OVERVIEW

Swamp Road is a narrow, two-lane road in need of safety, pavement, and drainage improvements so it can effectively serve current and future land uses along the corridor. Trucks regularly travel the road, particularly those from nearby quarries, and pose a concern for those who live and drive on the corridor.

To improve this roadway, Newtown and Wrightstown Townships funded the Swamp Road Engineering Study which was completed by Urban Engineers in 2002. Led by a Community Action Committee of local and regional representatives, the Engineering Study identified potential solutions to enhance safety while retaining the rural and scenic character of the area. This study has served as a valuable planning tool for PennDOT's Swamp Road Improvement Project as the Department has used recommendations from the 2002 study to guide the road redesign.

Currently in the preliminary engineering phase, PennDOT is designing a plan to correct the existing outdated roadway while anticipating future needs. Areas of frequent vehicular crashes are of great concern and the redesign will incorporate safety features to better accommodate a range of users from passenger vehicles to school buses to quarry trucks.

Though the topography of Swamp Road poses a challenge, preliminary design features include softer curves and a flatter horizontal and vertical alignment to increase sight distances and thereby create a safer road.

PennDOT is committed to designing a safer road while retaining the character of the local landscape. In the Village of Rushland, PennDOT will retain the village's ambiance by using curbing instead of roadway shoulders. This change will improve drainage and calm traffic in advance of the railroad crossing and the Rushland Road/Swamp Road intersection.

Studies indicate that regional traffic is expected to grow on Swamp Road and other roadways in this area. Traffic projections for 2030 show the need to increase capacity for turning moves at key intersections. For this reason, PennDOT is coordinating this project with other local design activities, such as the Route 232/Swamp Road Safety Improvement Plan, to foster a seamless design and reduce duplication of efforts.