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APRIL 22-28, 2021
Looking by Back Ed Pany Class of 1931, Part 3 of 5
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East Allen Township Unveils 2021 road Maintenance program By KERI LINDENMUTH During the East Allen Township Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, April 14, township manager Brent Green unveiled the township’s 2021 road maintenance program. Six township roads are slated to be chip sealed, with an additional seven roads listed as alternates should time and budget allow. Chip sealing is an affordable way to repair and maintain roads. The first roads to receive maintenance will be Prospect Drive, Sylvan Drive, Laurel Court, Douglas Lane, Mohican Road, and Circle Drive, in that order. The alternate roads proposed are Penny Drive, Beatrice Lane, Pond View Terrace, Lois Lane, Louise Lane, Carol Lane, and Shady Lane. However, the largest road maintenance projects will take place on Mountain View Drive and Mountain View Circle. These
roads will receive a double chip seal and fog seal. Green added that these roads have “completely deteriorated” and this plan is the only other option other than a total restoration. The total road maintenance budget for the year is $400,000, something Green said they are working hard to remain “tight to.” In other news, PennDOT’s replacement plans for Old Carriage Road Bridge are available online for comment at http://www. centuryeng.com/carriage-roadbridge until April 30. PennDOT is aiming to begin construction in 2023. Township engineer James Milot had one concern regarding the plans, which he voiced to supervisors. He said the nine-foot lanes with two-foot shoulders are “very tight.” Supervisors asked Milot to submit a request to PennDOT,
asking that they justify this decision and confirm that the lanes meet standard bridge width. Finally, Green outlined the multiple projects the township is working on using funding from the CARES Act. A new website is launching by the end of the month, complete with emergency notification software and a reverse 911 system that can alert residents in case of an emergency. Software is also being installed that will allow residents and organizations to reserve park pavilions online and submit their payments through the website. Finally, virtual streaming technology has been added to the municipal building’s meeting room so that supervisors can return to in-person meetings, but also broadcast the public meetings online. The next Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Thursday, April 22 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
Allen Township Supervisors Discuss detour options for Howertown Bridge
The front page of the 1931 Amptennian was created by Albert A. Erdosy, a Northampton High School graduate. Photo courtesy of Larry Oberly. In this third column, we are we were just amazed at his art looking at the Northampton abilities. Young Erdosy resided on NewHigh School 1931 Amptennian and the artwork of one of the port Avenue in Northampton. editors, a gridiron legend in the His father, Anthony, was a tailor, Lehigh Valley, Yes, it was Albert a skill rarely found in our presentA. Erdosy, longtime coach of day communities. Al graduated the Northampton High School from Northampton High School in 1931 during the bleak days of Konkrete Kids. Both Mr. Oberly and this writ- the Great Depression. He was the quarterback on the er were students of Mr. Erdosy in his health and physical education 1930-31 Konkrete Kids football classes. He was an excellent, no- team. The team compiled a renonsense teacher. When Larry and I looked at this 1931 book, Continued on page 2
By KERI LINDENMUTH During their meeting on Tuesday, April 13, the Allen Township Board of Supervisors discussed the alternatives they would like to see to PennDOT’s suggested Howertown Bridge detour. The detour that PennDOT engineers recommended last month would close the northbound lane on Howertown Road and detour vehicles five miles around the construction site. Supervisors were unhappy with this detour, citing safety concerns and a lack of access for first responders. Later this month, supervisors will have a meeting with PennDOT to discuss other options. “[We need to] discuss what we want to see as options for detours,”
township manager Ilene Eckhart told supervisors on April 13. “So we have a consolidated approach with these people...I fear if we do not have a uniform front on this... they are going to say [we] do not know what [we] want anyway.” Supervisor Dale Hassler, who is also the township’s fire chief, said he would like to see the bridge leave one lane open and use a traffic signal to allow emergency services and firefighters to travel north toward the township’s fire station and more rural population. He also added that another option could include building a new bridge adjacent to the current bridge and only removing the current bridge when the new bridge is complete. “We are more than happy to
go around [for training] but in a time of emergency, when minutes count...that is what I am looking at,” he said, adding that the convenience of the detour is less important than the safety it can provide to the township. “PennDOT is not looking out for the people of this township,” he said. “PennDOT is looking out for PennDOT.” Continued on page 3
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