Safety improvements at the precarious intersection of Route 145 and Main Street in Walnutport are forthcoming.

Borough engineer Jason Newhard announced at Thursday’s borough council meeting that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation approved left turn indicator lights be placed on the traffic light northbound of Route 145.

Afterward, borough council unanimously approved several motions tailored toward that approval:

• To sign updated PennDOT condition diagram for Route 145 and Main Street.

• A resolution authorizing borough officials to execute a traffic signal maintenance agreement.

• A resolution authorizing borough officials to execute an application for signal approval form.

In April, council agreed to proceed with the Green Light — GO grant.

Newhard said at that time PennDOT had agreed to do an intersection movement study at no cost to the borough.

In March, council agreed to have the borough contact PennDOT to take the necessary measures to authorize left turn indicator lights be placed on the traffic light at the intersection of Route 145 and Main Street.

At that time, Newhard said there needs to be five reportable crashes due to left turn conflicts in a 12-month period just for PennDOT to begin looking into it.

Borough police Chief Jason Nothstein previously said they’ve been getting a lot of citizens complains about the intersection.

Nothstein mentioned most of the complaints pertain to traffic backups that a left-turn arrow would correct.

Borough grant coordinator Michael Wentz previously said the borough had spoken to state Sen. Nick Miller and state Rep. Zach Mako about it, and they were in full support of it.

Wentz said at that time the borough is eligible for a Green Light — GO grant, which would pay for it as long as PennDOT approves it, and then there would have to be a traffic study.

Nothstein said that since June 1, 2024, he believes there have been eight reportable crashes at that intersection due to the left-turn conflict.

Wentz previously said that the traffic has increased at the intersection, and noted that the borough previously received a grant for the light several years ago.

But, Wentz said at that time they couldn’t put the arrow on because PennDOT wouldn’t allow it.

He said that while it is the borough’s traffic light, Main Street and Route 145 are PennDOT’s.

In April 2019, council agreed to pay an additional $5,500 to have C.M. High Inc., proceed with the bad traffic loop sensor.

Newhard said at that time the LED and preemption work was completed at the light.

It was announced earlier that month that a whole new control system, new lights, emergency preemption, wiring and poles have been installed.

In March 2019, it was stated that upgrades to the light would cost more than anticipated after C.M. High Inc. hit a snag while doing the work.

Borough council had previously awarded a quote to the Myerstown firm in the amount of $12,150 for upgrades to the traffic light.

But, Newhard said at that time that in doing the work, it was discovered that the northbound Route 145 loop sensor wasn’t working.

That resulted in the additional cost of $5,500.

The borough had been awarded a $25,000 Green Light — GO program 50/50 matching grant.

The control panel was replaced by an insurance claim.