Week in Review

Alleged Garbage Man Assault, School Board Race Top Local News

An alleged assault on a garbage man in Lower Saucon Township and the Saucon Valley School Board race topped the local headlines this week.

Woman Hit Garbage Man, Told Him 'I Drive a Range Rover,' Police Say Lower Saucon Township Police say Sarah Hart, of the 3500 block of North Drive, ordered a garbageman to pick up her trash with his teeth before pulling him from his truck and hitting him. 11 Candidates Running for 4 Saucon Valley School Board Seats The Saucon Valley School Board primary features 11 cross-filed candidates running for four seats. Man Was Drunk, Had Heroin on Rail Trail, Police Say A Lower Saucon Township man has been charged with public drunkenness, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia. Tell Us: Are Traffic Police Needed on Rt. 412? Many Hellertown Patch readers say police or flagger forces are needed to help direct traffic on Route 412 …

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Expect 'Extra Heavy' Traffic Monday on Rt. 412, PennDOT Says

Extra traffic will be accessing Exit 67 (Rt. 412) on I-78 because of the Lehigh University commencement ceremony.

The Route 412 interchange on I-78 is already congested on a typical weekday morning, but motorists who drive that way should expect "extra heavy traffic" this Monday, PennDOT has warned in a news release. Additional congestion and delays are possible because of Lehigh University's commencement exercises, which will be held Monday on the school's Bethlehem campus. The advisory emailed by PennDOT says motorists should be alert for extra traffic between the Route 33 and Route 309 exits on I-78 between 8 and 11 a.m. Much of the Route 412 corridor in Hellertown and Bethlehem is currently under construction as part of a three-year, $36 million widening project.

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Angie Drake

1:07 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013

Rt 412 in Hellertown....just a long, long parking lot on Monday!   more ›

Drivers Running Red Lights in Rt. 412 Construction Zone

A video filmed Monday at Main Street (Rt. 412) and Cherry Lane—on the Bethlehem-Hellertown border—shows several motorists running red lights while another blocks part of the busy intersection near the on-ramp to I-78 East.

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Tell Us: Are Traffic Police Needed on Rt. 412?

Many Hellertown Patch readers say police or flagger forces are needed to help direct traffic on Route 412 near the I-78 interchange in Hellertown during the latest phase of a construction project.

In response to a question posted Monday on Hellertown Patch's Facebook page, readers are voicing their opinions about overwhelmed intersections at the north end of Main Street, near the Route 412 interchange on I-78. Specifically, readers are saying there needs to be police officers or flagger forces deployed to help prevent traffic from blocking the intersections during rush hour. Although traffic lights on Main Street were retimed Friday to help reduce congestion related to the latest phase of PennDOT's three-year Route 412 widening project in Hellertown and Bethlehem, readers are reporting that problems are still prevalant in the area where access to several side streets is currently limited. Below is a sampling of quotes from readers …

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Lights Retimed to Help Reduce Rt. 412 Congestion

The traffic light adjustments were made to help alleviate construction-related congestion and followed a Friday afternoon meeting between borough officials, business owners, State Rep. Bob Freeman and PennDOT representatives.

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 local officials, residents and business owners expressed concern 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 …

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New Detours Slow Rt. 412 Traffic in Hellertown

Barricades and detours related to a new phase of the three-year Route 412 widening project are making life difficult for residents, business owners and commuters in Hellertown and Bethlehem, particularly at rush hour.

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Rt. 412 Restrictions Concern Officials, Business Owners

With barricades going up on side streets at Main Street's north end in Hellertown, business owners, residents and officials are worried about the potential for long-term, major inconvenience.

Note: This story has been updated with additional information (Tuesday, May 7, 5 p.m.) Frustration over PennDOT's plan to barricade several side streets at the north end of Hellertown's Main Street was expressed at Monday's Borough Council meeting. The plan to barricade Hess, Roth, Kichline and Kiernan avenues at Main Street was announced as part of PennDOT's ongoing, $36 million Route 412 renewal project as early as March of last year. However, now that the barricades are about to go up, five business owners who will be affected by the restrictions on turning traffic are worried, council members said. Those five businesses—Top Star Exxon, Superior Auto, 412 Auto Tags, Vassi's Drive-In and the Chevy 21 used car center—are located on the …

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Main Street Parking Restrictions to Take Effect Monday

The parking restrictions along Main Street in Hellertown will be between Wagner Avenue and Cherry Lane. They are related the ongoing, $36 million Route 412 project.

Main Street parking restrictions in Hellertown that are related to the next phase of an ongoing, $36 million Route 412 widening/upgrades project will take effect Monday, April 29, Borough Manager Cathy Kichline announced Thursday. As PennDOT and contractor HRI Inc. "begin implementation of the Hellertown portion of Phase 1B, which includes drainage and paving...parking restrictions (along Main Street) will be in place to allow for lane shifts both north and south" between Wagner Avenue and Cherry Lane, a news release from the borough indicated. The parking restrictions are expected to be in place throughout 2013. "This may be an inconvenience to all those affected," the news release acknowledged. "We ask for your patience and cooperation …

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