Your daily commute may soon become easier. The Board of Supervisors recently reviewed projects that will greatly improve the transportation infrastructure of the Township. The two key improvements, discussed at the September 19th public meeting by traffic engineer Phil Wursta of Traffic Planning and Design, will take advantage of state grant  and federal funds to improve the flow of traffic in some of the busiest parts of Middletown.

One project will update the traffic signals on Business Route 1 from I-95 to Oxford Valley Road. The Township will install a Traffic Adaptive System which facilitates a smooth flow of traffic. Currently, traffic lights are programmed to change at timed intervals. This new system will use cameras and an advanced software program to view and analyze traffic patterns, changing traffic signals based on the volume of vehicles traveling along the road. For example, if the cameras detect heavy traffic moving through an intersection, the traffic signals further up the road will change to allow the vehicles to pass. This system will greatly reduce traffic congestion and allow the signals to adapt in the event of unusually high traffic volume. To aid funding this project, the Township has secured a grant through the state's Green Light Go program which uses money from red light cameras to fund transportation projects.

The Township will also use funds from the Transportation Improvement Program to upgrade the Langhorne-Yardley Road intersections with Woodbourne Road and Bridgetown Pike. Currently, traffic at the intersection with Woodbourne Road frequently backs up if even one vehicle is waiting to make a left turn. The narrow intersection makes it difficult for traffic to pass through, often causing significant delays to commuters. It also poses a safety risk as motorists try to slip around a turning vehicle to get through the angled intersection. The proposed project will see a widening of the intersection and left turn lanes added in all directions. The added turn lanes and realignment of the intersection will allow vehicles to easily pass straight through the intersection even as others wait to make left turns.

The Bridgetown Pike intersection currently features a very sharp turn on a steep hill. This causes frequent delays as vehicles try to turn left onto Bridgetown Pike. The angle and gradient of the turn onto Langhorne-Yardley Road causes significant visibility issues. This intersection will be moved and reconfigured so that the two roads no longer meet on such an angle. Two different configurations are under consideration.