Broad Street to be Open by August 15

Emmaus Borough Manager Craig Neely expects the , between 5th and 6th streets, to be completed by August 15, opening the road to through traffic once again.

Neely responded to several questions from Patch about the project:

1.  What has been completed so far?

• Installation of a new water main between 5th and 6th Streets.
• Installation of new water laterals where necessary.
• Removal of the old trolley tracks.
• Replacement and repair of sidewalks and curbs.
• Installation of curbs for the four median islands.
• Installation of the four Victorian lamps in the medians.
• Installation of ballards on the medians.
• Stripping of the south side of the road.
• Laying roadway base on south side of the road.
• Laying base coat of asphalt on the south side of the road.

2.   What still needs to be done?

• Strip the north side of the road.
• Lay base coat of asphalt on the north side of the road.
• Install patterned concrete in the median islands
• Install a fire hydrant in one of the median islands.
• Install a tree in each of the median islands.
• Lay finish coat of asphalt over entire roadway between 5th and 6th Streets
• Paint roadway and parking markings

3.  Is everything on schedule?  Has the weather been a factor? 

The project is on schedule, meaning that it will be completed by August 15, 2011. The weather was a factor early in the project, when we had a number of rainy days in a short time. But after some initial delays, the weather has been fine.

4.   When is the road expected to re-open?  

As we get August 15 approaches, the road will be closed to lay the finish coat of asphalt and to apply the pavement markings.

5.  Have there been any complaints and, if so, what are they?

Though the project has definitely been an inconvenience to residents and businesses on Broad Street, we have not received complaints. The borough tried to involve the property owners in the process, so I think that everyone knew about the challenges that the project would create.