LOWER MERION — The remnants of an old roadbed could soon be removed from maps in Lower Merion after township officials took the first steps to vacate the road.
During a public works committee meeting last week, the committee voted to recommend that the board of commissioners approve a resolution declaring its intent to discontinue, abandon and vacate Bliss Street.
Today, Bliss Street is a short dead-end road that begins in West Conshohocken and runs a short distance into Lower Merion.
The road was once part of River Road, which previously ran through Lower Merion. Today, River Road still only exists in a short segment between Waverly Road and Hollow Road.
The township plans to vacate the section of road from the West Conshohocken line to its endpoint, approximately 815 feet into Lower Merion.
“Over the years, this section of roadway has been brought to the Township’s attention primarily due to recurring complaints related to overgrowth and general maintenance. Upon review, staff has determined that this segment of roadway provides no public benefit to the Township, currently serving only a single residential property and functioning as an access path for PECO to maintain overhead utility lines,” according to the township staff memo to the commissioners.
Before the township could vacate the road, it needed to be fixed. Last year, the township approved spending over $400,000 to repair the road, paving the way for its eventual vacating.
Once the township vacates the road, ownership would revert to the neighboring property owners.
“We’ve basically created a long driveway that can be utilized by the properties on Woodmont above it if the property owners so decide to keep it open and care for the vegetation along that route,” said Paul McElhaney, director of public works in Lower Merion.
McElhaney said the road has been chained off to discourage illegal dumping.
“We, as a township, have no use for the road. We have no utilities in that area. It had not been used by the public, so it is in our best interest to vacate it at this time,” McElhaney said.
According to the resolution, the township will hold a public hearing on the road’s vacation in September.
This isn’t the first time Lower Merion has vacated an old unused roadbed in the township.
About three years ago, Lower Merion voted to vacate Old Monk Road in Gladwyne. Old Monk Road was a street that branched off from the modern Monk Road but hadn’t been used for about 60 years. According to township officials, at the time they vacated Old Monk Road, the old roadbed went to the adjoining property owners.
“The Board of Commissioners of the Township of Lower Merion, on its own motion, finds that the street right-of-way of Old Monk Road can be vacated without detriment to the public interests because Old Monk Road has been and will remain a dead end street containing no municipal or public utility infrastructure and providing no access or required public street frontage to any abutting lot,” according to the township’s resolution on Old Monk Road.
Originally Published: July 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM EDT