Furnace Road speed limit in Washington Township to remain at 35 mph

WAYNESBORO, Pa. — Based on results from a recent traffic count on Furnace Road, the Washington Township (Pa.) Board of Supervisors has decided not to lower the speed limit on the road.

A traffic count was conducted from April 18 to 22. The results show that of the 2,265 vehicles that traveled the road during that time period, 676 were going at the posted 35-mph speed limit or less, according to numbers presented Wednesday night at a supervisors workshop.

“The numbers indicate there is not a problem there,” Supervisors Vice Chairman Stewart McCleaf said.

The numbers also indicate that 346 vehicles were traveling between 36 mph and 40 mph, and another 69 vehicles were going between 41 mph and 45 mph.

In the end, fewer than 1% of the vehicles were driving above 35 mph, according to the numbers.

“There really is no speeding on that road,” said Vernon Ashway, the township’s zoning administrator.

Township Manager Jeff Geesaman told the supervisors at a meeting last month that he received complaints of speeding on the road.

Geesaman said that residents were asking that the current speed limit be lowered from 35 mph to 25 mph.

The supervisors decided to conduct the traffic count before deciding if a change needed to be made.

In other news, Geesaman thanked law-enforcement officials and others, including township employees, who helped during the search for a 4-year-old township girl who went missing from her home in the early hours of April 25.

Someone passing by the 14000 block of Harbaugh Church Road that day at about 10 a.m. found the girl standing along the road. The location was about 2 1/2 miles from where she was taken.

Thomas Andrew Dewald, 20, of Harbaugh Church Road in Washington Township, has been charged in connection with the abduction.

“Everybody just stepped up to the plate,” said Geesaman, who gave kudos to Pennsylvania State Police.

The supervisors also thanked the community for its help.

“When something happens dramatic, or whatever, the community steps up,” McCleaf said.