Letter to the editor: Reason for Route 28 lights

If you frequent the Route 28 Expressway between Exits 15 and 16, you will now have no excuse for failing to turn and cross over Saxonburg Road on the curved bridge. Apparently many of you have been missing this turn and continuing straight into some other time space continuum, so much so that PennDOT has installed flashing solar-powered directional arrows to keep you on the highway and firmly entrenched in this crazy mixed-up reality.

Frivolity aside, what has changed so much that these flashing arrows are deemed necessary? I’ve called PennDOT, but my messages as to why money is being spent on these lights go unanswered. If it’s a serious safety issue, surely drivers missing this turn frequently and crashing would be in the news.

Since PennDOT won’t explain why the sudden need, one is left to speculate. Does the company that supplies the lights have a quid pro quo with somebody in PennDOT? Does PennDOT have extra money from covid-19 that has a “use it or lose it” stipulation attached to it? If it’s the latter, then PennDOT management has made a poor decision. If it’s the former, then someone needs to be called on the carpet. Cronyism and corruption need to be rooted out.

A more commonsense use of this money would be to keep the lanes painted, because many newer vehicles have lane detection technology on them, and they only work if the lanes are marked well.

The Trib should investigate. I’m anxious to know why these lights were installed and at what cost to us taxpayers.

Carl Massart

Buffalo Township