Palmerton has made its final payment for the traffic signal project at Third Street and Delaware Avenue.

On a 6-0 vote Thursday, borough council approved the sixth installment based on Keystone Consulting Engineers recommendation to Telco Inc. in the amount of $43,975. Councilwoman Holly Hausman Sell was absent.

Under public comment, resident Barry Scherer questioned why there is a right turn allowed on red on Third Street traveling east and west on Delaware Avenue where there’s a controlled crosswalk.

Councilman William Gallagher concurred with Scherer’s sentiment.

“We do need a no right turn (going west),” Gallagher said.

Council President Terry Costenbader told Scherer the borough would look into the matter.

After the meeting, Scherer noted that before the borough has the project done, those crosswalk signs were not in.

With this new project, they put in the pedestrian crossing signals.

After July’s meeting, borough Manager Autumn Canfield said the project was about several weeks away from being fully completed, though most of the work left was of the minor sort.

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

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

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.

At April’s borough council meeting, Councilman Kris 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 occurred last year at that intersection.

The project at Delaware Avenue and Third Street included 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.

The contract with Telco amounted to $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.