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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

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.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bethlehem Township continues to ignore significant run off and flooding problems in the William Penn Highway and Freemansburg Avenue areas. They're waiting for somebody to die, first.

Anonymous said...

No mention of the single trash hauling issue? Also, the new Cpl looks like he needs to stay away from Dunkin Donuts already.

zoid said...

William Penn Highway and Freemansburg are Penn DOT roads, not township roads.

Anonymous said...

Melissa Shafer is doing a fantastic job so far, she is visible and interested in helping the community. Good Job Melissa!

Anonymous said...

Is the township powerless to lobby PennDOT about Freemansburg and William Penn, when lives are potentially at stake? They give the stock answer and figure they'll blame the state when somebody dies, as happened several years back with the flooded basin and faulty grate. Who knows better the problems they've had?

Anonymous said...

Boonie it looks like your making the family uncomfortable

Anonymous said...

What did Tom Nolan say?

Bernie O'Hare said...

I don't believe Comm'rs had much to say. These are state roads.

Anonymous said...

6:20 Someone already has died in the early 80's Debra LaForme was wsept into the storm drain in the Keystone Pub area and Her body was later recovered behind the strip mall on Willow Park Rd....


Retired 1452

Anonymous said...

Bernie what is up with Howard Kutzler on the Ballot at Miller Heights?

zoid said...

I believe Howard was running for Republican state committee.

Anonymous said...

Zoid,

Isn't this the guy that was township manager that left to work at South Whitehall?