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BETHLEHEM (Jan 24) –
Senator Lisa M.
Boscola today pledged to work with
the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation and the Pennsylvania
State Police to make I-78 a safer
thoroughfare for motorists and
commuters in the Lehigh Valley.
Her
involvement comes after a rash of
fatalities, accidents and dangerous
motor vehicle incidents along the
I-78 corridor in recent weeks.
“We need to take a
hard look at enhancing the existing
safety infrastructure on this
portion of I-78,” Boscola said.
“Two tragic deaths occurred during
the holiday season on I-78. Now is
the time for local officials, the
State Police and PennDOT to work
together in a concerted effort to
make much-needed improvements and
prevent any more fatalities.”
Boscola has already
recommended to PennDOT officials
that high-tension cable barrier
system technologies, which have been
approved by the Federal Highway
Administration, may be one solution
to prevent crossover accidents and
fatalities.
Cable barrier systems
could prove
to restrict the crossover of
vehicles along highways such as I-78
and prevent the type of fatal
accidents that have occurred four
times since 1999 along the I-78
corridor in Northampton County, she
said.
Boscola has also called on the State
Police to publicly resurrect the
Interstate 78 Coalition. In 1999,
the State Police were active in
promoting the Interstate 78
Coalition that initiated greater
motor safety procedures and polices
on this major highway artery that
runs through the Lehigh Valley.
“Safety and enforcement must be a
priority on this highway,” Boscola
said. “Through a collaborative
effort, hopefully we can prevent the
types of accidents that have become
all too common along I-78.”
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(CLICK for letters
from Senator Boscola to
PennDOT
and the
State Police on this matter.)
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