Note: This story has been updated and corrected to reflect the fact that the proposed buildings would be offices or manufacturing facilities.
Could the development of large commercial properties on the remaining parcels in Bethlehem’s Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VII result in more truck traffic on Easton Road in Hellertown?
That was a question borough planners discussed at their meeting Tuesday night, on the heels of a discussion about related concerns in Lower Saucon Township and a “scoping” meeting involving Bethlehem officials.
Borough planners reviewed a map of the sprawling industrial park, part of which straddles a large brownfields site between Rt. 412 and Easton Road, to the north of I-78.
Although several of the properties under discussion for development are located on a cul-de-sac off Commerce Center Boulevard–which intersects with Rt. 412–several others would have driveways along Easton Road between Cherry Lane and Ringhoffer Road.
Borough manager Cathy Hartranft explained that the grade of the land in that area is the reason why access will be from Easton Road.
She said the buildings would house offices or manufacturing facilities.
Borough engineer Bryan Smith, of Barry Isett and Associates, said a traffic scoping study will be conducted to help officials better understand how the development of those properties could affect traffic on local roads.
“The main plan that we’re seeing developed now is based on a 2006 study,” he noted.
Smith added that it is possible a traffic signal will be proposed for the intersection of Cherry Lane and Easton Road, depending on the volume of traffic predicted by the scoping study.
It’s currently estimated that the buildings could generate an additional 1,000 vehicles per day through the intersection.
Planning commission chairman Phil Weber said he is concerned that southbound truck traffic from the new businesses will travel all the way down Easton Road to Northampton and Water streets in the center of Hellertown, rather than turning right onto Cherry Lane and then left onto Main Street (Rt. 412 South).
“I don’t feel good about having traffic run down Easton Road but I know it’s going to happen,” he said, noting that Easton Road is a state road.
He added, “my concern is those roads are not built for heavy traffic.”