State Road is not on the official Interstate 95 Cottman Avenue Interchange detour route, but motorists have chosen it as one of their favorite alternatives to the construction-clogged highway.
The East Torresdale Civic Association is trying to persuade the Philadelphia Streets Department to make some changes to accommodate the extra State Road traffic while highway construction continues.
During the ETCA’s monthly meeting on June 10, members reported that the Streets Department has denied their request to convert the two-lane road into four lanes north of Linden Avenue. The adjustment would require removing bicycle lanes and re-painting the vehicle lanes. The civic group also has suggested changing the traffic light patterns to allow southbound vehicles to travel continuously through the neighborhood without having to stop at Linden Avenue.
No modifications to the traffic patterns have been confirmed.
In unrelated business, two pharmacists announced the recent opening of the new Delaire Pharmacy at 9456 State Road. Proprietor Barry Jacobs said that the pharmacy wants to develop personal relationships with customers in the neighborhood to better manage their prescriptions and help them find cost savings. The pharmacy is open six days a week and offers delivery service.
Suzanne Garber, an American Red Cross disaster volunteer and board member, recommended that residents use her organization’s free smartphone applications for first aid and for disaster preparedness.
Six applications are available for iPhone users via iTunes. Non-Apple users should search their device’s application store for availability. ••
