Heavy Traffic Expected During Ag Progress Days

Penn State’s Ag Progress Days will celebrate its 50th year at Rock Springs Aug. 11-13, and Ferguson Township police are advising residents and visitors to plan for heavy traffic in the west end of the township during the event.

Significant congestion is expected on West College Avenue (Route 26), Pine Grove Road (Route 45) and West Whitehall Road in and near Pine Grove Mills, particularly during rush hours, township police said in an advisory this week. If possible, drivers should avoid the area.

“Motorists are encouraged to allow extra travel time, expect delays and consider alternate routes whenever possible,” police wrote.

Nixon Road will be closed between West Whitehall Road and Pine Grove Road from 3 to 7 p.m. each day. Local residents only will be able to access Nixon Road from West Whitehall Road.

Extra personnel will be on duty to manage traffic congestion, but some delays will be unavoidable, according to the advisory.

“Motorists are also reminded to be aware of police officers on the roadways directing traffic,” police wrote. “Officers are there to keep traffic moving and cannot answer questions while on the roadways. Please keep our officers safe and be attentive, slow down and do not stop to ask traffic questions.”

Drawing more than 40,000 visitors each year, Ag Progress Days is the largest outdoor agricultural expo in the eastern United States. This year’s event will feature nearly 500 commercial and educational exhibits, crop displays, machinery demonstrations, guided research tours, family and youth activities, horse exhibitions, workshops, and the Pasto Agricultural Museum.

Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center, 2710 W. Pine Grove Road, Pennsylvania Furnace. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday.