Editor’s Note: A LevittownNow.com reporter reached out to township officials for comment on the road, but an official said after publication that those emails did not come through. An earlier version of this article said township officials did not return a request for comment.
Credit: Submitted
Residents in a Middletown Township neighborhood are beyond frustrated over an unpaved stretch of road they drive over nearly every day that becomes severely potholed and pitted after every hard rain.
Advertisements
The residents said township officials apparently maintain that the roughly 150-foot stretch of Clover Drive, near the Neshaminy Creek, but claim it is a paper, or private road and that the township is not responsible for maintaining it. Neighbors counter that it’s not a paper street.
“Half of Clover is paved, so why not pave the other half?” said Clover Drive resident Jill Aaronson. “Or, at least take care of the drainage problems so that it doesn’t get so washed out every time.”
Credit: Chris English/LevittownNow.com
A township crew was out on a recent day filling in the ruts and holes, but Aaronson said that was only “for show” because she had contacted media outlets about the situation.
Advertisements
She, other Clover Drive residents and neighbors on adjacent North Elmwood and Wisteria Avenues – who frequently must drive on the troublesome stretch of Clover – said that years of phone calls and emails to township officials, and comments made at supervisor meetings, have produced no meaningful action to correct the situation. They complained they aren’t getting the same bang for their tax bucks as other township residents.
Clover Drive is adjacent to Periwinkle Avenue and Bridle Drive, two streets that are closer to the Neshaminy Creek and often flood when the stream overflows. Clover Drive is on higher ground and doesn’t get flooded from the creek, but the problem is that troublesome stretch of the street is at the bottom of a hill and bears the brunt of water runoff from above, neighbors said.
Advertisements
“They’re just not taking any responsibility,” Aaronson said of the township.
“Pretty much every time it rains, one of us or collectively we have to go down in the crater and fill it in. You absolutely worry about damage to your car,” said North Elmwood Avenue resident Scott Adickes.
Fellow North Elmwood Avenue resident Steve Heinze, who along with his wife Tammy have been dealing with the situation for 31 years, said replacing stones that have washed away on the stretch of Clover Drive is a constant process.
Credit: Submitted
Advertisements
“Every once in awhile, people here would put out money to pay for stones,” Heinze said “The township provided stones a few times. I stay like this (he shows off a muscular arm) because I move stones.
“It’s gotten to the point where there is so much erosion, you can stand in ruts above your knee. Everyone in this neighborhood will replace the tie rods and shocks on their vehicles at least every two years.”
Advertisements
Heinze said township officials once offered to maintain the stretch if the residents paid for the initial paving, and installation of sidewalk and street lights.
“We’re all working people and we couldn’t afford that,” he said. “We go through stretches of going to township meetings month after month. We’ve been fighting the township for 30 years, and nothing ever gets done.”
Advertisements
Aaronson added: “It’s a safety issue. If they’re not going to pave it, they are at least responsible for storm and water runoff, and they’ve done nothing.”
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
