Traffic headache is coming to Tamaqua
This bridge weight limit sign on West Broad Street can be confusing as there is no bridge to be seen. Instead, the bridge is located under the street, over the Wabash Creek. PennDOT plans to replace the bridge this summer, shutting down this block of West Broad Street for up to three months. Traffic will be detoured during the construction project. KATHY KUNKEL/TIMES NEWS
A traffic headache will be coming to downtown Tamaqua this spring, but as council President David Mace says, “It’s only three months. We can live with it.”
The project was discussed at Tuesday night’s meeting of the borough council.
The project involves the replacement of a bridge that many might not even know exists. It’s an underground bridge that goes over the Wabash Creek, located along West Broad Street. The work zone will be located between South Railroad Street and Hunter Street and will involve closing that section of Route 209/West Broad Street.
A truck detour will be in effect for all trucks over two axles. The normal truck turnaround will utilize old 209, through Newkirk and Reevesdale. The last resort turnaround will be the Tamaqua High School.
Hegarty Avenue will be one way, west to east, from Nescopec Street to Berwick Street.
Rowe Street will remain one way, east to west.
Nescopec Street will be two way, from Broad Street to Hegarty Avenue. Currently, it is a one-way street from Hegarty to Broad. Parking will be prohibited on the east side of Nescopec Street, and parking meters will be removed.
Broad Street will be one-way east, from Nescopec to Hunter streets. Parking will be allowed on both sides of the street, with all parking facing east. Hunter Street will be one-way south, from Broad Street to Spruce Street. Currently, it is a two-way street. New traffic signals will be installed at the Spruce/Hunter intersection.
Parking on Berwick Street will remain, with the exception of the first space on the west side of Berwick, to allow for emergency vehicle travel.
Parking will be prohibited on the south side of Spruce Street from Oak Street to 140 Spruce St.
Spruce Street will be one-way east, from South Railroad Street to Center Street with two lanes. The right lane will be through and right-turn traffic. The left lane will be for left turns only.
The borough will maintain safe pedestrian passage through the areas at all times.
