Middletown hears $300,000 school‑zone grant and PennDOT plans for roundabout, Oxford Valley improvements

Assistant township manager Nick Valla told the Middletown Board of Supervisors on Jan. 8 that the township has secured grant funding and is coordinating with PennDOT for several traffic‑safety and corridor improvements expected to affect travel in and around the township over the coming construction seasons.

Valla said the township received a school‑zone signal technology grant from PennDOT that will upgrade school‑zone signs with speed indicators and allow staff to remotely control the signals "so it's not impeding traffic when it doesn't need to." He added: "There is a $300,000 grant which will supplement, a good chunk of that project." The township also plans technology upgrades to six traffic signals along a corridor that staff said will improve flow through coordinated timing.

Valla previewed two large PennDOT projects: the Langhorne Yardley Road improvements, which will replace the Bridgetown Pike intersection signal with a roundabout and straighten the Woodburn Road approach, and widening and signalization work on Oxford Valley Road and Business Route 1, including a new signal near the Wawa. He said the Langhorne Yardley Road project is being let by PennDOT and expected to begin construction in the next couple of months; Oxford Valley Road construction is expected to begin about a year later, with both projects spanning roughly two construction seasons.

On construction impacts, township staff and the traffic engineer said PennDOT will publish detour plans and that the township links to PennDOT project pages on its website. Staff emphasized coordination with emergency services and planned phased construction to minimize disruption. Valla and board members encouraged residents to consult PennDOT's posted detour plans and township social media for ongoing updates.

The update also acknowledged the Citizens Traffic Commission’s recent recommendations and volunteer members, and noted a planned pedestrian crossing improvement near Maple Point and Maple Point Middle School. Board members asked about construction timing relative to a new elementary school and detour impacts; staff said some overlap is possible but that detour details will be posted in advance.