A Palmerton resident has expressed concerns with safety at a busy intersection.

Don Hermann told borough council on Thursday there have been multiple times where he could have been in serious danger at Third and Delaware Avenue.

Hermann asked council if there was some logistical way for the lights to be reconfigured so that they would both be red.

However, borough Manager Donna McGarry said unfortunately that isn’t the borough’s call to make, as Delaware Avenue is a state road.

“All signage has to be approved by PennDOT,” McGarry said. “The whole intersection is all outdated, so it’s not something that’s going to be (simple).”

Councilman Andrew Hollywood questioned whether strobes could be used.

But, McGarry said there are concerns about strobes, as people can have seizures.

In May, council agreed to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for funds for a traffic signal at Third and Delaware Avenue.

At that time, Councilwoman Holly Hausman-Sell said she believed doing so was crucial “before we have major accidents.”

After that meeting, McGarry noted the borough receives “periodic complaints on this intersection.”

She said at that time there are two traffic signals at Third and Delaware, and that drivers heading west at Third Street often look beyond the first light to the second one, and then pull out when they actually have a red light at the first signal.

McGarry said at that time, she had contacted PennDOT some time ago for recommendations, and they provided several design solutions.

She noted at that time PennDOT had a grant program coming up for traffic signals, and that she requested permission to apply for those funds to make the necessary changes to the signals to improve safety.