While it seems like there\u2019s endless construction along the Lehigh Valley\u2019s highways, there is a strategy to all of it as the region\u2019s transportation system tries to keep up with a growing population and the vehicles that come with it.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study approved its major transportation investments for 2027-30 that includes $544 million for roads, bridges, mass transit and more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really will help continue to improve the safety of our roadways, to reduce congestion, to support transit objectives as well as bike and pedestrian objectives,\u201d said Becky Bradley, LVTS secretary and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission executive director.<\/p>\n
The Transportation Improvement Program, which still needs a sign-off from the Federal Highway and Federal Transit administrations, is scheduled to go into effect Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
This TIP is funded with federal, state and local money with guidance from PennDOT. About 80% of the funding comes from the federal government, with the remaining from local sources.<\/p>\n
Of the funding, $234.1 million will go to bridge projects; $193.1 million for transit; $88.6 million for road projects; $20 million for multimodal transportation; $5.6 million for research; and $3 million for railroads.<\/p>\n
The 2027-30 TIP includes more than 100 projects in the Valley. Some of the notable ones are:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Continued construction on the Cementon Bridge<\/a> between Whitehall Township and Northampton, $312,000.<\/p>\n \u2022 Rehabilitation of the Hill to Hill Bridge<\/a>, Bethlehem, $72.3 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Replacement of the Fifth Street bridge<\/a> over Route 22, Whitehall Township, $4 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Construction of an interchange<\/a> between Route 309 and Center Valley Parkway, Upper Saucon Township, $79.2 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Rehabilitation or replacement and widening of Route 145 bridge over Jordan Creek, Whitehall Township, $7.3 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Rehabilitation or replacement of Route 512 bridge over a Monocacy Creek tributary, East Allen Township, $5.1 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Replacement of Hecktown Road bridge over Route 22, Bethlehem Township, $1.3 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Rehabilitation or replacement of Route 512 bridge over Martins Creek, Bangor, $2.2 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Route 611 retaining wall replacement, Easton, $3.7 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Riverside Drive RAISE Grant to convert 2 miles of abandoned railroad bed along west bank of Lehigh River into a two-lane street and a multiuse path<\/a> between Allentown and Whitehall Township, $18.6 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Resurface Route 33 from Route 22 to Interstate 78, Bethlehem and Lower Saucon townships, $8 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Lehigh Street resurfacing and signal improvements, Emmaus and Allentown, $12.4 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Route 22 Fullerton interchange improvements, Whitehall Township, $13.5 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Route 309\/Tilghman Street interchange improvements<\/a>, South Whitehall Township, $1.7 million.<\/p>\n \u2022 Route 22\/Route 191 interchange improvements<\/a>, Bethlehem Township, $18.4 million.<\/p>\n