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Politics & Government

Turnpike Project Could Close Mill Road in Vera Cruz

Upper Milford Planners recommend keeping Mill Road open, but Supervisors meet with Turnpike officials Thursday.

Upper Milford planners will recommend to the township supervisors that the bridge at Vera Cruz and Mill Roads be replaced.

The Turnpike runs over the bridge that is now part of a massive improvement project.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission contacted Upper Milford about the construction in 2009, said Brian Miller, planning coordinator for the township. The plan is to widen bridges and roadways on a section of the Turnpike that runs between Emmaus and Vera Cruz in preparation for widening the Turnpike to three lanes in each direction.

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The project will paid by the Turnpike Commission, Miller said, and not the municipalities involved.

In an email, Miller wrote that the Turnpike Commission presented plans to the township last year, noting that the project would involve widening four bridges that pass over Chestnut Street, Shimerville Road, the Norfolk Southern Railway and Mill Road.

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At that time, it was thought the Mill Road bridge would be particularly problematic because it would require lowering the grade of Mill Road itself. The Turnpike Commission even asked the township to consider closing Mill Road so the Turnpike would not have to build around it.

But on Feb. 28, Miller reported to the Upper Milford Planning Commission that he had met with Turnpike representatives the previous week, and they conceded that the necessary changes to Mill Road were "not as bad as they thought."

As a result, the planners are recommending to the township supervisors that Mill Road remain open and the bridge be replaced around it. The new bridge would be 54 feet wide.

Plus, closing Mill Road does not seem to be an attractive option.

"Remember, that once Mill Road is closed, it’s gone forever,” Miller said Monday. “There’s no logical route around it; no easy fixes."

Currently, Mill Road has an 800 car a day travel count at the bridge location, which is more traffic than the Turnpike Commission expected, according to Miller.

Should Mill Road be closed by the Turnpike Commission, residents of the area would have to access their homes via Pennsylvania Avenue near Emmaus Community Park or by taking Shimerville Road to Jasper Road.

Miller also said that he had met with the Vera Cruz Fire Company, and officials told him they use Mill Road for 19 percent of their fire calls.

Planning Commissioner Robert Sentner said he knows the fire company wants the road to remain open and replacing the bridge is a "public safety issue."

Turnpike officials told the township that if closing Mill Road did create a safety problem, the Turnpike Commission might be able to provide the fire company with a new truck and a place to house it for better access to that area.

So far, the Turnpike is only looking at right of way and slope issues, Miller said at the commissioners meeting, and showed driveway changes that would have to be made to several township homes close to the Turnpike.

Miller said there has been no public outcry by Mill Road residents about the possibility of closing the road.

Regardless of the planners’ recommendation, Mill Road may still be closed.

Township supervisors will discuss the project Thursday, March 3, in executive session with Turnpike officials. The supervisors meet for their regular meeting at 7:30 that night.

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