Hellertown Gateway Sign Gets Green Light

Hellertown Borough Council recently approved a proposed gateway sign that would help direct motorists to downtown. The sign is proposed for the intersection of Mountain Drive South and Hickory Hill Road in Lower Saucon.

Although Lower Saucon Township Council must still OK it, Hellertown Borough Council unanimously green-lit a directional "gateway sign" the Borough Business Revitalization Program (BBRP) has proposed installing at the intersection of Bingen Road/Mountain Drive South and Hickory Hill Road/Friedensville Road. The sign would direct visitors to downtown Hellertown shopping and dining, and would be located at the southwest corner of the busy intersection, which straddles the border between Bethlehem and Lower Saucon Township. It would also direct out-of-towners to the popular Saucon Rail Trail, which is accessible at Water Street Park. The hope is that the sign will be seen by motorists exiting Lehigh University's Goodman Campus, many of whom …

• Photos (1)

Police Reports

Lower Saucon Township Police Blotter: Oct. 12, 2012

The following information was supplied by the Lower Saucon Township Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

Police: Drunk Driver Nearly Lost Control at Friedensville/Meadows Road Bend On Sept. 27 at 2:26am police say Bryan Craig, of the 200 block of Northampton Street, Hellertown, was observed speeding on Route 378 South. After Craig turned left onto Seidersville Road he allegedly continued to speed, and on Hickory Hill Road he began to swerve, according to a police department press release. When Craig reached the bend at Friedensville Road and the Meadows Road turn-off, police say he "nearly lost control" of his vehicle. He was stopped shortly thereafter and allegedly admitted to having just left a bar. Police said the odor of alcohol was detected during the traffic stop and that Craig failed field sobriety tests before being arrested for DUI. …

• Photos (1)

Tell Us: Can You See This Traffic Light?

Local motorists have complained about poor visibility caused by overgrown trees near the traffic light at Friedensville and Bingen roads, on the Lower Saucon Township-Bethlehem border.

An eagle-eyed Patch reader recently pointed out that visibility for motorists approaching a busy intersection near Hellertown is being compromised by overgrown trees. The intersection is where Bingen Road, Hickory Hill Road, Mountain Drive South and Friedensville Road meet, and the problem area is along Friedensville Road. For northbound motorists on Friedensville, the traffic light at the crossroads is hard to see, thanks to the horizontally outstretched branches of sycamore trees planted along the southwestern edge of Lehigh University's Goodman Campus. Friedensville Road itself forms the border between Lower Saucon Township and the City of Bethlehem, so the trees are technically in Bethlehem--but barely. "Watch out!" Valerie Platt …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

BJR

2:57 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012

There is one on the left side in front of the house.   more ›

Crews Clear Accident at Busy Intersection

Police and first responders were at the scene of an accident at Hickory Hill Road and Mountain Drive South late this afternoon. The accident appeared to involve a red station wagon and a van.

Police and emergency crews from Hellertown and Lower Saucon were on the scene of an apparent car accident at the intersection of Hickory Hill Road/Friedensville Road and Bingen Road/Mountain Drive South in Lower Saucon Township late this afternoon. At approximately 5:30pm, Se-Wy-Co fire trucks were observed at the scene of the accident, as were tow trucks from Saucon Collision. The accident appeared to have involved an older model red station wagon and a work van. Hellertown police were helping to direct traffic through the busy intersection, which straddles the border of Lower Saucon Township and the City of Bethlehem. At around 5:15pm a torrential downpour moved through the area where the accident occurred, causing further headaches for …

• Photos (6)

Police Investigating Trailer Break-In at PPL Substation

Lower Saucon Township police say that on June 28 or June 29 an unknown person or persons gained unlawful entry to a trailer at the power company's substation on Hickory Hill Road.

Lower Saucon Township police say they are investigating a reported break-in at a trailer located at a PPL substation on Hickory Hill Road. The break-in occurred sometime between 3:20pm on June 28 and 6:15am on June 29, and involved the removal of a lock on a trailer that housed property belonging to Matrix Service Industrial Contractors of Eddystone, Pa., police said. After an unknown person or persons accessed the trailer, they "went through materials and property belonging to Matrix" but took nothing of value, police added. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Lower Saucon Township Police Department at 610-317-6110.

• Photos (1)