Lights Retimed to Help Reduce Rt. 412 Congestion

A Friday afternoon meeting between PennDOT representatives and borough officials, business owners and State Rep. Bob Freeman (D-136) was "very productive," said borough councilman Tom Rieger, who attended the meeting.

The meeting was called after about barricades erected at the intersection of several side streets and Main Street, near the I-78 interchange at Hellertown's northern end.

The barricades were meant to help prevent Route 412 traffic from detouring onto residential side streets during a new phase of construction related to an ongoing, three-year, $36 million improvement project for the state highway.

However, some residents have complained about the inconvenience of having to drive around the barricades, as well as traffic backups being caused by them.

As a result of the meeting with PennDOT, Rieger said traffic lights along the Rt. 412 corridor were re-timed Friday, to help alleviate congestion along the road.

Borough Manager Cathy Kichline, who in an email update also called the meeting "productive," said the following determinations were made as a result of it:

• Kichline Avenue will remain closed.
• The Kiernan Avenue traffic signal will be reinstalled with left turn restrictions onto Route 412
• Hess Avenue will be one way west from Main Street to Oak (Alley).
• Roth Avenue will be one way west from Main Street to Oak (Alley).
• The High Street detour will remain in effect to egress onto Route 412.
• Trucks are restricted to local deliveries on all affected streets.
• PennDOT will provide directional signs to all local businesses.
• PennDOT will expedite the changes.

"Mayor Fluck and Borough Council want to especially thank Representative Bob Freeman with his assistance in coordinating this meeting," Kichline said.

Rieger said residents and business owners frustrated by the recent traffic tie-ups should know that "more progress is coming," and he said officials are determined to lessen the negative impacts being caused by the Route 412 project.

Referring to the currently planned solutions, he said, "If this doesn't work, we can try something else."