No need for speed on Westcolang Road

By DAVID HULSE

LACKAWAXEN, PA — Andy Hibian lives next to a mountain lake in the middle of nowhere and all he wants is for his eight-year-old to be able to walk safely across the township road in front of the house.

It’s never been safe to do that in the 22 years he’s lived there because motorists on the serpentine Westcolang Lake Road routinely ignore the 15 mile-per-hour speed limit. “The only time anybody drives at the speed limit is during an ice storm,” he said.

Now Lackawaxen Township is contracting to remove several dozen trees that are too close to the road, and Hibian is worried that lacking the trees, traffic will go even faster.

Hibian brought his complaint before the township supervisors at their August 20 meeting.

Roadmaster Richard Krochta said the encroaching trees are being removed to allow ditching along the road, which is a principal access for several large housing tracts and a ski area located in the township.

The speeding has already cost him a family dog. On another occasion, a Fish Commission officer was almost struck by passing cars twice while monitoring the lake. “He was ranting and raving about it, and shortly after that a trooper came and parked for 20 minutes, and that was the only time a trooper has ever shown up,” he said.

Hibian said he’s called the state police several times with his complaint, but has been told that police can’t respond unless there has been an accident “with casualties.”

When there are accidents, people will frequently come to his door in the middle of the night looking for help, he said.

Krochta said the township would look into the use of pavement rumble strips that are activated by excessive speed.