Bristol Township Police Plan Speed Signs for Newportville Road After Resident's Plea

Joyce Morelli, who has resided along Newportville Road in Bristol Township for 54 years, told council members on Oct. 15 that she now cuts grass outside her property fence to avoid the risk of being struck by vehicles. Morelli, a township resident for more than 70 years, described the first council meeting she attended as an opportunity to explain how traffic patterns have changed near her home.

She stated that the area has undergone substantial development, noting that there was no mall and fewer residential structures when she and her husband moved in. Morelli reported that the fence around her yard has been replaced or repaired seven times, with three of those repairs following collisions caused by speeding drivers. She also noted that vehicles have left the roadway and entered her property during winter months.

Morelli explained that the lack of a substantial shoulder leaves little room between her and passing cars when she works in the yard. She said drivers rarely slow down when they see a pedestrian and sometimes sound their horns. She added that she has witnessed motorists pass other vehicles on the curved road and recalled an incident where she was nearly passed and ended up near the creek.

Police Chief CJ Winik outlined the challenges of enforcing speed limits on Newportville Road. He explained that Pennsylvania regulations limit the use of radar by municipal police, requiring officers to use painted lines at measured distances to manually time vehicles. Winik described this process as dangerous on that specific stretch of road because officers must pull into traffic to catch violators and then find a safe location to stop them.

Winik stated that the department has portable electronic speed displays, but the trailer-mounted unit currently available is too large to place safely on Morelli’s section of the road. He indicated that a smaller sign, which is typically deployed for three to six months to influence driver behavior, should become available within the next 30 days. The chief said his proposed 2027 budget includes funds to purchase additional units for troubled roadways.

Township Manager Randee Mazur confirmed that officials would ask the township traffic engineer to examine circulation near Lower Road. Morelli suggested making the road one-way to accommodate larger trucks and improve maneuverability. Mazur stated that the engineer can evaluate the one-way circulation concept even if speeding enforcement remains difficult due to state restrictions.

Winik told Morelli that the speed display signs were the primary tool available to address her concerns. He said the signs would assist both the police department and residents in managing traffic on that roadway. The council session ended with the agreement to proceed with the traffic engineering review and the deployment of the portable speed sign.

Morelli said she previously contacted both the township and PennDOT regarding enforcement issues. She expressed frustration over determining which agency had jurisdiction to address the problem. The township officials noted that multiple traffic studies have been conducted throughout Bristol, but the specific conditions on Newportville Road required a targeted response.