Lehighton Borough Council last week approved a resolution for grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation multimodal fund for Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard reconstruction.

Before the vote, borough Manager Dane DeWire said he applied for a $2 million grant last year for the removal of all concrete roadway constructed in the 1980s between Bankway Street and Lehigh Valley Health Network Pediatrics.

However, DeWire said the $2 million requested last year through the Department of Community and Economic Development was not granted.

“Multiple municipalities in Carbon County were considered for the program, but no municipality received more than $100,000 through last year’s program,” DeWire said.

As a result, he said the borough is requesting $3 million from the PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund grant program.

DeWire said that typically a 30% match is required, but Barry Isett & Associates is working on a waiver request that if granted, would be at no additional cost to the borough.

He said that to make the application more attractive for the multimodal review team, Barry Isett & Associates has suggested adding bus stops and bicycle accommodations.

DeWire said the project would consist of the installation of new subbase stone, an asphalt base course, an asphalt top course, and new roadway paint.

He said additional funding was requested to repair any storm and sanitary sewers that are found in disrepair, as well as sidewalks and curbing that may be damaged. The application was submitted July 31, 2024.

DeWire said the project consists of removing 3,200 linear feet of deteriorated concrete roadway along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard within the borough.

He said the roadway would then be reconstructed with new subbase stone and two layers of asphalt, which will provide a new, safer road surface and provide the Lehighton Public Works Department with a more repair-friendly roadway to mill and resurface in the future.

DeWire noted the Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard is a heavily traveled section of Route 209, which acts as the gateway between the northern and southern halves of the county for travelers.

Along with providing Lehighton and county residents with access to the neighboring municipalities, this stretch of roadway serves as a main thoroughfare for motorists accessing the Lehigh Valley, the Greater Hazleton area, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, he said.

In 2023, a Traffic Calming Project geared toward traffic and pedestrian improvements was completed along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard.

The project included the removal of four sections of turning lane, which were replaced with depressed curbs and decorative brick pavers.

It also consisted of the installation of three ADA-compliant brick paver crosswalks at the intersection of North Main Lane, as well as the installation of a 6-foot wide asphalt path connecting the D & L Trailhead Pavilion to the Lehighton spur closer to the Weissport Bridge.

Livengood Excavators received a $690,092 contract for the project.

The project was to be funded through the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

The borough has received $480,000 toward the project — $250,000 through the Multimodal Transportation Fund Program in December 2021, and $230,000 from Local Share funds that were awarded in 2020.