The first hour of the monthly meeting of Upper Macungie supervisors was devoted to the discussion of the proposed new interchange onto I-78.

This interchange is expected to be in the Adams Road area, west of the Route 100 interchange.

Three private entities - Liberty Property Trust, National Freight and Jaindl Land Company - will contribute to funding the traffic study.

As the township has no money budgeted this fiscal year for this study, the stakeholders will contribute the township’s portion with the understanding they will be reimbursed the following year when money can be budgeted for this undertaking.

After the study is completed, any of the participants may opt out of the group.

This study will determine whether a second interchange is feasible.

Chairman Jim Brunell stated this is the first step in the process.

Supervisor Kathy Rader said the township would be working with the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on this project.

The study will be done by Alfred Benesch and Co. for a cost for this portion not to exceed $58,000.

Total cost for the study is anticipated to be $394,203.90.

Construction of this interchange is anticipated to cost approximately $30 million.

Two resolutions, directly related to the interchange project, were adopted by the board.

The first was to cement the agreement between the parties concerned, while the second was the legalization allowing the point of access study to proceed.

Brunell said township was taking a proactive stance in this matter for the betterment of the community.

A public meeting will be held, possibly in June, to discuss the study results.

Several members of the audience had questions concerning this proposal.

Rader noted there are only two interchanges on I-78 in Upper and Lower Macungie townships - at Route 100 and at Hamilton Boulevard.

All truck traffic onto the interstate must use these interchanges.

With the construction of this new interchange, it is anticipated a significant reduction of truck traffic on Route 100 will be realized.