The former Barber Quarry rail spur is no secret. The line ran along the Little Lehigh, under both the 8th Street and 15th Street Bridges, ending up near the present day Hamilton Family Diner. I have posted about it often;
The Train of Lehigh Parkway, also
The Train of Union Terrace and
The Junkyard Train. It has played a role in several City plans. It's former railbed would be incorporated into the Trail Network Plan, and the
AEDC received a grant to perhaps reinstate the rail line. Both these projects have been covered here at
molovinsky on allentown. Today we are told that construction of the 15th Street Bridge replacement will be delayed because of arsenic found by the former railbed. Arsenic, and other pesticides were previously used to make railroad ties. This also is no secret. We are a city which can work with the state government to fast track development for political and private benefit, but are content to have the entire southside isolated. When construction finally does begin, it was suppose to start last November, the bridge will be closed in both directions for over a year.
Schreiber's Bridge, the 184 year old stone structure a quarter mile west, has been taking a pounding.* In 1957 the 15th Street Bridge opened, finally providing a good connection between South Allentown and the remainder of the city. Because Pennsylvania was considering it's replacement, Community Development Director Pawlowski, under Afflerbach, didn't have it's metal beam structure painted. Because Mayor Pawlowski has been consumed with
Transforming Allentown, no haste has been applied to the bridge project. While the politicians and press lament about the Hole at 8th and Hamilton, I'm concerned about the quality of life issues; That bridge is one of them.
*This blog has noted the on going damage to Schreiber's Bridge from heavy use with just one lane of 15th Street Bridge currently closed. This blogger personally informed Mayor Pawlowski of the damage.
Schreiber's Bridge now has broken stones on the roadway and nearby grass. While a small sign indicates large trucks are not allowed to cross this antique bridge, the sign comes far too late in the route for a large truck driver to turn around or back up. Vehicles now stack 10 deep at rush hour trying to turn left which at this point should be temporarily halted. And now, another year?
ReplyDeletei personally reported the missing stones to pawlowski several months ago, and noted so on this blog. the damage is on the northwest side of the bridge, both on the outside and inside. once the 15th street bridge is completely closed for replacement, the traffic will only double on schreiber's bridge. in this city of misplaced priorities, we can only hope that the 15th street bridge is replaced before work begins on the 8th street bridge.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteanon. 7:33 wrote:
ReplyDeleteI drove on mlk over the weekend and there was much rubble on the roadway from the deteriorating bridge above.
PROPS to this administration and the deterioration of allentowns infastructures demise as well as mayor pawlowski's campaign for the economic demise of allentown pa.
i changed the bastardized spelling of pawlowski's name. i appreciate the comment, but do not submit any future comments with such name distortions. they will not be corrected and printed in the future.
Thank you mm bernie just deletes them. I am sorry and am not trying to get anyone in troble but i had been attacked by the mayor and his jesters for trying to report a criminal act.
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ReplyDeleteThe individual who has constantly written the "Chicken Little" comments, does not seem to understand. I lived in Allentown many years ago, and loved it. The park system, shopping, arts, all wrapped up in a nice little package, made Allentown an attractive residence. Recently returning, we drove out Hamilton St, and watched the serene beauty of the park turn into this gawdy playground area. No one is against change. But change what is broken, not what was not. The time, effort, planning, and funding would be much better spent on police, fire, and infrastructure improvements than on building monuments to your legacy as a politician.
ReplyDelete@8:52, most people who read bill and angie villa's blog have little doubt about who pens the daily cyberstalking. the hater doesn't really care about playgrounds, allentown or anything else but his own agenda. hopefully, some day the law will catch up with such internet crimes.
ReplyDeleteMM -
ReplyDeleteI was in the Lehigh Parkway recently and drove across the (partially closed) 15th Street Bridge to get there.
Once I entered the Parkway, I had to drive in the opposite lane to avoid getting too close to the deteriorating WPA wall.
I then went as far as the permanently closed vehiclular bridge (now only a pedestrian bridge) near the Police Academy entrance.
While in the Parkway, I was treated hoardes of mosquitos and blocked views of the Little Lehigh Creek because of areas that are no longer maintained. The stated reason for the lack of maintenance is for environmental purposes, but I think most people realize it's just another excuse to save money.
I then left by driving my car along a paved bike path since I couldn't exit the same way I entered (because of the deteriorating WPA wall) and ultimately went home over the deteriorating Schreiber's bridge.
Later in the day, I passed by one of the City's permanently/temporarily closed pools along MLK Boulevard.
Could anyone have imagined such neglect occuring in Allentown's Parks, once the symbol of all that is good with the city? Yet our local newspaper is silent, treating press releases as the truth instead of reporting on reality. Also silent are a well-funded local Trust (supposedly dedicated to preserving the Park system) as well as a politically designed advocacy group for City parks.
And the people of the City continue to elect the same political party into City offices again and again, instead of holding them accountable (or at least sending them a message).
Over / Under on NIZ Propaganda pieces this week from Bill White?
ReplyDelete:-)
readers, besides myself, here's a partial list of some of the people on the bill and angie villa attack list, shown by photograph and insulted on the sidebar of their blog
ReplyDeletefrom the morning call; glenn kranzley, dave erdman, mike miorelli, tim ryan,john micek and more
from local politics: mike schlossberg,dean browning, judge robert steinberg, and more
from local colleges; cedar crest dean carmen ambar, jeff pooley, michael donovan, his wife and son, and more
from the clergy:Rev. Maria Tjeltveit, Rev. Grant Harrity, Bishop Seeley Beggiani and more
besides placing repetitive insults on blogs, they contact employers and supervisors of those on their list. their list is comprised of people who declined to endorse or response to their campaign of hatred.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThe bridge situation is deplorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time the city/corporate fathers would never have allowed this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maintainence at the parks is at an all time low. Parks staff reduced, work undone. Morning Call: " City spokesman days work on LehighParkway stone wall will be completed in 90.days." Where is the outrage???????? THIS PLACE IS BECOMING A JOKE!!!!!!!
No, Allentown's administration is not a joke the circus clowns sit in as mayor and nis counsil. Home rule charter needs to be readdresed when the administraitions neglect is risking a catastrophe and risk of life is in the future of some innocent citizine. Mr. Solicitor your calender will be booked in the near future also with liabilty upon your shoulders and the ones you protect. LLC esq.
DeleteREDD
To 11:05 , "........hoards of mosquetes, blocked views." . Really now,
ReplyDeletesuch nonsense diminishes your argument. The parks haven't faired well under the democrats . They didn't do much better under the last republican administration either ( Lights in the Parkway).
As to you MM- thank you for what you do. If you didn't do it there would be no hope at all. Please keep it up.
Don't they read your blog? Honestly, don't they ? Have they no shame at all?
MM
ReplyDeletePlease find out if any work has even started on the WPA stone wall. Thank you very much.
Anonymous said...
The bridge situation is deplorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once upon a time the city/corporate fathers would never have allowed this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maintainence at the parks is at an all time low. Parks staff reduced, work undone. Morning Call: " City spokesman days work on LehighParkway stone wall will be completed in 90.days." Where is the outrage???????? THIS PLACE IS BECOMING A JOKE!!!!!!!
May 22, 2012 5:57 PM
Parks in disrepair? What a great opportunity for those who got their 99 weeks of unemployment to contribute something back.
ReplyDeleteIf only a grass roots group could sue the Trexler trustees for negligence of duty. They are the folks who should hang their heads in shame.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Anonymous said...
MM
Please find out if any work has even started on the WPA stone wall. Thank you very much.
Anonymous said...
The bridge situation is deplorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once upon a time the city/corporate fathers would never have allowed this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maintainence at the parks is at an all time low. Parks staff reduced, work undone. Morning Call: " City spokesman days work on LehighParkway stone wall will be completed in 90.days." Where is the outrage???????? THIS PLACE IS BECOMING A JOKE!!!!!!!
May 22, 2012 5:57 PM
May 22, 2012 10:13 PM