Borough council unanimously approved a request for school zone sign change on Mahoning Street in Lehighton.

Before the vote, borough police Chief Troy Abelovsky noted that the police department has received speeding complaints, during active school times, on Mahoning Street.

Abelovsky said the police department attempts to monitor and conduct traffic enforcement in that area when available.

The two new signs will be added between Ninth Street and Beaver Run Road and just west of Beaver Run Road, for vehicles traveling west, on Mahoning Street.

They will also be looking to extend the school zone to the west of North 12th Street.

The police department currently does conduct traffic enforcement of Mahoning Street, near the 11th Street intersection.

The area of Mahoning Street, from Ninth Street to North 12th Street, is currently posted in accordance with PennDOT standards and is enforceable as a school zone,

However, Abelovsky said after the meeting he would like to increase the visibility of the area for vehicles traveling westbound.

“I have been working on creating greater visibility for operators in the school zone,” Abelovsky said. “I have been working with PennDOT to make the area more the school zone more visible to drivers.”

Abelovsky said his suggestion is to add additional signs along Mahoning Street, between Ninth Street and North 12th Street.

“Council has approved my suggestions, and I have already been in contact with PennDOT multiple times, to get the additional signs approved,” he said. “Once PennDOT returns the update of official drawings for the area, our public works department will erect the new signs.”

The additional signs will cost the borough between $800-$900, with the work to be completed by the Public Works department.

Borough council also heard from a resident who pleaded with them to have police patrol the area of S. Ninth Street better.

“I have seen so many accidents, speeding (up to 95 miles per hour),” Nancy Gombert said. “It’s very dangerous.”

Gombert then asked if it could be possible there could be more police patrol there.

“Somebody should do something before one of us gets killed,” she said.