Our View

Roadwork a temporary pain for long-term gain

We hope motorists dodging the months-long street and intersection construction around in Lock Haven understand that the sacrifice will be worth it.

PennDOT (and the city) had to reconstruct pedestrian corners to fix storm water and other issues.

This after the corners had been rebuilt not long before.

Now new state of the art signals are being installed pretty much throughout the business district.

We certainly hope they are more pedestrian friendly.

And streets are being repaved.

Overall improvements include upgrades to the traffic signal supports, vehicular and pedestrian signal heads and controllers, installing ADA-compliant curb ramps with detectable warning surfaces, curbing and sidewalks, paving, pavement markings and miscellaneous construction.

PennDOT assures us that it will issue project updates as improvements begin at each signalized intersection.

So far they have.

The gasoline tax you pay in Pennsylvania is helping to pay for this $2.7 million job that should be done in September.

But our point is that Lock Haven's streetscape is and should be a source of pride, so long as it's maintained and upgraded.

Which is just what PennDOT and the City of Lock Haven are doing.

How many communities have you driven through and thought, "Oh, how worn down. How old. How ugly."

Plenty.

Lock Haven can take immense pride in its streetscape.

Brick pavers and new concrete walks and curbs.

ADA-approved corners for people with disabilities.

Trees lining the streets.

Now new traffic signals (though we don't like the big black boxes at the corners.)

Do not, dear readers, take all of this for granted.

There are many, many communities that wish they had the streetscape Lock Haven has.

There are many communities that can't afford it.

There are many whose leaders don't have the vision of how investment in a beautiful streetscape enhances shoppers' experiences, improves a town's image and strengthens local businesses.

Importantly, streetscape investment goes a long way toward building pride in a community and attracting private investment.