New traffic signal coming to tricky Harrison intersection

A Harrison intersection eyed for improvements by township officials for years soon will get a much-needed upgrade.

State Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel, and Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-West View, announced Tuesday that more than $550,000 in funding was awarded to Harrison to upgrade the traffic signal at Freeport and Springhill roads.

The funding comes from the state’s Multimodal Transportation Fund, which offers grants aimed to improve transportation. Steele said the funding pays for infrastructure to benefit cyclists, motorists and pedestrians.

“In 2022, Allegheny County’s traffic fatalities spiked to 84, making it the deadliest year since 2005,” Steele said. “This funding will make massive strides toward reversing these trends by funding projects to ensure cyclists, motorists and pedestrians may securely share space on our roadways.”

Township Manager Amy Rockwell said the traffic signal at the five-leg intersection is due for replacement. She said the township aims to improve pedestrian access absent from the original 1960 design.

“Adjacent to this junction lies two segments of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, underscoring the importance of pedestrian infrastructure,” she said.

Township Commissioner Chuck Dizard said he was ecstatic to hear of the funding. He said the intersection is not safe for pedestrians or trucks on Freeport or Spring hill roads.

“We have struggled for a number of years with that light and that intersection,” he said.

“Upgrading that intersection is a very expensive proposition, and any grant support will help make it more implementable.”

The intersection has been eyed for improvements by township officials for more than two years. In 2022, the township sought a $2 million grant from the Multimodal Transportation Fund to redo the five-way intersection of Freeport and Springhill roads and the adjacent Broadview Boulevard near the Harrison Hi-Rise.

Last year, the township was awarded $400,000 in funding from the fund for improvements at the intersection.

Harrison installed a bike lane and sidewalks last year outside the high-rise to bolster pedestrian safety, Rockwell said.

“The forthcoming project encompasses a comprehensive overhaul of the signal system, encompassing lighting upgrades and the installation of ADA-compliant ramps to facilitate access to the bus stop, aligning with Harrison Township’s broader vision for complete streets,” Rockwell said.

“Upon its fruition, this endeavor will mark a significant milestone in the township’s long-term urban planning efforts.”

Dizard said that while both grant awards may not be enough to completely fix the intersection, it does make the project easier to bear.

“This certainly brings it more toward home base,” he said.

Sharpsburg, O’Hara grants

Steele’s announcement Tuesday also included $500,000 to construct a roundabout and connector road for the Riverfront 47 development in Sharpsburg and $200,000 for sidewalks along Alpha and Gamma drives in the RIDC Park in O’Hara.

“With Pennsylvania having some of the oldest infrastructure in the country, the 33rd Legislative District would benefit from enhancements to our infrastructure, which include upgrading a traffic signal, constructing a roundabout and installing sidewalks,” Steele said.

“These investments will make the townships of Harrison and O’Hara, and Sharpsburg Borough, safer and more accessible.”