Lehighton is hoping to secure over $800,000 to complete a project that would drastically change Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard for both motorists and pedestrians.

Last week, the Carbon County Planning Commission briefly outlined its support letter for a Multimodal Transportation Fund grant application that Lehighton is submitting for the creation of safe pedestrian connections and calm motorist traffic along the bypass.

“The project removes the left turning lane on the boulevard, which is used as a passing lane and encourages speeding and has led to numerous accidents,” Ivan O. Meixell, county planner, said.

Nicole Beckett, Lehighton borough manager, said that the grant the borough is applying for is $818,921 and would be used to create “landscaped curb extensions at the gateway and along the west side of the Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard to eliminate the full-length left turn lane.

“Three crosswalks will be designated to cross the roadway (and) include landscaped bump outs, marked crosswalks, pedestrian-activated flashing beacon signs and ADA ramps,” Beckett said. “Also a walkway is proposed to be constructed along with the west side of Lehigh Drive for trail users.”

If the borough is successful in securing the funds, Beckett said the project would be designed and bid out in 2020. The project came about following a waterfront traffic study that was completed in 2018.

Beckett said that “with the construction of the trail, new businesses and connection to the downtown from that area, borough council had requested we complete a traffic study for the existing conditions and to prepare for future growth.

“There is a lot of traffic along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard and we are looking to improve pedestrian safety along with connect the waterfront to the downtown,” she said.