Freemansburg Ave Widening To Start September

CPL Stephen Malitzki, Jr, and family

The best-laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley, says poet Robert Burns. He must have been familiar with PennDOT. A two-year widening project along Freemansburg Avenue is scheduled to start in September. Bethlehem Township Commissioners approved a host of motions and resolutions related to the project at their May 19 meeting. The good news is that St. Luke's Hospital and Madison Farms developers will be picking up the tab, which includes a new bridge over Route 33. The bad news is that it is scheduled to take over two years.

This comes at a time when residents Roy and Barry Roth are complaining about congestion along William Penn Highway, the other east-west corridor in the Township. They both noted that, in addition to rush hours, they have even seen it on Saturday mornings. He asked Township officials to meet with PennDOT about re-timing the traffic light coming from Emrick Boulevard.

Commissioners also heard again from Chetwin Terrace resident Wayne Kresge, who has been a regular at meetings for the past year. He has been plagued by stormwaters that come from William Penn Highway, across the bike path and flood onto his property. He told Commissioners that there was 4" of rainwater on the bike path after a recent downpour. "If some child is out there, he'll be swept away," he warned.

Township manager Melissa Shafer told Kresge that Public Works will be out there within a month, and promised to visit the property herself after the next heavy rainfall.

Shafer also updated Commissioners on improvements at Housenick Park. She noted that work on a driveway and parking lot is under way and that she is working on securing a permanent easement. She also toured the Archibald Johnston Mansion, and reported there is no leakage. She said the chimneys need work, especially since a tree is growing in one of them.

Commissioner Michael Hudak, who previously asked Kunsman Roofing to examine the roof, also clarified that the roof repair projection was not a technical "estimate," and that if the roof were being repaired, the matter would be put out to bid.

Kunsman Roofing has been making bi-annual inspections and repairs at the mansion.

Finally, Officer Officer Stephen Malitzki, Jr., was sworn in as a Corporal in the Township Police Department by President Marty Zawarski. Corporal Malitizi was joined by his wife, Jennifer, and sons Tyler and Jaden.