WRIGHTSVILLE, Pa. — Five lanes, two stop signs, one intersection.
That is what hundreds of cars pass through every day in downtown Wrightsville, between Hellam and Second Street, and the Veterans Memorial Bridge. The intersection has caused a wave of safety concerns among some members of the community.
“It can be very complicated if you’re not familiar with the area," said Lisa Carr, owner of Impressions Hair Styling Salon.
More than a dozen small businesses and homes line the five-way intersection. Carr says she's witnessed numerous accidents at the intersection, as well as encountered dangerous drivers.
“I see people doing something crazy, like doing a U-turn right there. It’s like, ‘five-way intersection, that’s crazy,'" said Carr.
As part of an overall plan to renovate the historic Veterans Memorial Bridge, PennDOT has proposed to install a roundabout that will address the speed of traffic. Letters have been passed out by PennDOT to local businesses along the square.
Jason Blome, the owner of Cycle Works, said the new intersection will greatly improve vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
“There are times of day where it’s just very difficult to cross the street there," said Blome. "Customers complain all the time, if they have to park on the other side to get to us, how inconvenient it is to cross that road during high traffic times.”
Carr says she worries about how long the roundabout construction project will take to complete. She adds the project will already impact parking for her business.
“They’re going to be blocking all these streets off," said Carr. "I’ve been running a business for the last 33 years; this is going to be a test for all of us on Hellam Street.”
However, businesses and residents alike agree something needs to be done to address the traffic at the five-way intersection.
“Anything that can help the traffic situation, I’m in favor of it," said Blome.