Sept. 8, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Bethlehem’s capital plan again includes four proposed traffic lights, but no date has been set for installation.
The city’s five-year capital plan, which is updated annually, has included the four lights before, at least as early as 2021. Installing lights costs $275,000 to $325,000 each, according to the plan.
The four intersections under consideration: East Boulevard and Linden Street, Butztown Road and Easton Avenue, Linden Street and Elmhurst Avenue, and Third Avenue and Union Boulevard.
The first two are T-intersections where making a left turn can be difficult.
— At East Boulevard and Linden Street, southbound drivers on Linden sometimes have to wait to take a left, and if they’re making a wide turn, they block other drivers from going around them. Going left onto East Boulevard takes people to East Hills Middle School, Freedom High School and Our Lady of Perpetual Help School. There is also a house on the west side of Linden Street, complicating matters.
Taking a left from East onto Linden is at best difficult, depending on the time of day.
— Putting a light at the Butztown Road/Easton Avenue intersection might make left turns easier from both roads, but it would mean having four lights within about a half mile. There is a light in front of the Keystone Pub, another in front of Monro just to the west and a fourth in front of the shopping center anchored by Giant (the center is called The Shops at Bethlehem but I’ve never heard anybody use that name).
Eastbound traffic already backs up to the shopping center at busy times.
Including proposals in the capital plan does not mean they’re going to be done by a certain date, if at all.
The 2027-31 Non-Utility Capital Plan will be reviewed by the Bethlehem Planning Commission at a meeting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10 in Town Hall. The commission will also consider a plan for 82 apartments on North New Street.
Final decisions on the capital plan are made by City Council.
Here’s a note from the Planning Commission agenda:
Install new or upgrade existing signals at various locations. Each intersection costs between $275,000 to $325,000. Currently proposed potential new signal locations include: East Boulevard & Linden Street, Butztown Road & Easton Avenue, Linden Street & Elmhurst Avenue, and Third Avenue & Union Blvd.
Currently needed upgrade locations include: Stefko Blvd & Gresham St, 8th Ave & Union Blvd, New & Market
Streets, North & Main Streets, Center & Church Streets, Center & Market Streets, and Walnut & New Streets. Construction for Club Ave & Union Blvd is anticipated in the Spring of 2027 once easement agreements are finally secured with abutting landowners.
Design for the intersections of Pennsylvania Avenue & Union Blvd, Pennsylvania Avenue & Eaton Avenue, and Eaton Avenue & Union Blvd were completed in the fourth quarter of 2026 but construction is to start in spring 2027 due to City requested changes/improvements in the final design of the project. Design for the 8th Ave and Union Blvd intersection will begin in 2027 with construction to start in late 2027 or early 2028.The Complete Streets Plan will also guide various future strategic improvements within the public right-of-way with the goals of supporting a safe, connected, and equitable transportation network; expanding access to alternative modes of travel; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 