According to borough officials at last night's council meeting, no definite date has yet been announced for the opening of the Route 441 bypass. There are some hopeful signs, however: Workers were testing traffic signals and addressing other issues at Front and Walnut Streets recently, and signage along North Third Street was changed yesterday in advance of the opening.
The purpose of the new bypass is to divert truck traffic around Columbia and keep it out of the center of town. Once the road is finally opened, however, some truckers might have a hard time of it, especially in winter weather. Those traveling east on Route 30 will need to get off at the Columbia exit as a first step in connecting with Route 441 South. From there, the driver will follow a convoluted route by turning right onto Linden Street, then right again onto North Third (near the Turkey Hill Experience), then up the hill to the Route 30/441 intersection, then left onto the new bypass, following it to the lower part of Bridge Street, and then onto Front Street. Since there is currently a No Turn on Red sign at the Third and Linden intersection, traffic is likely to back up on Linden, from Third Street to the exit ramp. If that's the case, then the plan to keep trucks out of town might be trading one problem for another.
Whatever the case, it is imperative that tractor-trailers be prevented from using the Third and Locust Street intersection, which was never intended for such large vehicles, as evidenced in these recent photos:
