Whitehall Township and PennDOT are discussing a proposed Turnback program that would involve having the township take ownership of two state roads, Lehigh Street and Schadt Avenue West, in exchange for PennDOT rebuilding the Fifth Street Bridge in Fullerton.

Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. told the board of commissioners at a recent meeting talks will continue with the PennDOT district office on the state rebuilding the Fifth Street Bridge over the Route 22/Lehigh Valley Thruway.

"Starting in 2015 through 2017, PennDOT will utilize the Fifth Street Bridge as a detour route for one direction at a time of Fullerton Avenue Bridge traffic during the reconstruction of the Fullerton Avenue overpass bridge over Route 22," Hozza said. "At the conclusion of the Fullerton Avenue Bridge replacement/interchange, improvements and the construction of the Route 22 Lehigh River Bridge, PennDOT will demolish the current Fifth Street Bridge."

The Fifth Street Bridge will then be replaced via the Route 22 section widening project.

PennDOT, Hozza said, indicated the redesigned Fifth Street Bridge will require longer approaches due to the new elevation. Because of the potential gap between the conclusion of the Fullerton Avenue and Lehigh River Bridge reconstruction project, the commissioners were informed the township is requesting a traffic signal at Fullerton Avenue and Pershing Boulevard to assist motorists exiting Pershing Boulevard.

PennDOT said it will study the township's request. The township agreed to continue working with PennDOT's municipal services representative on the Turnback program.

Hozza said it is not the first time PennDOT offered the Turnback program to the township for identical state roads.

The first such proposed exchange was in the early 1980s, based on documents scanned at the township from that time.