Old Newark Road and Baltimore Pike Intersection Improvements Project

County: Chester
Municipality: New Garden Township
State Route(s): Routes 3033 and 3046
Local Name(s): Newark Road, Baltimore Pike
Project Type: Intersection Improvement
Last Updated: June 2025

The project is located at the intersection of Newark Road and Baltimore Pike in New Garden Township, Chester County. The immediate area around the intersection comprises a mix of commercial and residential land uses within the village of Toughkenamon. Nearby land uses include mushroom farms, typical of New Garden Township, and the New Garden Flying Field. The Kennett-Oxford Bypass (U.S. 1) interchange with Newark Road is roughly one mile north of the intersection, while the Eastern Penn Railroad line is approximately 700 feet south.

The goal of this project is to address the current alignment issues of Newark Road and enhance intersection operation and safety for all users.

Several geometric issues at the Baltimore Pike and Newark Road intersection contribute to congestion and safety concerns. The northbound and southbound sections of Newark Road are offset by about 30 feet at the intersection, creating safety risks and operational problems.

The southbound Newark Road approach features a steep downgrade and a sharp reverse curve near the intersection, posing challenges for heavy vehicles, especially those from the local mushroom industry. The truck percentage on the western Baltimore Pike leg is 13%. Planned land developments, including large warehousing expansions, are expected to increase traffic volumes beyond normal regional growth, likely leading to longer delays and vehicle queues.

Moreover, this busy village intersection is served by public transportation but lacks sufficient pedestrian facilities, which is worsened by poor access management along Baltimore Pike. The existing highway stormwater drainage system, located near Toughkenamon and adjacent to the project area, is over capacity and cannot handle stormwater during medium and large storms, nor will it accommodate additional flows from construction.

Proposed Improvements include:

• Realigning the northern leg of Newark Road to reduce the reverse curve and better align it with the southern leg.
• Adding a 500-foot-long left-turn lane on the northern leg.
• Moving the intersection with Baltimore Pike westward to align Newark Road’s northern and southern legs.
• Improving turning radii on all four corners of the intersection for better heavy vehicle maneuverability.
• Widening the southern Newark Road to include a 100-foot-long left-turn and 150-foot-long right-turn lane.
• Widening Baltimore Pike’s western leg to provide a 225-foot-long left-turn lane.
• Widening Baltimore Pike’s eastern leg to include a 175-foot-long left-turn lane and a 250-foot-long right-turn lane.
• Installing pedestrian facilities such as curb ramps and sidewalks along all four corners and the four legs of the intersection.
• Installing new traffic signals and street lighting.
• A stormwater conveyance system will be built between the Baltimore Pike/Newark Road intersection and the existing stormwater outfall to the West branch of Clay Creek, southeast of the intersection.
• Developing stormwater management facilities to control the runoff rate and volume and improve water quality downstream. 
• Relocating utility poles affected by the widening and realignment, along with subsurface sewer, gas, and water lines on the northern Newark Road leg. Additional subsurface relocations may be necessary on Baltimore Pike and the southern Newark Road to accommodate drainage infrastructure.