A sidewalk “bumpout” similar to this one is being installed at Main Street and Thomas Avenue in Hellertown as part of a pedestrian safety initiative.
A project that will help improve pedestrian safety along Main Street in Hellertown is proceeding well ahead of schedule, likely aided by the favorable weather for construction projects that has prevailed since work began on it in early April.
Hellertown Borough Manager Cathy Hartranft said Sunday that the entire project is expected to be completed by mid June, about two months ahead of the original estimated completion date.
“We are very happy with the speed in which the contractor completed this project considering the significant traffic on Main Street, and sincerely thank the public for their patience and understanding during construction,” she said.
She said last week that some night work that was necessary as part of the project has all been completed.
Above, construction crews work on a pedestrian safety project at the intersection of Main and Clarke streets in Hellertown last week. Borough manager Cathy Hartranft said Sunday that the entire project is expected to be completed by mid June, about two months ahead of schedule. She previously said that all night work related to the project has now been completed. Several residents reported to Saucon Source last week that noise from the night work was disruptive to their quality of life.
Hartranft provided the following schedule for the remaining work:
- Week of May 24: Pavement restoration will be completed at the remaining crosswalks; grade and paver adjustments will be made at the bus shelter; restoration of the pavers at Main and Water streets will be completed; all landscaping will be completed; and all Rapid Flashing Beacons will be inspected.
- Week of June 1: The contractor will begin installing the decorative crosswalks.
Phase II of the Main Street Corridor Pedestrian Safety Initiative includes the addition of rapid-flash pedestrian crosswalks at six Main Street intersections: Wagner Avenue, Clarke Street, Thomas Avenue, Chestnut Street, Hampton Avenue and Saucon Street.
In addition to the rapid-flash crosswalks, handicapped-accessible ramps and stamped crosswalks are being installed at all of those intersections; the Main Street crosswalk at Hampton Avenue is being moved slightly to the south; and a sidewalk bumpout and bus shelter are being built on the east side of Main Street at Thomas Avenue.
Funding for the project was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in the form of TASA (Transportation Set Aside) funds.
“These funds may be for on and off road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility among a number of other improvements,” Hartranft said.
Pedestrian safety on Rt. 412 in Hellertown has been a concern for many years, and with increasing traffic volume, officials have been tasked with finding ways to improve it.
Last year, 74-year-old Hellertown pedestrian Frances Miller was killed crossing Main Street near Linden Avenue and Bachman Street, in an accident borough police investigated with assistance from Pennsylvania State Police.
