A driver turns left through double red lights at the intersection of Welsh Road and Orvilla Road on the border of Towamencin and Hatfield townships in 2021. (MediaNews Group file photo)
State funding backs safety upgrades years in the making at Towamencin–Hatfield border
After years of traffic studies, engineering work, and negotiations with property owners, a long-discussed overhaul of the Welsh Road and Orvilla Road intersection is moving closer to reality, following the announcement of a $3 million state grant awarded last month through Pennsylvania’s Multimodal Transportation Fund.
The funding, announced Dec. 23 by State Reps. Liz Hanbidge and Steve Malagari, State Sen. Maria Collett, will support intersection improvements at the busy four-way crossing that sits on the border of Towamencin Township and Hatfield Township.
According to the lawmakers, the project will include new turn lanes and safety improvements, while also preserving a nearby cemetery that has been a longstanding consideration in the design process.
Safety concerns drive funding award
The Welsh–Orvilla intersection has long been cited by residents and officials as a congestion and safety concern, particularly during peak travel hours. The intersection spans Towamencin and Hatfield townships, and thus, both respective elected officials and administrators are working together toward a solution.
Malagari said the project would address turning and traffic flow issues that have frustrated drivers for years.
“This is great news for those who live in and travel through the area,” Malagari said. “This project will help to address traffic concerns, turning concerns and improve existing legacy infrastructure. The end result will be an improved commute for residents and businesses.”
Collett said she had heard directly from residents and municipal leaders about the need for improvements.
“I was proud to work alongside Representatives Hanbidge and Malagari to secure this transformative investment,” Collett said. “I’ve heard directly from municipal partners and residents about safety concerns at this busy intersection, and I’m grateful this long-awaited improvement project can get off the ground.”
Hanbidge said the funding would help advance essential infrastructure work in the district.
“I was thrilled to announce the $3 million in state grant funding coming into our district to support essential road infrastructure improvements,” Hanbidge said. “These investments will help keep our neighbors safe here in our district.”
Years of planning behind the scenes
While the grant announcement is recent, work on the project has been underway for several years.
In May 2021, Towamencin Township authorized a grant application seeking funding to design upgrades to the intersection. A 2019 traffic study had previously identified Welsh and Orvilla as a location likely to require future widening or signal timing changes to improve traffic flow.
Engineering work began in spring 2022, followed by extensive coordination with property owners along the corridor to secure small strips of land needed for widening. Those negotiations, along with permitting and design revisions, contributed to delays that pushed the design timeline into 2025.
The most recent public update prior to the grant award came in March 2025, when Towamencin’s traffic engineer told officials that design work could be completed by the end of the year, depending on continued meetings with affected property owners.
Township approvals advanced project in October 2025
Momentum on the project continued in October 2025, when Towamencin’s supervisors approved two contracts directly tied to the intersection widening.
Supervisors authorized additional work by the township’s traffic engineer, Bowman Consulting Group, for services related to design updates and permitting. The work, capped at $126,000 and split evenly with Hatfield Township, included securing permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection, revising plans for a highway occupancy permit, and coordinating easements and rights-of-way.
Supervisors also approved a separate contract for property appraisals at the intersection, with up to 11 parcels requiring valuation as part of the right-of-way acquisition process.
At that meeting, township officials emphasized that those steps were necessary to keep the project moving forward once funding became available.
Towamencin Township Supervisors Chair Joyce Snyder said the grant represented a major milestone, while cautioning that additional steps remain before construction can begin.
“I was very pleased to receive a call from Rep. Liz Hanbidge informing me that Towamencin and Hatfield Townships would be receiving $3 million to upgrade the intersection of Welsh and Orvilla Roads,” Snyder said in December. “While this project will still take time to complete, today’s grant is a significant step forward and will help move this important improvement closer to reality.”
Snyder also credited township staff and traffic engineers who have worked on the project for years, often behind the scenes.
Multimodal program supports infrastructure statewide
The funding was awarded through Pennsylvania’s Multimodal Transportation Fund, which provides grants to municipalities, councils of governments, economic development organizations, and transportation agencies for projects that improve safety, accessibility, and mobility.
According to the state, the program is designed to support a wide range of transportation assets, from road and intersection upgrades to pedestrian and transit improvements that enhance community connectivity.
Applications for the next round of Multimodal Transportation Fund grants opened Jan. 5, 2026, with submissions due Feb. 13, 2026. Grant recipients are expected to be announced in summer 2026.
For Towamencin and Hatfield, officials said the $3 million award brings the long-planned Welsh–Orvilla intersection project closer to construction, offering hope that a familiar traffic bottleneck may finally see meaningful change.
