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Politics & Government

Upper Nazareth to Ask PennDOT for Signage Change

In continued efforts to reduce heavy truck traffic in township neighborhoods, officials will ask PennDOT to change "No Trucks Allowed" signs.

In an effort to reduce heavy truck traffic in the area of Newburg, Silver Crest and Township Line roads, supervisors will ask the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to modify signage along Newburg Road.

At the urging of Police Chief Alan Siegfried, supervisors will send a letter to PennDOT asking for the “Except Local Deliveries” portion of the “No Trucks Allowed” signs to be removed.

Changing the signs is up to PennDOT because Newburg Road is state-owned.

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Siegfried said he talked to one truck driver who told him he never would have taken his rig onto Newburg Road had the signs simply read “No Trucks Allowed.”

Siegfried also emphasized that trucks heading to legitimate business in the area would be allowed on Newburg Road.

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“Nobody's going to be citing UPS trucks on that road,” he said at Wednesday night's meeting.

The move marks the latest step by officials in Upper Nazareth and East Allen townships to limit traffic congestion and property damage caused by truck traffic -- sometimes in residential neighborhoods -- near the border of the townships.

Tractor trailers making wide turns at intersections not designed for heavy truck traffic -- such as Newburg and Silver Crest roads -- have knocked down signs and mailboxes and disrupted traffic patterns in the area.

Last month, Upper Nazareth supervisors voted to pursue an , which would allow Upper Nazareth police to cite trucks that travel illegally on the East Allen side of Township Line Road. The center line of that road forms the border between the townships.

Gary Asteak, Upper Nazareth's solicitor, said on Wednesday that he has completed a draft of that agreement, but still needs to proofread and polish it.

In other traffic- and road-related business:

  • Upper Nazareth police will assist Nazareth police and officials as much as they can -- barring emergency calls in the township -- during Saturday's that starts at the .

    “I informed officers working that day to assist borough officers,” Siegfried said. “If they are available they can help out.”

    The run/walk, which will benefit , became a hot topic at Monday night's police committee meeting in Nazareth. Police Chief Thomas Trachta said the runners and walkers will head through.

  • Upper Nazareth officials, including Supervisor Scott Sylvainus, will attend a meeting at the PennDOT district office on Sept. 28 regarding the proposed traffic light at the intersection of Route 191 and Friedenstahl Avenue.

    Nazareth Area School District took back $500,000 earmarked for the intersection improvements, which include the addition of a traffic signal. The improvements were part of the $49 million Nazareth Area Middle School construction plans. The school opened its doors in September 2009.
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