Gene Selko said he used to see about 15 to 20 cars an hour drive by his house on quiet Janet Drive in Bethel Park. That was before the state Department of Transportation in March began replacing the bridge that carries Baptist Road over some railroad tracks between Horning and Hamilton roads.

"Now we're getting something like 420-450 cars an hour during rush hour," Mr. Selko said. "I'm having trouble just getting out of my driveway."

The $1.95 million project affects an estimated 11,600 cars a day that normally use the bridge. Mr. Selko estimates that about 5,000 of those cars are using his street as a cut-through.

He said his concerns are primarily about safety because some drivers are speeding or not stopping at the stop signs. The speed limit on Janet Drive is 25 miles per hour.

He said he's afraid there could be a problem if a child runs out into the street after a ball or something similar.

Bethel Park Councilman Paul Dixon, whose ward includes the affected area, agreed that a large percentage of the traffic has been using Marilynn Drive and Janet Drive to circumvent the bridge closure.

He said the primary complaint among the neighborhood residents is the increase in traffic and the disregard for speed limit and stop sign restrictions.

He said the police have installed additional stop signs on Marilynn Drive at the intersections with both Janet with Linda drives.

"These are planned to be temporary at this point, but our traffic division will monitor conditions and report their recommendations," he said. "Placing additional traffic control devices only works if drivers adhere to them."

Bethel Park Police Chief John Mackey said his department is continuing to monitor the area and is aggressively enforcing vehicle code violations.

Mr. Dixon said he is hopeful the temporary stop signs will improve safety conditions but, if not, the municipality will consider installing temporary detour signs to divert traffic along Horning and Gardenville roads.

Mr. Selko said the new stop signs have only seemed to make drivers in even more of a hurry once they get to his street.

He said about 20 years ago an old train trestle was removed in basically the same area where the Baptist Road bridge is now closed. At that time Bethel Park installed signs saying no through traffic was allowed on the local streets, but officials have told him that can no longer legally be done.

Mr. Selko said he also suggested installing speed bumps or possibly pylons to slow drivers.

But with the work scheduled into at least August, Mr. Selko said he knows there's no easy solution.

"It's going to be a long, hot summer," he said.