PennDOT unveils updated plan for Hill Church Road safety improvement project

Public opposition to a plan to realign Hill Church Road through a swath of farmland in North Annville Township has led the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to reconsider its options.

Now, PennDOT is asking the public to look at an updated plan that is on display online for the proposed safety improvement project about 1.3 miles north of Annville.

The purpose of the project is to improve safety and address future traffic demands for the Route 4004 (Hill Church Road) intersection with Thompson Avenue, according to a press release from PennDOT.

“To address comments received during the public comment period, the project will consist of an all-way stop intersection, lowering the vertical curve along the east leg of Hill Church Road, an intersection control beacon (i.e. overhead flashing red light), and roadway rumble strips on all roadway approaches to the intersection,” Dave Thompson, community relations coordinator for PennDOT, said in the release. “Roadway widths and shoulders will be widened to PennDOT standards.”

Many of the comments opposing the previous plan were related to impacts to preserved farmland owned by Jim Hoffman. Thompson told LebTown in early April that PennDOT was reconsidering its plan, which had been estimated to cost $2.03 million, because of those comments.

Last year, PennDOT presented three solutions to township supervisors but without any preliminary drawings for them to review, according to township secretary-treasurer Adam Wolfe. The solutions offered by PennDOT at that time were the highway realignment plan, installation of four-way stop signs or construction of a roundabout.

Supervisors had announced at prior township meetings that they selected the highway realignment sight unseen because they were told the four-way stops were the least safe solution following a PennDOT traffic study of that intersection.

A digital version of the information will be available to view online from May 1 to 30. Project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats by contacting project manager Dan Rocuskie at (717) 705-6181 or drocuskie@pa.gov.

The project is currently in design and construction is anticipated to begin during the 2026 construction season, the release said. The intersection will be closed during construction, with detours off both roadways.

Traffic using Hill Church Road will be redirected onto Center Street, Route 422, and Bellegrove Road, the release said. Traffic using Thompson Avenue will be detoured onto Waterworks Way, Ono Road, a short section of Hill Church Road, and Bellegrove Road.