Catasauqua Borough officials are ecstatic over the announcement from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf that the borough has been awarded $563,933 from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Transportation Fund for the Iron Works project along Front Street.

The funds are to be used to construct public streets for vehicular access and road patterns throughout the Iron Works development area.

The award will include funding for a mixed-use neighborhood to include pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly amenities to promote a walkable neighborhood with bike paths. The mixed-use neighborhood is expected to include small businesses with apartments on the second floor.

The MTF grant brings Pennsylvania’s total investment in the Iron Works project to more than $3 million.

“We’re extremely grateful to Gov. Wolf and our partners at PennDOT for their willingness to invest in the future of the borough through the MTF program,” council President Vincent Smith said.

Smith thanked state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, and state Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-133rd.

“Both of them worked tirelessly to support the borough and the Iron Works project, and we’re very grateful for their assistance,” Smith said.

Borough Manager Steven Travers reported the borough is currently obtaining bids to address the needed asbestos abatement and the demolition of the existing industrial buildings. Travers expects this work can begin by year’s end.

The borough and a private real estate developer, Dunn Twiggar Inc., recently completed negotiations of a draft agreement of sale. The agreement will be publicly reviewed this summer.

The agreement’s execution is slated possibly for September. Following the agreement execution, more detailed site planning and design work can begin.

The project completion may take as many as five years.

Numerous other projects in Catasauqua are either planned or underway. All of these projects are interconnected, and when all are completed, the Iron Works area and surrounding neighborhoods may enjoy a renaissance akin to the Industrial Revolution experienced in the 19th century.