Sometime in mid or late July, Bethlehem Township will finally begin work on the reconstruction of Brodhead Road. That’s a 9,000 foot long, two-lane township road that extends east from Township Line Road until it intersects with Route 191. Located in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, the road is heavily traveled by tractor trailers, and has been the subject of numerous complaints. Commissioners set aside $1.3 million for this project in this year’s budget, and a $400,000 grant has been secured.

Township engineer Brian Dillman got the green light from commissioners at their April 17 meeting. They adopted resolutions seeking PennDOT approval for warning signals at three pedestrian crossings near Township Line Road, Miller Circle and Opus Way. They also authorized Manager Melissa Shafer to seek bids, which are expected by late May.

Once work begins, Brodhead Road will be a one-way road going westbound to Route 512. Some of the work will be done at night, but Dillman said paving must also be done in daylight or the product suffers.

Tom Nolan, Malissa Davis and Pat Breslin cast the yes votes. Mike Hudak and Kim Jenkins were absent.

In other business, commissioners approved an update to its comprehensive plan after an exhaustive review that included 14 meetings. Planning Commissioner James Daley told the board that traffic mitigation and stormwater management are the two critical issues they considered most.

Nolan, Davis and Breslin also voted to adopt a resolution supporting legislative efforts to end gerrymandering in Pennsylvania by establishing an independent commission to draw state legislative and congressional districts following the 2020 census. They did so following a lengthy presentation by Fritz Walker of Fair District Pa. “Voters should choose their legislators,” said Walker. “Unfortunately, it’s frequently legislators who are choosing the voters. That’s not the way it should be.”

Bethlehem Township is the 21st Pennsylvania. municipality to adopt a resolution in support of an independent redistircting commission.