LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Day after day, a flag with a photo of Libby Miller flies at the intersection of Route 72 and Lititz Road in East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County.
It’s where the 10-year-old girl was killed in a 2022 accident.
“We had two fatalities in 2022 within a month of each other and that brought it to the limelight, like 'Hey we have to do something here,'" said Cindy Schweitzer, township manager for East Hempfield Township.
Since those crashes, the township has added more signage and flashing lights to the stop signs on Lititz Road.
But another step will be taken later this year, as temporary traffic lights are set to be installed.
The township recently received the funding that is necessary for the project.
“We’re hoping in the fall, [but] it’s definitely a 2024 project," said Schweitzer.
The temporary traffic signals are only a short-term fix. PennDOT is in the process of working with the municipality to figure out a long-term solution.
“Potentially a roundabout or a signalized intersection," said Dave Thompson, community relations coordinator for PennDOT District 8. "We’re in preliminary design, very early stages I would say.”
Thompson says roundabouts have proven to reduce the number of crashes, as well as the severity of them.
Since Route 72 is state-owned and Lititz Road is owned by the township, both must be involved in the final decision.
“We’ll definitely need some buy-in from the township regarding whatever solution we propose," said Thompson.
PennDOT tentatively expects to put the project out to bid in 2026.
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