A West Philadelphia intersection where a cyclist was struck and killed by a turning truck in May is set to receive a series of safety upgrades, writes Crystal Herrera for WHYY.
As part of phase one of the Cobbs Creek Parkway and 63rd Street corridor project, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will upgrade traffic signals at the intersection of 58th and Baltimore.
West Philly and Cobbs Creek residents have long called the five-legged intersection chaotic, dangerous, and deadly. For decades, they have demanded changes, particularly to protect seniors and children walking to the nearby school.
“It’s horrible for senior citizens,” said Palmira Araujo, a local resident. “I’m 93 years old. So you know I can’t go out there and cross the street.”
Signs of neglect are everywhere, from faded crosswalk lines and rusted signal masts holding outdated lights, to barely visible bike lanes and missing left-turn signals. The countdown on the traffic light is too short for slower pedestrians to cross safely.
“When rush hour comes, it is a nightmare,” said Rodney Willis, block captain of the 5900 block of Ellsworth Street. “People are trying to race through that intersection to avoid the nightmare. Certainly a week doesn’t go by when there’s at least two, maybe three accidents.”
Read more about the safety upgrades coming to the dangerous West Philly intersection in WHYY.
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