Whitehall Township's two leading elected officials, Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. and Commissioners President Linda Snyder, agree Route 329 in Lower Cementon poses a danger to those using the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Trail.

Both elected officials believe solutions to the vexing problem lie with PennDOT and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Commission.

"It's getting very dangerous crossing 329. I know it's a state road, a very dangerous situation," Snyder said at the April 8 commissioners meeting.

Looking to Hozza, Snyder asked if anything can be done to reduce the risks for those using the trail daily for walking, jogging or biking.

"It is not ours," Hozza said.

A parking lot is situated on the north side of Route 329, off Railroad Street.

"We made a request to Lehigh County to add 11 more parking spaces. The second phase would be 40 more parking spaces," Hozza said.

Addressing Snyder's concerns, Hozza said he wants PennDOT in its plans for the replacement of the Cementon-Northampton Bridge to construct a tunnel to keep trail users off Route 329.

The board was informed the Cementon-Northampton Bridge project is third in line, behind the Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge, Coplay-Northampton Bridge and then the Cementon span.

"It's extremely dangerous," said Snyder, who lives on Front Street, near the D&L Trail and Route 329. "It is like a catastrophe going to happen."

Hozza said the township did request broad white lanes painted on Route 329 by the trail.

He said he does not believe PennDOT will spend $425,000 to place yellow flashing lights on Route 329, known as Main Street.

"I'm not sure what the answer is," Snyder said. "They are risking their lives."