Route 412 'Detour' Leads to Confusion

Hellertown is dealing with an added wrinkle to the ongoing traffic congestion caused by Route 412 roadwork: people thinking they can use the borough's alleys as detours.

At this week's borough council meeting, Councilman Tom Riegler asked police and public works officials to look at putting up stop signs to reduce speeding in side streets like Oak Alley.

Police Chief Robert Shupp said the problem is that drivers are getting confused by a detour sign posted along Route 412.

"I think people think it's a detour around traffic, and it's not," Shupp said.

The sign at the detour at Main and High streets  should read "Detour: Local Traffic Only," something Shupp said he hopes the contractor will correct soon.

He also said the borough will put up stop signs at some point next week, although not too many.

"We dont want to muddle the areas with signs," Shupp said, and create more confusion or congestion.

Congestion along the Route 412 corridor at Hellertown's north end has worsened in recent weeks, as a new phase of construction related to a multi-million-dollar widening project has gotten under way, and this isn't the first complaint the borough has gotten about the project.

Last month, parent Rebecca Walser told council the traffic had made her afraid to cross the street to get to her daughter's bus stop.

Merchants who own businesses along the route have also expressed concerns.