An existing crosswalk at a bustling junction in Lehighton will be moved.

On a 5-0 vote, borough council on Monday agreed to remove the crosswalk at Bankway and Bridge Street.

Council then agreed to obtain proposals for traffic engineering for the potential installation of a midblock crossing at First Street/Bankway/Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard to make it a continuation of the waterfront traffic study.

The actions taken by council came after Karla Gadecki once again voiced her opposition to the removal of the crosswalk.

Gadecki said that since the RJ Walker crosswalk was installed by PennDOT, and is at an intersection, it will still continue to be a valid and legal place to cross regardless of whether the borough opted to remove it.

“Pennsylvania law allows people to use that crosswalk, and even if it’s removed, people will continue to cross there,” Gadecki said.

Further, Gadecki said she believes that removal of the crosswalk will only serve to make the area more dangerous instead of safer, as there will still be those who will continue to cross by RJ Walker, including tourists coming off the D&L Trailhead.

Councilman Joe Flickinger told Gadecki he applauded her for her efforts, and added that council agreed with her that it is unsafe.

Council President Grant Hunsicker said if someone is in a crosswalk, the traffic must stop, but only if they’re in the crosswalk.

Borough police Chief Brian Biechy said that if it’s unmarked, the duty and responsibility is on the pedestrian crossing the road.

However, Gadecki said she disagreed.

Councilman Ryan Saunders asked whether the borough could obtain temporary signs for the area at RJ Walker until a proper one is installed.

However, officials noted it will take some time before the crosswalk is removed.

Last month, Gadecki presented a petition with 324 signatures to council asking the borough to install a pedestrian crosswalk system at Bridge and Bankway/East Bridge Street near RJ Walker Plumbing.

Gadecki said at that time her goal is to make the existing crosswalk safer.

Gadecki said that at the crossing by Dunkin’ Donuts, there is bolder paint on the road which is more visible to vehicles, and many signs to indicate to drivers this is an area where pedestrians cross.

However, she noted there are no signs by the RJ Walker crossing, and only two white lines in the road.

Gadecki previously said she uses the crosswalk practically daily to cross to the playground in Weissport with her 3-year-old, and believes a pedestrian crosswalk system will help make crossing the busy road safer.

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett at that time presented council with three options after discussion with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Traffic Unit on options for improvements.

One option was to improve the crosswalk with fresh paint.

Another was to notify PennDOT the borough wants to add signs for the crosswalk and go through their application process, which would involve administrative time, public works time, purchase of signs and possible consultation with an engineer.

Another would be to notify Penn­DOT the borough is interested in installing overhead Rapid Flashing Beacons, and request PennDOT complete the study. There would be the costs of constructing the RFBs, engineering, maintenance and electricity.

Beckett said at that time the borough had received $230,000 from the Local Share Account - Monroe County grant, and submitted an application to the DCED Multimodal Transportation Fund in the amount of $818,921 in 2020 and await notification on the awards.

She said the LSA Grant and MTF Grant are both submitted for the improvements on Sergeant Stanley Hoffman Boulevard, based on a traffic improvement study from 2018.