The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced that Eldred Township will receive $10,437 for the installation of traffic signs on Point Phillips Road.

The signs, which were recommended in the township’s recent Traffic Engineering and Safety Study, include those indicating winding road and turn arrows, a speed limit sign and those prohibiting truck traffic.

The funding comes through the state’s Automated Red-Light Enforcement program, with the goal of improving safety at intersections with traffic signals by providing automated enforcement at locations where data shows red-light running has been an issue.

Grant funding is supplied by fines from red light violations at intersections in Philadelphia.

State law specifies that projects improving safety, enhancing mobility and reducing congestion can be considered for funding.

In all, 113 municipalities submitted applications totaling more than $67 million in requests. Projects were selected by an eight-member committee based on criteria, such as safety benefits and effectiveness, cost and local and regional impact.

In July 2025, Eldred Township supervisors passed an ordinance to lower the speed limit on Point Phillips Road/Route 358 to 30 mph. Township residents who live in the area of the Point Phillips Road had contacted the township about their concerns about the speed of traffic on the road and truck traffic.

The windy, steep road runs up Blue Mountain in Eldred Township and into Moore Township on the other side. Although the road is paved on the Eldred Township side, it is dirt in some areas of Moore Township.

The Eldred Township side was the location of fatal truck crash in July 2019, when a garbage truck lost its brakes and ran off the road while trying to make a turn. Instead, it ran into a house, and the driver was killed.

At the supervisors meeting in July, Scott Clark, the chairman of the supervisors, said that by default, the speed limit on the road was 55 mph, since a speed limit had not been given to the roadway.

“By having that speed limit at 50, I mean, that’s crazy to go down through there that fast, but that’s what was, so it’s a much-needed thing,” Clark said about the new speed limit. “Hopefully, this will help bring awareness to people with additional signs and information, and hopefully, they’ll slow it down.”

The ordinance also restricted truck traffic to only passenger pickup trucks and delivery trucks, such as those that bring packages to residents.

“A lot of people use that road as a shortcut,” said Jonathan Gula, the Public Works Department supervisor.

Otherwise, it would take motorists about 23 miles to get around the mountain. Unfortunately, the road is dangerous and often has fog or icy spots in the winter due to it being shaded, Gula said.

He credits Supervisor Susan McGinty with finding the information about the ARLE grant, and said she was instrumental in applying for it.

“We just wanted to improve the safety on (the road),” he said.

The cost of the signs and posts was about $6,000, Gula said, plus the cost for engineering. The traffic study was done through the PennDOT’s Local Technical Assistance Program. The weight limit portion of the study was done by the township engineering firm, Hanover Engineering.

Gula said the no truck signs have been installed. He and his crews will install more than 60 signs this spring and into summer about the speed limit, curves and winding road.