A bridge reconstruction project in Lehighton is having a major negative financial impact on surrounding businesses, says the Carbon County Chamber & Economic Development.

Kathy Henderson, director of economic development for the chamber, business owners, state Rep. Doyle Heffle, and officials of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation met last week about traffic conditions.The construction project has been causing back-ups and poor traffic flow, making it inconvenient to enter some businesses and even more troublesome to leave the businesses.Henderson said those inconveniences aren't as pronounced as some might believe.She said usually motorists cooperate and allow patrons to exit parking lots.One of the big problems was that some motorists block intersections at the traffic light.PennDOT has adjusted the timing of the lights and has painted boxes under the lights to remind drivers to keep the intersections open.The structurally deficient Route 209 Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge, which spans the Lehigh River and Weissport and separates Routes 443 and 248, is undergoing major renovation that requires a detour.The southbound traffic is detoured on Canal and Bridge streets, while the bridge is open to a single traffic lane northbound, allowing drivers to travel toward the turnpike.PennDOT has advised that the project is on schedule and is planned for completion in September.The $11.8 million project includes replacing the bridge surface with a latex product that will repel water for a longer life.This is an alternative to concrete, which is porous.According to Calvin Ulshafer of J.D. Eckman Inc., the contractor for the bridge, the current surface is being taken off with a hydro-demolition method, using high-velocity water jets to remove deteriorated concrete.He expects the deck to be prepped for latex forms by July 4. The product will take five days to set, he said.Then lanes will be switched so that PennDOT can work on the other side.The fourth pier from the east/Weissport side, will be removed and replaced. Piers 14 and 15, the 14th and 15th piers from the east/Weissport side, will have diaphragms removed and replaced. The bridge has a total of 15 piers.Bridge deck joints will be removed and replaced, with walls being replaced on both bridge abutments.The 16-span, steel deck truss bridge was originally constructed in 1938 and reconstructed in 1981. It is 1,539 feet long and 42 feet wide.One business, Castle Grill, has changed its hours from daily to weekends only because of the construction.The Beacon 443 Restaurant owners said they have seen a decline of business because of the traffic flow problems.Henderson said there are times when there is no backup of traffic, so people will have no difficulties patronizing the businesses.On Saturday, she said there was a lineup of traffic on Route 443, but even that resulted in only a 20-minute delay for her."On any given Friday night at rush hour, you're sitting in traffic anyway," she said.In addition, she is hoping that police will do more patrolling to ensure motorists aren't deliberately blocking those intersections."We just want people to support their local businesses," Henderson said."They're there year-round to support the local residents," sponsoring events and giving toyouth and other organizations.She added, "Many just survived a hard winter and are just getting back on their feet."