Whitehall Township recently learned Penn-DOT is not responsible for sweeping MacArthur Road and Route 145. The roadway is state maintained.

Whitehall Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. said he voiced his displeasure during a meeting with PennDOT personnel because the roadway has not been swept by the department.

"The Lehigh County PennDOT maintenance director indicated that he has only one sweeper and that, 'We [PennDOT] are not responsible for sweeping streets with curbs,'" Hozza said.

Hozza pointed out the township sweeps state roads, such as Main Street and Route 329, Egypt and Cementon, Lehigh Street, Hokendauqua, Mechanicsville Road, Schadt Avenue West and Third Street.

The plan this year, Hozza said, is for Whitehall to use its sweepers with a PennDOT crash truck behind as required by the department.

He said there is a glimmer of hope since the department indicated it will try to set a schedule up with the township before the end of the year.

Moving forward, Hozza mentioned the department must coordinate with the Whitehall Public Works Department to ensure MacArthur Road and Route 145 is swept by the end of April each year.