Palmerton has made an installment toward a traffic signal project currently underway at Third Street and Delaware Avenue.

On a 5-0 vote, borough council on Thursday approved the first payment request in the amount of $80,371 to Telco Inc.

Council members Richard Nothstein and Holly Hausman Sell were absent.

Borough manager Autumn Canfield said the time frame for the completion of the project remains in July.

Previously, Councilman Kris Hoffner asked how many incidents have occurred at the intersection.

Hoffner said there have been a lot of close calls, and that the sooner the project gets done, the better.

The scope of 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 scope also includes all related traffic signal infrastructure including signal heads, signs, pre-emption 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, council in a 6-0 vote awarded a bid to Telco in the amount of $483,215.

At that time, Hausman-Sell said the company has worked for the borough before, and she was excited the project was finally getting done.

In April, council held off on awarding a bid for the traffic signal, awaiting clarification on a few items.

The project includes improvements to the light pole at the intersection.

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

In December 2021, the borough received nearly $330,000 in stated funds for traffic safety improvements through PennDOT, which distributed about $12.9 million in Automated Red Light Enforcement funding to 22 municipalities statewide to fund 28 safety projects.

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