Oakmont officials share plans for traffic control near Riverview Jr.-Sr. High School

Oakmont officials are making plans to reduce accidents at the place that has the most wrecks in town.

They have identified that spot as an intersection near Oakmont Bakery and Riverview Junior-Senior High School. They blame many of the wrecks there on drivers making an illegal left turn from Third Street onto Hulton Road.

Borough officials announced in a social media post their assessment comes from vehicle accident data.

Mayor Sophia Facaros and Councilwoman Jennifer Paris said they’ve received complaints about the intersection from residents.

Police Chief Michael Ford told council in November that “over 80% (of aggressive driving in Oakmont) was in that corridor between Third and Allegheny Avenue.”

After about a year of planning and collaboration with PennDOT, officials are seeking the state’s permission to modify the intersection of Third Street and Hulton Road on the Oakmont Bakery side of Hulton.

They want to install a concrete barrier that would prevent drivers on Third Street from turning left onto Hulton.

But motorists on Hulton Road, heading toward the bridge, would still be able to turn left onto Third Street, except when students arrive at and leave the school, when that turn already is restricted.

Since PennDOT owns and maintains Hulton Road, community leaders must wait for the state agency to review and approve the changes.

“Widening the road is not an option. Neither is the option to construct any sort of median or middle barrier in the center of Hulton Road to prevent turns into or out of 3rd Street,” the borough’s post read.

The borough can’t change what times drivers are allowed to access Third Street from Hulton since those times are set by PennDOT. Ford said PennDOT previously rejected a police department request to permanently eliminate the left turn off Hulton. The restricted times were set as a compromise.

Officials hope to receive PennDOT’s blessing, hire a contractor and have the job done in the summer after the U.S. Open in mid-June and before the school year starts.