Whether or not Ashtown bridge in Lehighton requires a weight restriction will be decided by the state Department of Transportation.

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett informed borough council on Monday that PennDOT would determine if the bridge required a weight restriction.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky said she’s noticed an increase in traffic on the bridge.

“I’ve been driving that road,” Abelovsky said. “There is a lot more traffic.”

However, council President Grant Hunsicker said the lane and bridge is wide enough for two vehicles to cross at the same time.

Kris Kunkle, superintendent of the Public Works Department, said that earlier in the day, his department put up two signs, one on each side of the bridge, to yield to oncoming traffic.

Despite the discussion, council didn’t take any action on the matter.

Council had been presented the option of restricting truck traffic on Bridge Street, but did not express any interest.

Last month, Deb McGowan, of Ashtown Drive, stated her concerns to borough council several weeks after the project to reconstruct a portion of Route 443/Blakeslee Boulevard began.

McGowan told council at that time she was worried that more tractor-trailers brought on by the road project will damage the bridge.

Additionally, she said the project has resulted in more traffic and tractor-trailers being diverted over Ashtown bridge.

The project began Feb. 15 and will rehabilitate the portion of roadway from the Carbon Plaza Mall in Mahoning Township to the Route 209/Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge in Lehighton.

H&K Group Inc. of Skippack is the general contractor on the $21 million project that is anticipated to be complete in September 2024.

Motorists can expect to experience some lane restrictions and changing traffic patterns on Route 443 between Ashtown Drive and Route 902/South Ninth Street.

Lane restrictions will be in effect for much of the project.