September 2009 Archives

If you own a Toyota or Lexus, the federal government is urging you to remove the driver-side floor mat immediately because it could interfere with the gas pedal.

The warning was prompted by reports that sometimes the vehicles continue to accelerate rapidly after drivers lift their foot off the gas pedal, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

It has to do, in part, with the particular configuration of the accelerator pedals in these vehicles.

Drivers should not replace them with any other mat -- either from Toyota or any other brand, the federal government says.

The vehicles affected are:

-- 2007-2010 Camry
-- 2005-2010 Avalon
-- 2004-2009 Prius
-- 2005-2010 Tacoma
-- 2007-2010 Tundra
-- 2007-2010 ES 350
-- 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350

Toyota plans to launch a safety recall of various model year vehicles to redress the problem, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Someone damaged a traffic sign/message board located at the intersection of Union Church Road and Route 214 in Springfield Township, according to state police. It happened sometime over the weekend.

Anyone with information can call state police at 428-1011.

Here's a story that came out on aol.com recently, talking about five stupid things that drivers do.

One is backing up when you've missed your exit on the highway. Another is taking your eyes off the road for more than a second or two.

Are there any other moves you'd add to the list?

Drivers will see single-lane restrictions on Interstate 83 this week as crews patch the road and clean the drains.

On Monday, drivers should expect single-lane restrictions in the right lanes -- both
northbound and southbound -- between the Leader Heights and North George Street exits for patching.

And from Wednesday through Friday, crews will be cleaning drains between the Shrewsbury and Glen Rock exits. That involves the left, northbound lane.

Three roads will see closures this week:

---- Mount Pisgah Road between Ducktown and Poff roads in the border of Hellam and Lower Windsor townships for pipe patching and replacement. The work is slated for Monday through
Wednesday.

---- Pinetown Road from Roundtop Road in Warrington Township to the Fairview Township line for pipe replacement.

---- Westminster Road in Penn Township for the installation of a box culvert. That
work is to be done Monday through Wednesday.

Drivers also may see single-lane restrictions on the following roads:

---- Stamper Road between Muddy Creek Forks Road and Route 74 in Chanceford Township for widening. That work is slated for Monday.

---- Days Mill/Croll School roads between Route 182 and the South Branch of the Codorus Creek in York Township for widening. Crews will be working there Wednesday and Thursday.

---- Pinetown Road between Route 177 and Siddonsburg Road in Warrington and Fairview townships for widening and brush cutting.

---- Druck Valley Road between Tower and Lower Glades roads in Hellam and Springettsbury townships for cleaning outlets. Crews will be out there Thursday.

---- Yorkana Road from Hallam borough to Libhart Mill Road in Hellam Township for tree removal. That work is planned for Friday.

---- Richmond Road between Route 425 and Burkholder Road in Lower Windsor and Chanceford
townships for mowing. That's planned for Monday and Tuesday.

---- Harmony Grove Road between Route 74 and Wellsville Road in Dover and Warrington townships for mowing. The work is listed for all week.

---- Goram Road between routes 74 and 425 in Lower Chanceford and Chanceford townships for brush cutting. The work is listed for all week.

---- Route 616 between New Salem borough and Green Valley Road in North Codorus Township for shoulder work. The work is slated for all week.

---- Lucky Road between routes 425 and 74 in Chanceford Township for black top and pipe trench work. Its expected to be done Monday and Tuesday.

---- Gum Tree Road between Route 74 and Pickle Road in Chanceford Township for drain work. That's slated for Wednesday.

---- Route 116 between Route 516 and Littleton Drive in numerous municipalities for shoulder cutting. That's expected to be done Monday through Wednesday.

---- Colonial Valley Road between Old Hanover and Lescheys Church roads in Heidelberg and North Codorus townships for shoulder cutting. That work is slated for Thursday and Friday.

One in five U.S. drivers has admitted to texting while driving at least once in the last 30 days, the American Automobile Association said in a news release Friday. Reuters has a story about it.

AAA wants laws enacted that would make it illegal for drivers of all ages to send, write, or read a text message or email while their vehicle is in motion. That doesn't include, for example, if you're stopped at a red light or stop sign, a AAA spokesman said Friday.

What are your thoughts? Do you support a ban on texting while driving? Should it be banned anytime a driver is behind the wheel, or is sending a text while waiting at a red light OK?

You may recall that Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley Jr., retired commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, and his wife, Ann, who were York County natives, died in June in the Metro train crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board has identified a signal failure in the Metro crash and has issued urgent warnings to rail agencies. The Washington Post has a story about it. Click here to read more.

Traffic may be restricted to a single-lane this week on Interstate 83 between the state line and the Leader Heights Road exit as crews vacuum drains.

The same goes for Route 15 between the Adams and Cumberland county lines as crews install a box culvert there.

Also, Westminster Road in Penn Township remains closed for the installation of a box culvert.

Drivers may see single-lane restrictions on the following roads as well:

--- Druck Valley Road between Mount Zion Road and North Sherman Street in Springettsbury Township for base repair and widening.

--- Stamper Road between Route 74 and Muddy Creek Forks Road in Chanceford Township for base repair and widening.

--- Old Orchard Road between Locust Grove and Stonewood roads in Springettsbury Township for pipe replacement.

--- Mount Airy Road between Route 177 and Roundtop Road in Warrington Township for pipe replacement.

--- Lucky Road between routes 74 and 425 in Chanceford Township for pipe replacement.

--- Bull Run Road in Lower Windsor Township for mowing and brush cutting.

--- Pinetown Road between Route 177 and Siddonsburg Road in Warrington and Fairview townships for mowing and brush cutting.

--- Route 182 between Days Mill/Croll School Road and Indian Rock Dam roads for mowing and brush cutting.

--- Route 516 between Route 116 in North Codorus Township and Jefferson Borough for shoulder cutting.

--- Green Valley Road in Codorus and North Codorus townships for shoulder cutting.

Elementary students can express their creativity through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's annual aviation contest.

"The History of Flight" is the theme this year, according to PennDOT.

Entries will be judged in two divisions: first through third grades, and fourth and fifth grades.

There will be 22 statewide winners, with one winner from each division selected from each of PennDOT's 11 district offices.

Artwork should be submitted on 8.5-by-11-inch or 9-by-12-inch paper. The pieces should not be framed, matted, or laminated. All work must be done by hand -- with an exception for children with physical challenges.

Contest flyers are available at www.dot.state.pa.us. Click on the "Aviation and Rail Freight" link.

Entries must be postmarked by Oct. 16. Send entries to: Bureau of Aviation, c/o Eric Locke, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120 or PO Box 3457, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0064.

Drivers traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike this weekend will see a single-lane restriction on the eastbound side between the Butler Valley and Pittsburgh exits.

The restriction will be from 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday.

Crews are working on the Allegheny River Bridge.

For information on traffic conditions, call 1-866-976-8747 or visit www.paturnpike.com/webmap on the Internet.

You don't have to wait for the traffic reports on the radio or television anymore.

Now you can get the information by dialing 511 on your cellular phone or going to www.511PA.com on the computer, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

The service provides free, round-the-clock information on traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, regional tourism and links to transit agencies and major airports.

Users can register through the Web site to receive personalized traffic alerts, provided through email and text messaging.

The 511PA roadway network includes all 1,759 miles of interstate, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as well as other major roadways in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Traffic information for the majority of the network includes crashes, construction work and starting in November, winter road conditions.

Do you travel a lot? Are you going to give this a try?

Drivers might see a single-lane restriction on Route 15 this week as crews sweep the highway between the Adams and Cumberland county lines.

Also, Westminster Road in Penn Township remains closed for the installation of a box culvert.

Drivers might see single-lane restrictions on the following roads this week:

--- Rosstown Road between Route 382 and Route 74 in several municipalities
for paving.

--- Druck Valley Road between Mount Zion Road and North Sherman Street in Springettsbury Township for base repair/widening.

--- Days Mill Road in North Codorus and York townships for base repair/widening.

--- New Bridgeville Road between Route 624 and Burkholder Road in Lower Windsor and Chanceford townships for pipe flushing.

--- Accomac Road between Hauser School Road and Route 462 in Hellam Township for mowing and brush cutting.

--- Pinetown Road from Route 177 to Siddonsburg Road in Warrington and Fairview townships for mowing and brush cutting.

--- Starcross Road between Grantley Road and South George Street in York and Spring Garden townships for mowing and brush cutting.

--- Route 851 between Middletown Road and Forrest Avenue in numerous municipalities for shoulder cutting.

Hempt Bros. Inc. of Camp Hill with $2.8 million, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

A total of five companies bid on the project, which is being paid for with stimulus funds. Here are the bids:

Hempt Bros. Inc. of Camp Hill: $2.8 million

J.D. Eckman Inc. of Atglen: $2.9 million

Valley Quarries Inc. of Chambersburg: $3 million

Kinsley Construction Inc. of York: $3.1 million

Pennsy Supply Inc. of Hummelstown: $3.2 million.

The project calls for repairing and resurfacing Route 15 between Golf Course Road and the Cumberland County line.

Are you traveling for Labor Day weekend? Did you get a good deal?

Travel is expected to be down this holiday -- not because of the economy but because of the calendar, according to the American Automobile Association.

Labor Day is late this year, and most children are back in school.

If you are traveling, we'd like to hear from you. Send me an e-mail at teresa@ydr.com.

The eastbound lanes of Route 30 at Prospect Road in Lancaster County will be closed Tuesday night for a bridge inspection.

The work is slated for 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Crews plan to inspect a bridge that carries Prospect Road over Route 30 between Columbia and Mountville. Traffic will use the off- and on-ramps at Prospect Road to access the highway.

The contractor, Lobar Site Development Corp. of Dillsburg, plans to begin repairing the bridge by the end of September. It's a $233,836 project.

Route 15 will be reduced to a single lane as crews sweep the road between the Adams and Cumberland county lines next week.

Westminster Road in Penn Township is closed for the installation of a box culvert.

The following roads will be reduced to a single lane:

-- Rosstown Road between Route 382 and Route 74 in several municipalities for paving.

-- Craley Road between Camp Street in Windsor and Route 24 in Red Lion for pipe flushing.

-- Camp Betty Washington Road between Route 124 and Springwood Road in York Township for mowing.

-- Route 516 between Lineboro, Md., and Myers Road in Codorus Township for mowing.

-- Route 216 for mowing and brush cutting.

-- Harmony Grove Road between Wellsville Road and Route 74 in Warrington Township for mowing.

-- Siddonsburg Road between Route 382 and Moores Mountain Road in Fairview Township for mowing.

-- Davidsburg Road between Colonial and Cedar roads in Dover and Washington
townships for bridge debris removal.