Another stormy night with no emergency interstate access

DINGMAN — Tuesday’s snow and ice conditions provided pertinent background for the township Supervisors continuing discussion of an emergency access for Interstate Highway 84. Dingman Township Supervisor’s Chair Tom Mincer sent letters to state officials back in April of 2007 asking that PennDOT provide an emergency access road from Raymondskill Road to the interstate. PennDOT has since agreed to build the access road. It will be available to Dingman Township emergency vehicles and will reduce the time it takes to get to incidents within the 11 mile stretch between the Milford and Lords Valley exits. On Tuesday the supervisors considered details in a state contract covering the access. Although Penn DOT agreed to build the access road they want the township to bear the cost of inspections and maintenance. Mincer was concerned as to how often inspections would be needed and how much the reimbursement would cost for this service. Maintenance is going to mostly be plowing in the winter. Township Solicitor John Klemeyer’s concerns were in regard to liability if PennDOT failed to design or build the roadway properly. “What if some people on dirt bikes were to use the emergency access road and end up on I-84 and a vehicular accident took place? Are we going to be responsible for this?” Township Supervisor Denis Brink and Township Fire Chief Bill Mikulak have been working closely with PennDOT to iron out all the details. “Our township emergency responders would have the key to the gate and not even PennDOT will use it.” Signage would designate it to be used by emergency vehicles only, Brink added. “It’s obvious a lawyer didn’t write up this agreement as it contains no legal language,” said Klemeyer. He went on to say that it was a contract that nobody ever reads until something goes wrong.”