Award-Winning Innovative Intersection Project Improves Safety and Mobility

PennDOT Engineering District 8 received the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) Innovative Transportation Solution Award in 2025 for an intersection improvement project led by Senior Project Manager Nexa Castro-Murtoff. This annual award recognizes an innovative transportation project led by a woman that improves quality of life. The project's consultant designer Larson Design Group also received the Project of the Year Award from the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) – Harrisburg Section.

The project, which consisted of relocating the intersection of Wilhelm Avenue to align with York Street at Cornwall Road (Route 2001) in North Cornwall Township and Lebanon City, Lebanon County, included sidewalk connectivity improvements, American with Disabilities Act compliant curb ramps, bike lane accommodations, drainage improvements, and lighting.

Prior to the project, safety and mobility were major concerns through this corridor. Cornwall Road runs on a north-south alignment. Wilhelm Avenue approaches Cornwall Road from the east, while York Street approaches Cornwall Road from the west, with the respective intersections offset by about 300 feet.

Wilhelm Avenue provides access to Lebanon High School, including parking lots and sports fields. The intersection experiences high volumes of traffic, especially during athletic events. Vehicles on Wilhelm Avenue had a difficult time turning onto Cornwall Road because of its high-traffic volume, which led to traffic backups and unsafe maneuvers.

To address this, a project was proposed to relocate Wilhelm Avenue to align with York Road at a new signalized intersection. Other key components of the project included sidewalk connectivity from the western side of Cornwall Road through the intersection to an existing trail network for the school's athletic fields. Bike lanes were provided along Cornwall Road on both the northern and southern approach to the intersection. The new pedestrian upgrades make it safer and more efficient for students, pedestrians, and those attending athletic events to access Lebanon High School.

Long-term benefits of the project included improved traffic and pedestrian safety and mobility, better air quality due to reduced wait times and emissions from vehicles, and an aesthetically pleasing appearance that includes lighting, signage, and other features.

The project also originally required a costly, high-maintenance underground stormwater retention system. PennDOT collaborated with the school district to connect the stormwater system to one under construction for the school, allowing less earth disturbance and concrete placement on Wilhelm Avenue.

PennDOT arranged a financial contribution to the school district that was equivalent to the money saved on the Wilhelm Avenue project no longer requiring its own stormwater system.