The intersection of Hill Church Road (Route 4004) and Thompson Avenue is in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s headlights for a safety improvement project in 2026.
As part of the proposal, PennDOT is inviting the public to review an online plan display and supply public comment on the projected $2.03 million, one-year construction project regarding the North Annville Township intersection.
The public comment period is open now through March 14.
Information, including bridge plans and an interactive comment form, can be found by visiting the PennDOT District 8 website, PennDOT District 8, clicking “Projects Near You” listed on the left side of the page, then the District 8 Projects, and choosing “Route 4004 (Hill Church Road) Safety Improvements.”
PennDOT says “the purpose of the plans display is to introduce the project and receive public input regarding any questions or concerns with the project. It is also an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the project’s potential effect upon cultural resources pursuant to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.”
Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in late September 2026 and continue through late September 2027, according to a PennDOT official contacted by LebTown.
PennDOT said in a press release that “the purpose of this project is to improve safety and address future traffic demands for the Hill Church Road intersection with Thompson Avenue. Geometric deficiencies in the roadway limit sight distance looking right from Thompson Avenue and are addressed with the proposed project.”
The release further states that “the project will consist of roadway reconstruction and widening along Route 4004 and Thompson Avenue, drainage improvements, as well as realigning Route 4004 and adding left turn lanes to improve traffic flow.”
Adam Wolfe, secretary of North Annville Township supervisors, told LebTown that PennDOT presented three options to the township in August 2023 as potential safety improvements at that intersection.
“What they did was reach out and gave the township three potential options for the improvement of that intersection and asked for the township’s input as to what we felt would be the best of the three options to proceed with PennDOT to carry through with construction to improve the intersection,” said Wolfe.
Wolfe told LebTown the options include the one seeking public comment, installation of four-way stop signs at the intersection, and construction of a roundabout.
Following the township’s Jan. 6 reorganization meeting, a township resident asked for an update on the project since it had been discussed at prior township meetings. The resident said he favors the four-way stop sign option. However, Wolfe said that option received a poor safety score.
“The four-way stop sign option actually received a negative safety score in the safety performance analysis that PennDOT had done, so that was the primary reason that the township did not feel that was a good option to move forward with,” said Wolfe.
The roundabout option was not favored by township supervisors, either, according to Wolfe.
“The township did not feel that was the best option because it would have involved the demolition of the house on the northwest corner of the intersection, and it would have cost $1 million more than the other two options,” said Wolfe, who added the cost for the project is being funded by the commonwealth. “The only township roadway portion involved is the southern side of Thompson Avenue. Hill Church Road and the northern portion of Thompson Avenue are state roads.”
Wolfe said the option supervisors selected is the one that’s open to public review.
“It is a required part of the process (public comment) to allow residents to review the plans and to submit any additional comments that they may have directly to PennDOT,” said Wolfe. “I know that PennDOT is often open to minor tweaks on a project based on comments they receive based on the kinds of comments they receive during the comment period.”
Wolfe told LebTown that Hill Church Road was targeted for safety improvements given the frequent accidents there, adding it is the third heaviest traveled roadway in the township after state Route 934 and Clear Spring Road.
Traffic turning from Thompson Avenue onto Hill Church Road has limited sight lines due to the hill in proximity to the intersection.
“It is the intersection with the highest frequency of accidents in North Annville Township,” said Wolfe. “I don’t have an exact number of accidents. I would have to get that from the police department, but I can tell you that it’s a significant number.”
Cleona Borough police Sgt. Matt Rager said that’s the top or second-most frequent site for crashes in North Annville Township, noting he was saying that without researching the data. Cleona Borough police have contracted with North Annville Township to provide police services there since 2015, he added.
“I remember when we first picked up coverage there, we were there quite often. That frequency has decreased though,” said Rager, who added he doesn’t believe there have been any fatalities at that intersection since coverage began in 2015. Wolfe echoed the same sentiment about fatal crashes.
Rager said the installation a few years ago of a flashing light as traffic approaches the intersection traveling west on Hill Church Road has helped contribute to fewer accidents. The flashing warning sign and a greater police presence in the area, including patrols to reduce speeding, have worked to lower the frequency of crashes at that intersection.
“It’s still one of the worst, if not the worst, intersections for accidents in the township, and I’m glad to see that PennDOT is going to address it,” added Rager.
The project will be constructed in stages and will contain three detour routes, according to the PennDOT press release.
During the construction of the realignment portion of Route 4004 east of Thompson Avenue, traffic will remain on the existing Route 4004 roadway. During the connection of the realigned portion of Route 4004 to the existing Route 4004 roadway, traffic using the east leg of Route 4004 will be detoured onto Center Street, Benjamin Franklin Highway, then Route 934 (Bellegrove Road).
During the reconstruction of the south leg of Thompson Avenue, the proposed detour route will use Bellegrove Road and Hill Church Road.
During the reconstruction section of Route 4004 west of Thompson Avenue, traffic using the west leg of Route 4004 will be detoured onto Ono Road, Waterworks Way, and Thompson Avenue.
During the reconstruction of the north leg of Thompson Avenue, traffic using the north leg of Thompson Avenue will be detoured onto Waterworks Way and Ono Road.
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