tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post1502139029449175602..comments2024-03-29T00:30:47.101-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Bethlehem Tp Wants PennDOT to Repair Easton Avenue CulvertBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-65599634770767058572018-05-21T16:32:57.894-04:002018-05-21T16:32:57.894-04:00Just wondering if anyone knows if this issue has b...Just wondering if anyone knows if this issue has been resolved? I've hear rumors that Penndot was fixing the culver/sidewalks but any truth to this? How much of the sidewalks arey they fixing? Will they fix Pub side up to Butztown? Any info is helpful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41314589068965590632015-06-06T07:48:20.755-04:002015-06-06T07:48:20.755-04:00Unfortunately, this too would cost money, but has ...Unfortunately, this too would cost money, but has either the Twp or a PennDOT engineer looked at the whole stretch of culverts between Butztown and Santee? That would either dispel that this really is a bigger issue (I thought I saw some sidewalk chipping on Pub side when driving by), or give justification for developing a plan of action so Twp, and/or PennDOT, and/or homeowners can figure out their role(s). Or is everyone afraid of that too, for fear of "taking ownership", and will just wait until the next piece falls through? The fact that there is this current problem on a different section would indicate that the fix a decade or more ago was not the end of a one spot problem, but maybe was really an early warning that the sidewalks over these culverts on both sides are aging. Even if they claim they are not the "responsible owners", does the gov't (whichever one) not have a legal responsibility now to at least investigate a known issue that transcends property lines but is a potential safety issue on a heavily traveled road? For part of it, the sidewalk is almost flush with the street (Pub side). If an impatient vehicle, thinking it is a sidewalk on solid ground, tries to (illegally) pull around a car (say waiting to make a left into the P.O., or stained glass place, could the weight of it go through or cause further structural weakness? I don't know, I am not an engineer. Further down, cars daily go around cars making a left onto Willow Park even though there is no designated separate thru and turn lanes. At some point (where??) I assume (dangerous word) these culverts must go under PennDOT's Easton Ave and Willow Park Rd. to dump into the Nancy Run and have been accounted for by PennDOT whenever work has been done on their roadways.<br /><br />My concern is a.) safety, and b.) in the law of torts if a potential problem is "foreseeable" does it not increase liabilities... somebody's liability?Lighthousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05346747286241817118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-68861161690491756232015-06-05T16:16:42.486-04:002015-06-05T16:16:42.486-04:00I waited a few days to comment, but here is my tak...I waited a few days to comment, but here is my take and prediction:<br /><br />The box culvert problem is actually from one house east of Butztown Rd to Keystone Pub on that side of Easton Ave, and on the other side of Easton Ave in the area of question from Willow Park and along several houses. How far, I am not certain, but I would think it safe to say where there is sidewalk on either side that really does not lead anywhere, is likely covering the culvert(s).<br /><br />If you look on both sides there are other areas along this stretch that will likely need repairs in the not to distant future. What SHOULD be done is a comprehensive fix along both sides, but $$ becomes the factor.<br /><br />You mention that the homeowners technically own these areas per your title search. When there was a similar, but smaller problem in the early 2000s on the stretch between the Pub and Butztown that conclusion was put out there as the likely, but not conclusive, probability (I say not conclusive because there some uncertainty resulting from some Trolley Co ROW scores ago). BUT, with such uncertainty of ownership between Trolley Co., Twp, and PennDOT, rather than trying to go after the homeowner to make the repair the then solicitor, on behalf of the then BOC, was able to negotiate that PennDOT made that small fix while simultaneously saying they were not technically responsible (decade old memory is a little fuzzy, so not 100% certain, but that is how I remember it).<br /><br />Fast FW to your post. The grate you refer to is only at the corner. From your post I can't tell: Is that all PennDOT put in?? or did the build the whole culvert? If they only put in the corner grates, then I predict they will say this issue is not resolved, and that they are not responsible. In fact, I believe at one point, the Twp told the property owner at the corner house that they were responsible for the grate between the street and their driveway, not the Twp. <br /><br />So, what is going to happen? My guess is that PennDOT will refuse responsibility. And then the Twp will either try to push it on the homeowner(s) which won't go over well, or do it them selves, but now perhaps losing the labor and supply PennDOT was willing to help with. Throw in lawyer fees for Twp and PennDOT, and who loses? <br /><br />There once was a traffic plan to address the traffic at that intersection. If that ever happened, the few feet on either side of the road would end up being assumed anyway by someone (PennDOT or Twp) through eminent domain. But that would cost a LOT of money, so I don't know if it would ever happen. However, PennDOT and the TWP, should fix that whole stretch now. Besides an eyesore, it is a current and future safety issue. Pedestrians do sometimes walk along there. An out of control vehicle could drive over any part of this stretch perhaps going through the sidewalk. And, during heavy rains the area in current question is underwater, and then you have a LaForm potential all over again with a hidden hole sucking in water and anything in the water. Would the legal bills for PennDOT and BT be more or less with any of these potential lawsuits, rather than working together for taxpayers they have in common and fix it rather than pointing fingers at each other. Why does this have to be a turf war between two government units serving the same folks?Lighthousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05346747286241817118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-24823467222471392332015-06-02T11:51:38.521-04:002015-06-02T11:51:38.521-04:00Hudak deserves credit for being right on that issu...Hudak deserves credit for being right on that issue.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-69976351800107134412015-06-02T11:39:02.869-04:002015-06-02T11:39:02.869-04:00They are refusing because the commissioners voted ...They are refusing because the commissioners voted first to fix it themselves. Hudak was the only one who knew they were walking into admission and liability. They were pleaded with that night not to take that vote. Good thing Marty got us into this and now needed another vote to back peddle out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-10558530645522696732015-06-02T09:21:36.909-04:002015-06-02T09:21:36.909-04:00It extends between Willow Park and Santee Road. Th...It extends between Willow Park and Santee Road. That isd where PennDOT installed the grate. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-3276371698228062622015-06-02T07:48:54.255-04:002015-06-02T07:48:54.255-04:00Walk west of the intersection on the Keystone Pub ...Walk west of the intersection on the Keystone Pub side and you will find that the sidewalk is falling through there as well. Can we get some answers? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-19712148187913835192015-06-02T06:45:54.139-04:002015-06-02T06:45:54.139-04:00Why is it that these state government agencies fig...Why is it that these state government agencies fight with the very citizens that pay their wage? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-73165551242518979022015-06-02T06:33:14.645-04:002015-06-02T06:33:14.645-04:00And how much money is the Township spending on cha...And how much money is the Township spending on chasing this issue when it was dealt with in the past? Should there not be records of this? Good luck to his eminence in directing the State to fix a problem. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com