Motorists are puzzled why they can't make a right turn on red to go west on Lehigh Street from Front Street in Hokendauqua.

Addressing the Front Street question, raised at last Monday's commissioners meeting, Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. said there are no plans to petition PennDOT to permit motorists to make a right turn on red. Although Lehigh Street is barricaded east of Front Street, such a decision would prove unsafe, he said.

If the township were to petition PennDOT about this, it would be the third time in two years the township has sought to revise traffic patterns at the intersection.

Hozza said the township is awaiting a PennDOT decision seeking relief for residents on Quarry Street. The petitioned change would allow residents to access Lehigh Street and Front or Church streets.

The Ironton Rail-Trail Bridge has been knocked down and demolition is proceeding on the Norfolk & Southern Railroad Bridge, after which the Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge will be razed.

Hozza said traffic was extremely heavy on Monday with holiday weekend shoppers and skiers going to Blue Mountain. Many restaurants experienced long lines.