A traffic signal project at Third Street and Delaware Avenue in Palmerton continues to inch its way closer to fruition.

On a 5-0 vote, borough council on Thursday approved the fourth installment based on Keystone Consulting Engineers recommendation to Telco Inc. in the amount of $41,613.

Councilman William Gallagher said the second set of lights illuminate, which he added makes for a nice situation.

Councilwoman Holly Hausman Sell noted this is something the borough has been asking PennDOT about for years.

Borough Manager Autumn Canfield said after the meeting they are optically programmable signals, meaning they are physically set and programmed to have specific fields of view.

Canfield said the second set of lights on each side both coming in and leaving town since the intersection is offset.

“One issue we were having at the intersection was people stopped at the first light, but looking at the second,” Canfield said. “If the second would turn green, they would run the red light they were stopped at. These signals help prevent that as they force the focus on the first light in front of the driver.”

Canfield added that some elements to finish up the project include the removal of the old poles/bases, and restoration of the brick area and street.

Councilmen Kris Hoffner and Randy Gursky were absent.

At last month’s borough council meeting, Hoffner said the traffic signal project is sorely needed, as there have been a lot of close calls, and that the sooner the project gets done, the better.

Hoffner said seven crashes happened last year at that intersection.

Canfield previously said the project remains on schedule to be finished in July.

The scope of the work for Delaware Avenue and Third Street includes removing the existing traffic signal at Delaware Avenue and Third Street and installing a new traffic signal.

The project also includes all related traffic signal infrastructure including signal heads, signs, preemption traffic signal poles, pedestrian push-button signals and push buttons, new controller cabinet and electrical service, and relocation of existing signs as noted on the drawings, line striping and loops.

In May 2024, council on a 6-0 vote awarded a bid to Telco in the amount of $483,215.

The borough obtained an Automated Red Light Enforcement grant, and worked on permitting through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

In December 2021, Palmerton received $329,398 to bring the intersection up to current PennDOT safety standards.