PennDOT Agrees to Install Walls, But Runoff Issue Remains

A stormwater runoff issue exacerbated by the installation of new handicapped-accessible sidewalk ramps near Hellertown's Detwiller Plaza will not be resolved by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT's) agreement to install low retaining walls known as "cheek walls" next to two of the ramps, Engineer Bryan Smith told Borough Council July 18.

The runoff is an issue during heavy rainstorms, and was first brought to council's attention by .

Delfoe is a founder of the Hellertown Plaza Clock Tower Association, which maintains and beautifies the park on a voluntary basis.

On July 7, Smith said he, Delfoe, Borough Manager Cathy Kichline and State Rep. Bob Freeman (D-136) met with the PennDOT contractor that installed the ramps to discuss the problems.

"The ramps followed current PennDOT standards and were PennDOT reviewed and approved," Smith said.

Following the meeting, he said, PennDOT agreed to install the low retaining walls known as cheek walls near the ramps at the north and south corners of Easton Road and Main Street.

However, "there was no solution proposed for the ramp at Lukoil," he added, referring to a third ramp that is contributing to the runoff situtation.

Smith said that ramp was designed to "deflect normal flows of water," but said the loss of curbing in favor of a ramp at that location has done nothing to improve the runoff situation during intense rainfalls.

"Since the ramp is required by federal law, it (had) to be installed," he told council.

Council President Phil Weber said that although the area being impacted by the runoff is around the plaza, the source of the problem is further away.

"The problem truly is way above that ramp," he said. "The water coming (downhill) is too much."

Smith said the only way to truly resolve the storm water situation that now exists at the plaza would be to install an inlet in the pipe that's directing the runoff to that location.

PennDOT, however, is unwilling to do that, he added.

One option to finance such an improvement would be to seek grant funding in the future, he indicated.

The installation of the new ramps follows PennDOT's paving of Easton Road in 2009, and precedes planned improvements to the intersection of Easton Road and Main Street scheduled to begin next year.