Dingman tags its worst roads

By Anya Tikka
DINGMAN TOWNSHIP — Dingman Township will identify its worst roads in a statewide race for state and federal funding.

The state's transportation secretary, Leslie Richards, may come to Pike County to see those roads for himself.

The project, one part of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Long Range Transportation Plan, is a statewide push to identify the roads in most need of repair in Pennsylvania. Funding affecting the next quarter century, from both the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration, is at stake.

Mike Mrozinski, Pike County's community planning director, had sent Dingman supervisors a letter asking for a list of neediest roads. At their Aug. 18 meeting, supervisors talked about options.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, a designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, is planning a long-range transportation plan for four area counties: Pike, Carbon, Monroe, and Schuylkill.

“This is the new version of the old plan," said township secretary/treasurer Karen Kleist.

Roadmaster Jim Snyder suggested nominating SR 2011 (Sawkill Road) and SR 2009 (Raymondskill Road), especially the lower section that extends from SR 2001 (Milford Road) to Route 209, which runs through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area.

“Raymondskill Road is not so bad at one end," said Snyder. "But the lower section is full of potholes, the edge of the pavement is broken off, and it’s basically in the same condition as Sawkill Road."

PennDOT already has its eye on Sawkill Road, which is due to be paved next year, Snyder said.

“PennDOT is busy with 2001 at the other end of the county in Delaware and Lehman Townships," he said. "They’re trying to get that finished."

The Pike County Road Task Force meets regularly at the Pike County Administration Building. Snyder and other roadmasters in the county participate.