Motorists will soon see less vegetation under transmission lines along the roadways.

During the Carbon County Commissioners' meeting on Thursday, Commissioner William O'Gurek, chairman, said he spoke with Paul Canevari, regional manager of PPL, recently. Canaveri stated that federal guidelines now require that when PPL is trimming trees away from transmission lines, workers must trim vegetation under the lines as well."In some cases that may mean the rhododendron and mountain laurel," O'Gurek said. "Paul said they are under order to clear this because vegetation has been shown to be a potential cause of problems in transmission line failures."O'Gurek said that PPL crews are already out clearing vegetation away from lines.He noted that anyone who has a concern should call PPL. Contact information can be found at PPL Electric's website at

www.ppleletric.com/ContactUs.In other business, the county has been named a consulting party as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation plans rehabilitation work along the McCall Bridge (Route 209) in Lehighton.O'Gurek said PennDOT is required to address any adverse affects to historical property below the bridge for funding purposes.The project is preliminary right now, O'Gurek added, noting that PennDOT is focusing on the Route 903 bridge in Jim Thorpe.