Hatboro Borough officials say they are continuing to monitor traffic and safety conditions following the January closure of the West Moreland Avenue bridge and will present updated information at the next Borough Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.
Borough staff have been collecting data and responding to residents’ questions in recent weeks, particularly from those living near West Monument Avenue. The meeting agenda will be posted Friday, Feb. 20, on the borough’s website.
Officials emphasized that only Hatboro residents are permitted to speak during Borough Council meetings. Residents who live in Upper Moreland Township and have concerns about traffic impacts near the West Moreland Avenue bridge closure, including on Flamingo Road or the portion of West Monument Avenue located in the township, must direct those concerns to Upper Moreland Township officials.
While borough leaders acknowledged that concerns on both sides of the municipal border are similar, they stressed that Hatboro can only address issues within borough limits.
Wooden Bridge Deemed Safe
Officials also sought to reassure residents that the wooden bridge on West Monument Avenue remains safe.
“We would never allow a bridge to remain open and be potentially dangerous,” borough representatives said in a statement, noting that certain details about the bridge cannot be publicly shared due to legal restrictions beyond the borough’s control.
Since the West Moreland Avenue bridge closed in January, borough staff say they have evaluated concerns raised before and after the closure. Suggestions from residents have included limiting or closing traffic on West Monument Avenue to ease congestion.
However, borough officials cautioned that any decision affecting traffic on West Monument would also impact surrounding streets. Restricting access, they said, could divert vehicles onto neighboring roads as drivers seek alternate routes around the detour.
“We have to consider how any changes will affect not just one street, but the surrounding neighborhood as well,” officials said.
Hatboro Police have increased targeted enforcement in the area, conducting directed patrols and traffic stops. However, officials noted that officers cannot remain stationed in one location around the clock.
Police resources must be distributed throughout the borough to ensure equal protection for all residents, as well as to respond to service calls. As a result, residents may see an increased presence on some days and less on others as patrols rotate through nearby streets.
The police chief is expected to provide updated statistics on directed patrols and traffic stops during the Feb. 23 meeting.
