Cranberry Township is trying to get additional money to help complete future Route 19 improvement projects that would benefit drivers and pedestrians but create brief traffic disruptions.

At its March 26 meeting, the township’s board of supervisors approved submitting applications for grants that would help improve traffic flow at a Route 19 intersection and complete a waterline replacement project.

The township is submitting a Green Light-Go Grant application — a state-level grant. It is seeking financial assistance to complete improvements at the intersection of Route 19 and Dutilh Road. The project would replace the existing signal poles and create a dedicated right turn lane on Dutilh Road.

Township manager Dan Santoro said Wednesday, April 1, officials are looking to put grant funds toward pedestrian and traffic circulation improvements.

“We’re looking at traffic improvements, additional turn lanes, realignment to the intersection on both sides of 19, a new traffic signal, enhancing pedestrian crossing, improving traffic flow,” Santoro said.

The township is also seeking funding through a congressional grant application to complete phase three of the Route 19 waterline replacement project. The project proposes to replace over half a mile of waterlines along the western and eastern side of Route 19 from Rowan Road to Ernie Mashuda Drive, near Cranberry Township Community Park.

Santoro said the project affects a large waterline that serves businesses and townships of the northern section of the township. The line is more than 50 years old and has seen a high level of repair needs, he said. In the past, the township was able to receive funding for phases one and two.

Work on these projects would not occur for about another year, Santoro said. And when the projects happen, they could cause some traffic delays as crews work to improve the corridor for drivers and pedestrians, and make needed waterline repairs.

“Any time you have construction on a corridor like Route 19, you would expect delays. We’re going after grant funds, and we’re probably a year away from knowing we’d get that funding then moving forward,” Santoro said.