The intersection of Hulton Road and Third Street in Oakmont is one of the more dangerous spots for vehicles in the borough.

Multiple accidents in previous years resulted in several turning restrictions being posted to help commuter safety.

Westbound motorists on Hulton Road who are headed toward the Hulton Bridge are prohibited from turning left onto Third Street from 7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Motorists on Third Street next to Riverview High School are restricted to right-turn only from 7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Motorists on Third Street next to Speedway are restricted to right-turn only from 7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays.

The moves were in large part to increase student safety during arrival and dismissal at the high school.

Barriers have also been used along Third Street during those times.

Those who ignore the posted restrictions and try to drive around the barrier will be subject to traffic citations for failure to obey traffic-control devices, an estimated $170 fine.

However, police said motorists appear to have been ignoring the warnings which led to four crashes, including two involving pedestrians, within the past two months.

“Third Street is an area of concern for us, and we are taking a serious look at it,” council president Patricia Friday said. “We’ve had meetings recently with PennDOT. It is definitely on our radar and we are giving it our full attention.”

One of those wrecks involved resident John Kokales, who vented about his ordeal to council at its June 1 workshop meeting.

He said he was crossing Hulton Road at Third Street from Riverview High School toward Speedway around 3:30 p.m. on May 14.

“We stopped, looked for traffic and started to proceed very cautiously,” he said. “It was clear (when) all of a sudden a car came and hit us. It was estimated the car was going about 50 mph, which would be in a school zone. … The car hit us so hard it turned us around facing to go over the Hulton Bridge. My son spent three days in a trauma unit. He was off work for a month. My car’s totaled. The other driver’s car’s totaled.”

Kokales said he was unaware at the time that he was not allowed to go straight across the state road despite the posted signs that indicate right turn only onto Hulton Road from Third Street.

“It needs to be clearer (that you cannot go across),” he said. “I understand now, but I was not aware of that. At least it wasn’t clear to me. Every person that I’ve explained it to, everybody’s under the assumption that you can go straight across on Third Street. It needs to be marked.”

Police Chief Michael Ford said PennDOT is looking into making the restrictions permanent and possibly installing islands or other barriers to help stop another problem at the intersection.

“When traffic stops, people are waiving people out and they can’t see over top of stopped traffic,” Ford said. “So it creates a sort of blind spot for people pulling out of Third Street. The driver has view of all the oncoming traffic if it’s right-turn only. (PennDOT) has been very receptive and responsive (to the idea). There’s no set time frame (to install a permanent barrier).”

Ford said traffic details were increased at the intersection two months ago and will remain in place during the posted times until further notice.

“We’ve spent aggressive efforts to promote safety down there,” he said. “Just be aware of school zone times and speed as well as the turning restrictions as posted,” he said.

PennDOT engineers are also expected to be in the borough this month to look into adjusting the traffic light sequencing to help alleviate congestion during rush hour.

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