BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A green addition is coming to Southside Bethlehem.
The city secured funding for the final phase of the South Bethlehem Greenway. It will now move into the design and engineering stage, followed by construction in 2026. The project will include the installation of a 12-foot-wide trail that will be ADA-compliant and will include landscaping with native plants, benches, wayfinding signs and trash receptacles.
Once completed, the South Bethlehem Greenway will provide continuous travel along a 13.7-mile corridor that serves residents and visitors in Bethlehem, Hellertown, Coopersburg and Quakertown.
Funds to complete the final construction of the Greenway were granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ($500,000), the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study ($500,000), and Northampton County via the Livable Landscapes Grant ($300,000).
Two other significant transportation initiatives were also announced Wednesday.
Linden Street
After years of public feedback and planning, the city will move forward with the conversion of Linden Street from one-way to two-way traffic between Church Street and Fairview Street, connecting to the existing two-way roadway. This will make the entirety of Linden Street between Elizabeth Avenue and the Fahy Bridge two-way traffic.
The city says this change is designed to improve traffic flow and enhance safety for all road users, including drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. LVTS presented the city with a check for $1.8 million to support the initiative.
Broad Street
The Broad Street Multimodal Corridor Project is part of Bethlehem’s “Safe Streets and Carbon Reduction Strategy.” The project aims to redesign Broad Street to better accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and drivers through safer intersections, upgraded crossings and modernized streetscapes.
In addition to the nearly $10 million secured through the Safe Streets for All grant, LVTS presented the city with $1.4 million to bring the project to fruition.