Should Speed Limit on Rt. 412 in L. Saucon Be Lowered?

With hopes of getting the speed limit reduced from 40 mph to 35 mph, Lower Saucon Township Council voted 3-0 Wednesday to request a PennDOT traffic study of a stretch of Rt. 412 that township police say is crash-prone.

Rt. 412 looking east in the village of Leithsville, Lower Saucon Township

Township manager Jack Cahalan said the 1.3-mile section of road between a point in between Rosalie Drive and the village of Leithsville and the township’s border with Hellertown borough was the scene of numerous crashes last year, including nine reported crashes at the intersection of Apples Church Road and Rt. 412 alone.

Along the two-lane stretch of road that would be studied, there are numerous intersecting roads as well as two sharp bends–one near Apples Church and the other near the complicated Springtown Hill Road intersection, he said.

If PennDOT would ultimately approve a speed limit reduction as a result of a study, the township would be responsible for paying for replacement signage.

The stretch of road that would be studied also includes the intersection of Flint Hill Road and Rt. 412, which has been the scene of two major accidents involving runaway trucks within the last three years.

After council late last year requested a study of Flint Hill Road because of those accidents, PennDOT approved a reduced gear and truck speed limit zone of 30 mph on Flint Hill in April of this year.

Council vice president Tom Maxfield and councilman Glenn Kern were absent from the meeting Wednesday.

Do you think the speed limit on Rt. 412 south of Hellertown should be reduced from 40 mph to 35 mph? Tell us by posting a comment and voting in the poll.

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