Catasauqua Press

The repaving of Postal Road will not be completed until the spring, following a decision by the Hanover Township Council.

At the council's Oct. 15 meeting, township Engineer Frederick Hay asked council to defer the road improvement project.

"The concern is the weather and the time we have to get this done," he said. "The contractor will hold his prices firm."

Council granted the delay. While some preliminary work has been done, the paving portion of the project has not been completed.

In an effort to boost interest in the development of its new property along Front Street, the borough of Catasauqua is hosting a party Saturday. On the guest list will be any local resident who wishes to tour the property, along with a number of officials and developers.

Inside the building that used to house a plate mill on the former FL Smidth property, the huge floor has been cleared and lights have been strung up like an Italian street fair. On Friday, the food trucks will roll in and set up to serve food to the crowd.

A future PennDOT program for infrastructure improvements includes replacement of Catasauqua's Race Street Bridge.

Catasauqua Borough Manager Eugene Golfeder said a program he heard is in the works streamlines the normal process in the state of Pennsylvania. He spoke about the program at Monday's borough council workshop meeting.

"It is rumored that PennDOT signed a contract with a contractor to replace a number of bridges in 36 months," he said. "The Race Street Bridge is on the list."

Sewer fees for Hanover Township residents are expected to increase to meet an anticipated future capital improvement.

The additional fees are needed to address a funding problem with the Allentown Wastewater Treatment Plant, which handles some of Hanover's water treatment.

Borough motorists will notice a new traffic pattern at the intersection of Pine Street and Howertown Road following a decision by the Catasauqua Borough Council.

At the Oct. 6 meeting, the council acted on a recommendation from Public Works Director Jeff MacHose. Cars turning right from Pine Street to southbound Howertown Road seem to have a knack for wiping out stop signs on the corner. The latest stop sign installed has a protective concrete barrier.

At Catasauqua Council's workshop session on Sept. 29, Councilwoman Deb Mellish expressed some concern that the data collected during the borough's traffic study might be influenced by construction now taking place on Second Street.

The borough contracted a study to evaluate traffic along Race Street where it intersects with Lehigh, Front and Second streets. The study is in response to a proposal by PennDOT to add signals to alleviate traffic congestion along Race Street.

Three members of the Catasauqua Borough Council walked out of a special council meeting Monday after their votes to approve the purchase of the FL Smidth property along Front Street were not enough to move forward with a plan to construct a municipal and emergency services building on the site.