Tamaqua gears up for traffic troubles

Business owners and emergency service responders say that despite the threat of detours, parking issues and other traffic nightmares, it’ll be business as usual during the major multimillion dollar bridge replacement project involving replacement and rehabilitation of a significant section of a buried 160-year-old Wabash Bridge beneath Route 209 in the unit block of West Broad Street. The bridge replacement project is slated to begin promptly in the early hours of June 6.

The work zone is located between South Railroad Street and Hunter Street and involves closing that section of Route 209/West Broad Street.

At a recent public forum, Tamaqua business owners and emergency responders aired their grievances with the project and shared some of their concerns.

According to assistant borough Manager Rob Jones, many of the local businesses were concerned with parking, but were given enough notice to prepare for the project.

“We’re looking to restrict and renegotiate parking to accommodate businesses and emergency responders,” Jones said. “But this isn’t the first time work’s been done on 209 — so I think it’ll be smoother than most anticipate.”

He added that typically the first week of construction is usually the toughest, but once drivers get used to the adjusted traffic patterns it’s smooth sailing the rest of the way.

“It’s usually a mess the first week on the roads, but our businesses and emergency responders seem to be doing a good job of anticipating that,” Jones said. “The point of our meeting was to all get on the same page about the project and communicate how we can effectively keep things as normal as possible.”

The Wabash

When PennDOT announced the West Broad Street Wabash Tunnel Replacement Project in Tamaqua would require closing one block of West Broad Street to traffic to replace a bridge, many asked “what bridge?” as there is no bridge in sight. Instead, the bridge is actually located underground, spanning West Broad Street from Berwick Street to the area in front of La Dolce Casa Restaurant, as the Wabash Creek meanders its way through town. It is approximately 20 feet long.

The Wabash Creek, which enters Tamaqua at the western edge of town, has contributed to each of the 13 flooding events Tamaqua has seen since 1850. Most of the time, the creek bed contains a small flow of water through the tunnel’s conduit, with walls constructed mostly of stacked stone and packed earth. There are a few areas of poured concrete. The water is visible at the bottom of Stadium Hill, but then goes underground, crossing Broad Street at an angle in the area of Ed’s Sports Shop. The tunnel continues to the rear of Rowe Street, traveling under several backyards as well as parts of Hegarty Avenue. It then angles across Berwick Street, going under Broad Street on its way to meet with the Little Schuylkill River. There are three places where you can actually see the water — at the bottom of Stadium Hill, to the rear of the Tamaqua Public Library and where it enters the larger river.

The flood control efforts have been ongoing since 1955s devastating event and have made a difference, but the flood of 2006 caused major damage to the Wabash Tunnel, filling it with sediment and fallen rocks. In some places, it was nearly impossible for the water to flow through, causing it to back up and fill the basements of residents and businesses. Since that time, the borough has been dealing with the collapsed tunnel walls, using a combination of federal, state and local funds. Recently, due to the ongoing repair nature of such a tunnel, Tamaqua Borough Council earmarked a half mill of the tax rate for Wabash repairs only. That half mill generates about $35,000 in revenue per year.

Routine inspections have been conducted since 2006, by both the borough and state. In 2015, PennDOT declared the bridge part of the tunnel to be in critical condition, in danger of collapsing due to the heavy volume of traffic. The bridge was added to PennDOT’s priority list and plans got underway, with a project date set for 2018.

The project

Preparation is nearing its end at the intersections of Railroad and Spruce streets and Spruce Street and Route 309. Motorists will have daytime lane restrictions in the area until the end of the school year on June 5.

Over the summer, the bridge will be closed and traffic will be detoured. The car detour will use South Railroad Street, West Spruce Street and South Lehigh Street. The truck detour will use routes 309, 54, 81 and 61. Work will be done five to seven days a week, nearly all day, to accommodate the short three-month time frame for the project to be completed.

The businesses that will be affected the most by the construction are M&S Hardware, La Dolce Casa restaurant and Wells Fargo Bank, which all rest at the heart of the construction site. Citizens Fire Co. also will have a tough time as well, sitting only hundreds of feet away from the site.

But despite resting at the epicenter of the project, most are remaining optimistic that the project will not deter or delay their services in the slightest.

“We’re keeping regular hours and have ample parking — as I see it, it’ll be pretty much business as usual,” Wells Fargo Tamaqua Branch Manager Andrew Umphrey said. “We’re happy to serve no matter the circumstances and think people will do what they need to get here.”

Over at La Dolce Casa, restaurant manager Alfonso Picone said it could be a blow to business, but they are doing the best they can to stay ahead of any drop in clientele.

“It’s a stressful time, but we understand it needs to be done. Three months goes fast, especially in the busy summertime,” Picone said.

Picone said despite the major fear of foot traffic dropping, the restaurant will roll with the punches by keeping their delivery service speedy and premiering enticing summer specials and new menu items.

“When the landscape changes, you got to change with it,” Picone said. “We still will have reliable delivery service, who will know how to navigate the detours, greatly helping our situation. Our menu will be changing as well to remind our customers we’re here to serve them even if it’s harder to get to us. We’re open and our main goal is to keep our customers happy.”

Citizens Fire Company Chief Jason Hartz said the biggest blow to the company won’t be the ability to help residents in a pinch, but instead will be its annual summer fundraiser, which was canceled due to the project.

“It’s gonna hurt — we raise $20,000 from our annual summer fundraiser,” Hartz said. “There’s really no way to make that all up, but we’re going to try alternatives to soften the blow.”

One of the ways Hartz and company hope to raise funds is through a golf tourney planned for this September. He adds that the fundraiser isn’t the only thing alternative about the company during the project.

“We have to look at town and how we answer calls a little differently. Getting to the East End will be a little bit of a challenge,” Hartz said. Fortunately, the borough has two volunteer fire companies located on the east side of the project area, the American Hose and East End. “We’d only be called out for structure fires. We prepared by telling about a half dozen of our members who live on that side to arrive on scene in their own vehicles, while firefighters at the station will grab gear and go meet them at the scene.” Hartz even said the Hunter Street detour could be seen as a blessing in disguise for the local companies.

“We have a tough time with Hunter Street being normally two-way — it doesn’t fit traffic well,” he said. “With it being brought down to one way, our vehicles could move through there quicker and safer than before.”

West Broad Street is expected to be open again by Aug. 19, before the new school year begins, with daytime lane restrictions again being used until project completion.

During the full road closure, temporary traffic signals will be used at the intersection of Spruce and Hunter streets.

Detour details can be found at the Tamaqua Borough Office or on the borough’s Facebook page at facebook.com/TamaquaBorough.