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Township raises safety concerns about railroad crossing timing and timber bridge constraints on Church Lane
Summary
Lower Macungie officials reported uncertain timing for summer railroad crossing work and debated whether to change a right‑in/right‑out intersection; staff warned that the nearby timber bridge requires in‑kind replacement or costly raising for double‑decker train clearance, constrained by a cemetery and steep grades.
Township engineers and commissioners discussed railroad crossing maintenance, recurring traffic violations at a Church Lane exit, and constraints on replacing an existing timber bridge at the June 18 meeting.
Engineer Brian McAdam and Director of Public Works Doug Cisco said the railroad contractor has placed detour signage on Route 100 but cannot yet provide a firm date for work; when crews reach the crossing, closures could last 24–36 hours and an approved detour route is in place. McAdam emphasized the contractor’s scheduling is incremental and depends on how many miles the crew completes daily.
Commissioners raised safety concerns about drivers ignoring a right‑in/right‑out restriction at an intersection that funnels traffic toward a nearby timber bridge. Board members and staff recalled that the bridge had previously been closed while timber was sourced for a repair and that a future replacement must generally be done in‑kind (timber). Staff and commissioners said replacing the bridge with steel would require raising the structure to clear double‑decker train cars, an alteration complicated by a cemetery on the western approach and large grade adjustments that would make such a project prohibitively expensive for the township.
Engineer McAdam said staff will revisit previous land‑development plans and traffic studies to see whether the existing right‑in/right‑out restriction can be modified. No formal directive or funding request was approved at the meeting; the board asked staff to look into the issue and report back.
