U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Road Safety Audits (RSA)
Aquetong/Windy Bush Roads – Road Safety Audit Report
2.0 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The following represents the findings and recommendations of the Aquetong/Windy Bush Roads Road Safety Audit.
CORRIDOR-WIDE ISSUES
| SAFETY ISSUES |
REMEDIAL STRATEGIES |
LEVEL OF EFFORT |
POTENTIAL SAFETY BENEFIT |
| Drainage |
- Poor drainage or the lack of a proper drainage system in the corridor has resulted in a number of safety issues. Potentially resulting in sheeting across roadway during inclement weather.
- Edge of roadway eroded due to wash out.
- Swells need to be cut back, near S curve east of Sugan Road
- Pipes are clogged, some are not visible (due to debris)
|
- Conduct a comprehensive drainage study for the corridor to identify specific issues and long term solutions. Consideration should be given to additional pipes and new parallel drainage systems
|
High |
High |
- In the short term: clean clogged pipes and remove debris from the drains.
|
Low |
High |
- In addition, where possible excavate and fill in with ballast (rocks).
|
Medium |
High |
| Edge Lines and Edge Drop-offs |
- Lack of edge of pavement delineation is consistent through the corridor. In addition, edge drop-offs are consistently evident. This is a result of the poor drainage control.
|
- Install edge line as appropriate throughout the corridor to guide motorists and prevent run of the road crashes.
PennDOT should consider minimum 9.5 foot lanes as a safety measure |
Low |
High |
| Fixed objects |
- Numerous fixed objects were observed in the clear zone. These included trees (large and small); boulders (many used for landscaping by property owners and, stone headwalls (approx. 3 feet above the ground)
|
- All fixed objects in the clear zone should be removed. Initial clearing should be at least four feet from edge of travel.
Many trees along the corridor were already marked for removal |
Medium |
High |
| Narrow roadway width |
- Roadway width throughout the study area on Aquetong and Windy Bush Roads varied between 9 and 10 feet
|
- Any widening of the roadway may require additional right of way. Given the roadway geometry travel lanes should be at least 12 feet wide in the 40 MPH zone with a shoulder width of at least 2 feet.
|
High |
High |
| Vegetation |
- Trees and shrubs obstruct the view of many signs throughout the corridor and interfere with sight lines
|
|
Low |
High |
| Centerline Delineation |
- The corridor is shadowed during the day due to the canopy of trees and extremely dark at night, a result of the lack of street lighting. Coupled with narrow pavement width.
|
- Install raised pavement markers (RPM) the length of the corridor to keep the motorist in his travel lane. Installation of centerline rumble strips to assist in the prevention of crossover head-on collisions were examined but the narrowness of the travel lanes negates this treatment.
|
Medium |
High |
| Speed Limit |
- Given the geometry of the corridor, the set speed limit of 45 MPH may be excessive
|
A speed study was conducted by PennDOT; as a result, the speed limit will be lowered along Aquetong Road from River Road to Sawmill Road to 35 MPH |
Low |
High |
| Passing Zones |
- There are too many passing zones in the corridor given the narrow lanes and edge drop offs which are not forgiving if motorist overcompensate while passing.
|
|
Low |
High |
| Signs |
- No “Share the Road” signs.
|
- Install “Share the Road” signs throughout the corridor so motorists are cognizant of other users.
|
Low |
High |
- Construction signs located along Aquetong Road with no construction being conducted
|
- Remove or cover construction signs at times when there is no work being conducted on the roadway.
|
Low |
High |
- No name plates for advance intersection signs
|
- Add street name plates to advance intersection signs
|
Low |
High |
- Add advance signs for hidden driveways as appropriate
|
Low |
High |
| Pavement Markings |
- Several intersection approaches with stop control do not have stop bars
|
- Install stop bars to intersection approaches as appropriate
|
Low |
High |
| Sight Lines |
|
- Maximize sightlines around curves by cutting back embankment and removing trees.
|
High |
High |
LOCATION SPECIFIC ISSUES
| SAFETY ISSUES |
REMEDIAL STRATEGIES |
LEVEL OF EFFORT |
POTENTIAL SAFETY BENEFIT |
| At Covered Bridge Road |
- Covered Bridge Road is skewed at the intersection with Aquetong Road. Additionally, there are no pavement markings at the Covered Bridge Road approach.
|
- Use pavement markings to soften skew allowing easier access to Aquetong Road especially for left turning traffic
|
Low |
High |
- Utility pole to the west of the intersection on Aquetong Road obstructs sight lines.
|
|
Medium |
Medium |
- Rail fence west of intersection on Aquetong Road next to parking lot is in Right of Way.
|
- Relocate fence outside Right of Way.
Fence will be removed as part of new development
|
Low |
Low |
| At Rockwood Path |
- Tree to the west of the intersection blocks sight lines for Rockwood Path approach traffic
|
|
Low |
High |
| Between Rockwood Path and Wagner Road (private road) |
- “Curve ahead” (W1-2) sign is too far from the actual curve and is faded
|
- Upgrade sign (W1-2) and relocate closer to curve
|
Low |
Medium |
- “Slow Curve Ahead” pavement markings are too far from curve and are wearing out
|
- Add pavement marking legend closer to curve and repaint existing ones.
|
Low |
High |
- Eastbound “No Passing” (W14-3) sign knocked down
|
|
Low |
High |
- Hidden driveway at the curve
|
- Install advance warning sign for driveway.
|
Low |
High |
- Night time driving difficult due to the darkness which could makes negotiating the curve difficult.
|
- Install lighting on curve
|
Medium |
Medium |
- Illegal speed limit sign is installed within the ROW eastbound before the curve
|
|
Low |
Low |
| Between Wagner Road (private road) and Old Windy Bush Road |
- Junction sign is blocked by tree limbs
|
- Trim tree limbs
- Relocate street name sign to the post assembly of “Stop Ahead” (W3-1) sign
|
Low |
High |
- Cut off sign posts are protruding out of the ground
|
|
Low |
Medium |
| At Old Windy Bush Road |
- “Stop Ahead” sign is blocked by vegetation
|
|
Low |
High |
| At Windy Bush Road |
- Sign clutter, potentially confusing to motorists
|
- Remove or consolidate signs as appropriate
|
Low |
Medium |
- Westbound approach to intersection, poor sight distance which is made worse by vegetation
|
- Cut away vegetation to improve sight distance
|
Low |
High |
- Northeast, northwest and southwest corners of intersection has unprotected drainage holes that lead to pipe
|
- Install protective grates
|
Medium |
High |
| Windy Bush Road between Old Windy Bush and Aquetong Road |
- “Intersection ahead” sign on northbound side of the road is blocked by vegetation
|
|
Low |
High |
- No advance street name sign for the Aquetong Road intersection
|
- Install advance “Aquetong Road” sign (W16-8)
|
Low |
Medium |
| Old Windy Bush Road at Windy Bush Road |
- Drainage hole on the southeast corner
|
|
Medium |
Medium |
- Utility pole lying on the ground at the southeast corner of the intersection.
|
|
Low |
Low |
| Between Windy Bush Road and Sugan Road |
- Aquetong Road is an S-curve in this area with post mounted warning signs only
|
- Add “Slow Curve Ahead” pavement markings in both direction
|
Low |
High |
- Vegetation on the westbound side of the road conceals the edge of pavement
|
|
Low |
High |
- Edge drop off in this section of roadway is pronounced as a result of poor drainage
|
- Currently a PennDOT project to excavate and fill with rocks.
- This is a temporary fix and in the long term proper drainage should be installed including pipes
|
Medium |
High |
- Reflector poles are in poor condition. Reflector strips have been stripped from the poles and many are down in the drain.
|
- Replace with chevrons (W1-8)
|
Low |
High |
- Aquetong Road westbound curves while Sugan Road continues straight ahead, there is no directional signage.
|
- Add graphic directional signage with road names
|
Low |
High |
| At Sugan Road |
- At Sugan Road the intersection is on the
curve and very wide. Additionally, travel
lanes are not delineated.
|
- Add dashed double centerline and single edgeline through intersection. This will alleviate driver confusion
|
Low |
High |
- Curve needs to be delineated
|
- Add large warning arrow (W1-6) on the curve for eastbound Aquetong Road traffic
|
Low |
High |
| Between Sugan Road and Solebury Mountain Road |
- Oversized drainage pipes installed by property owners at driveways are unprotected hazards in the clear zone. Some pipes include headwalls.
|
- Install appropriate drainage pipes according to regulation.
|
Medium |
High |
| Windy Bush Road between Aquetong Road and Pidcock Creek Road |
- Open pipe culvert on the side of the road result in unprotected curb drop off.
|
- Widen road to 12-foot lanes with paved shoulder to eliminate open pipe culvert that parallels the road.
|
Medium |
High |
- Property owners have installed a variety of drainage pipes and sizes at driveways. They are unprotected hazards in the clear zone and some pipes include headwalls.
|
- Install appropriate drainage pipes according to regulation.
|
Medium |
High |
- Pipes at property owners driveways are clogged with debris
|
- Clear pipes to prevent flooding on the roadway
|
Low |
High |
- Guide rail needs to be updated
|
- Replace guide rail with upgraded end treatments.
|
Medium |
High |
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Page last modified on October 15, 2014
