Pleasant Valley School District continues to voice concerns about the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s plans to install two roundabouts on Route 209 in Brodheadsville.

The first two-lane roundabout would be constructed at the intersection of Route 209 and Route 115, while the second and more controversial traffic circle would be placed at Pleasant Valley Way, a few hundred feet from the entrance to Pleasant Valley High School.

School buses would exit the campus from the middle school onto Route 115 to avoid the second roundabout.

PennDOT officials say the roundabouts would greatly improve traffic in a congested area and make the roadway safer for motorists, but district officials contend that forcing student drivers to merge onto a roundabout presents many safety issues.

Sean Brown, Safety Press Officer for PennDOT District 5, says studies have shown that roundabouts move traffic more efficiently and safely than traffic signals, especially during peak travel times.

“When our designers looked at what could be done, they found that the roundabouts were the most efficient way to move traffic safely and quickly through those intersections,” Brown said.

Last week the board heard about PPL’s interest in being granted a right of way to lock down guide wires in ground owned by the school district for electric poles on Routes 115 and 209.

William Gasper, director of operations, explained the situation to the school board. He said that according to the plan, there are eight new poles on Route 115 that would have guide wires on school property. On Route 209, there would be one new pole, a relocated pole with two guide wires and a third pole on the school’s side of the roadway. PPL needs the easement in order to put in the poles, which have to be in place before the roadwork can begin.

“There’s quite a bit of poles and guide wires that are going to come on our property,” he said.

School board Director Laura Jecker said she thinks granting the easement on the Route 209 means the school district is caving in to the plans. The plans for the new roundabout would expand the roadway further into school property and closer to the front of the high school.

“Why would we do this on Route 209 when we are still fighting the state?” she said.

Gasper said the project plans are to have the poles moved one year before construction of the roundabout begins. PPL would like to move the poles in November.

“I don’t really want to do anything on the 209 side right now,” Jecker said.

School board Director Susan Kresge said she wonders about the timing of the project, because the school district hasn’t received notification regarding how much the compensation will be for land that is being taken for it.

The district’s efforts to stall or alter the project have the backing of at least one public official. After meeting with Superintendent Lee Lesisko in late June, State Rep. Jack Rader wrote a letter to PennDOT asking the agency to reconsider the placement of the roundabout.

Lesisko was advised by the school district’s attorney that they could pursue a hold on the project in court but that it would likely make little difference. With few legal options remaining, Lesisko believes a concerted community effort could result in the project getting delayed or altered.

“I would really like to get the community involved,” Lesisko said. “I think that’s the only way we’re going to be able to make some noise here.”

School board President Donna Yozwiak, said, “The scary thing is that the roundabout is going to be 200 feet from the front door of the high school. If there were a tractor trailer and a school bus traversing the roundabout simultaneously, it could be catastrophic.”

In order to avoid taking land from nearby property owners, PennDOT will acquire a parcel of land in front of the high school to construct the roundabout. Lesisko says the district was unhappy with PennDOT’s appraisal of that land and is currently seeking a new estimate.

“Right now we’re at a standstill until we get our land appraised,” Lesisko said.

The project, which is currently in the design phase and slated to go out for bids in December, is expected to cost about $20 million and would take about three construction seasons to complete, Brown said.

Several businesses have already closed or relocated because of the roundabouts. Subway has moved to the West End Plaza at the corner of Route 209 and Weir Lake Road. LynDee’s NY Style Italian Ice & Ice Cream relocated to another area. Rite Aid is constructing a new store on Route 115 next to the CVS.

Peter Blanchard contributed to this report.