Plum Council approves study to determine need for traffic control devices at intersection of Kerr Road and Route 909

After two accidents within the past few weeks, some residents of Plum have been petitioning for stop signs to be added to the Kerr Road and State Route 909 intersection. The Plum Council took notice of that, and unanimously approved to request a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation traffic study at the intersection.

Kerr Road already has a stop sign in place at the intersection, but traffic on Route 909 is not required to stop.

Since Route 909 is a state road, the traffic study is required by state law for council to recommend additional traffic control to be implemented.

Plum Borough Council President Dave Odom said that the study will help determine if a traffic control feature is needed and what type to put in. He mentioned the potential for signage, traffic lights or a left-turning lane onto Kerr Road from Route 909.

Ultimately, the state decides what to do with the intersection, but recommendations can be made after the results from the traffic study are complete.

“I know that often time cars coming up and down Route 909 are traveling at a pretty good pace, often over the posted speed limit,” said Councilman Mike Pastor, head of the Public Works and Grounds Committee. “This can put drivers turning onto 909 in a precarious position. We, as a borough, need to look at and determine what the best solution would be. We want our roads to be as safe as possible.”

The news is welcome to Plum resident Regan Check who started the petition to add additional traffic control features to the intersection.

“I’m really happy they are going to do the research study,” said Check, who also previously reached out to both the borough and state. “The fact that within the past few weeks alone there have been two accidents that have shut down the road is scary. I want to prevent others from getting hurt at this intersection.”

As of now, there is no timetable for how long the traffic study might take.