The bridge over Pennypack Creek closed on April 3 with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation saying that work should last until Oct. 31.

Jacobus said that Borough Manager Diane Hegele has reached out to PennDOT for better detour signage. Jacobus also asked residents to report any traffic or speeding issues to the police department.

One resident wondered why the bridge was closed for a week without any work being done. But Deputy Police Chief Mark Ruegg said that Montgomery County officials had told the borough that utility work would happen first before any construction begins.

PennDOT will also make pedestrian improvements within the area. During the project, the bridge will be closed to motorists between East Mill Road and Surrey Lane.

Two detours are in place: One for motorists and one for truck traffic.

The detours are:

• Motor vehicles (Byberry Road, Davisville Road, Terwood Road, and Route 263)
• Truck traffic (County Line Road and Route 611)

Borough officials had warned that residents on Mill Road and Fulmor Avenue should expect increased traffic on side streets.

Ruegg said at Monday's meeting that traffic on Fulmor has "subsided."

"As people turn on Byberry, there's going to be congestion, he said.

Ruegg said that since the closure began, police have bolstered patrols to focus on safety, especially around school zones. He said police received a lot of complaints about motorists cutting off other drivers and that police have issued numerous citations.

Hegele stressed that the two bridge projects would remain on upcoming agendas for updates and discussion until they are both completed.

One resident wondered why PennDOT couldn't construct some temporary wooden pedestrian bridges due to the amount of foot traffic in the borough.

Borough officials said they would ask PennDOT about that.