Ever since a tractor trailer took out the traffic light in Coplay, borough officials have been searching for a solution.

The truck, registered to a firm in New Brunswick, Canada, attempted to turn right onto Chestnut Street Jan. 17. The driver cut the corner too close and knocked down the traffic light and pole.

Triaxle dump truck traffic increased in Coplay recently because Coplay Aggregates obtained permission from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to accept old crushed glass – dubbed "Mount Glassmore" by Northampton officials – from Greenstar Recycling in Northampton.

"The project that the dump trucks were working on is now coming to an end," said police Chief Vincent Genovese at council's meeting Tuesday night. "We're not seeing as many but they're still there. They're finishing up the project. However, we're seeing more tractor trailers on Second Street."

In fact, last week, another tractor trailer attempting to make a turn at the same intersection hit the temporary traffic light installed following the Jan. 17 incident, he said.

One proposal has been to pass an ordinance restricting weight on Second Street, from Hokendauqua to the borough line, to five tons and designating certain streets for local deliveries only.

Currently the weight limit is three tons, or "a little more than a pickup truck," according to Genovese. The borough does not enforce the outdated weight limit, Genovese has said at previous council meetings.

Borough Secretary-Treasurer Sandra Gyecsek said Tuesday night she prepared a draft ordinance changing the weight limit on Second Street. It could be sent to the solicitor for review and advertised for action at the April meeting. Council agreed.

In the meantime, Genovese and Mayor Joseph Bundra are advocating for PennDOT to designate a truck route and post signs for out-of-town truck drivers unsure of where to go when they encounter detours because of construction in Whitehall.

Bundra has spoken with Glenn Solt, Lehigh County's director of capital projects, in an attempt to get a truck route posted. Solt is attempting to work with PennDOT to that end, said Genovese.

The Hokendauqua Bridge construction currently under way is a Lehigh County project but MacArthur is a state road and signs designating a truck route would have to be authorized by the state.

"So we don't know how we're going to make out with that," said Genovese. "It's bureaucracy but we are asking that they do post a truck route bringing them in off [Route] 329 up through Northampton instead of through these back roads."

Genovese said he believes part of the problem is caused by drivers using GPS.

"When they hit the detour they're using their GPS and it's bringing them up in through Coplay and across our bridge," he said.

Another issue has to do with the positioning of the traffic light at Second and Chestnut streets.

Genovese said the temporary light is mounted farther back on Chestnut Street than the permanent fixture had been. The new, permanent light will be situated closer to the sidewalk, where the old light had been.

"Right now where our temporary traffic light's at, it's actually, according to PennDOT, illegal," said Bundra.

"It's going to definitely be closer to the intersection again. It's going to become more vulnerable," he said.

Councilman Matthew Recker suggested contacting the office of state Rep Dan McNeill, who is a Whitehall resident.

"I'm sure he'll gladly look into it and see what you need to do to get it done," said Recker. "He'll have the answer."

Bundra thanked Recker for his suggestion and encouraged him to contact McNeill.

"The more exposure, the more chance we have to get it corrected," Bundra said.