Million Dollar Roadwork Gap Won't be Filled by Township, School District

A stalled shopping center project means improvements to the intersection of Camp Meeting Rd., Lanark Rd., and 309 are $1 million short, but the money won't come from Upper Saucon Township or Southern Lehigh schools.

The intersection -which officials anticipated would be congested after the completion of the Intermediate School- required a commitment from the district, the township, and any would-be developers to improve the intersection.

"When the Intermediate School was approved [by the township], a traffic study was required [to move forward]," said district solicitor James Bartholomew, who participated in the negotiations. "There were traffic improvements that were to be made by both the district and the township."

Upper Saucon Township manager Tom Beil says originally, the project had a third partner -Chernay Development Corporation- which planned on developing the northwest corner of the intersection.

According to the minutes of the Feb. 13, 2006 Upper Saucon Board of Supervisors meeting, Chernay planned on developing the corner into "a neighborhood convenience center consisting of a restaurant, bank, and two-story office/retail building." But Beil says that project seems to be on hold.

"The [Chernay] project has stalled, which adds a cost we were not anticipating," said Beil. That cost equals another $1 million.

Both the district and the township have currently contributed approximately $400,000 each towards the project. The money was used for permits, surveys, and design for the intersection.

The design includes a long turn lane from 309 North onto Lanark Rd., as well as additional lanes and turning lanes on Camp Meeting Rd. and Lanark Rd.

Beil says the township is pursuing other options to make up the difference.

"We're going to PennDOT and asking them for funds," says Beil. "We're asking them to contribute for a project that is technically on their road [Route 309]." The township will also go to the federal government for funds, but feel that PennDOT is their strongest option.

Beil says without an additional source of funds, the project won't move forward.

"We're going to tell PennDOT we have $1.2 million [committed to the next phase] and if you don't help us, your intersection won't get fixed."

The news that the township is going to additional sources is good news for the district. "This is a big deal," said board president Dr. Thomas McLoughlin. "It limits the financial exposure of the district to the tune of millions of what it might be." 

The anticipated completion date is August 2020. If the project is incomplete at that time, both Upper Saucon and Southern Lehigh can walk away from the project with their committed $600,000 intact.