Rebuilding North-Franklin-Linwood Intersection Under Way

The city has begun a $600,000 reconstruction of the intersection of North and Franklin Sts. and Linwood Ave. to reduce traffic speed and increase pedestrian safety.

Traffic at the intersection is expected to be hampered during August while work proceeds. The project is expected to be completed by September.

The project has been on the books more than three years but has been delayed by lack of funding.

Franklin St. will be reduced in width as it approaches North St by removing the portion of the street which turns right onto North St. and adding this to Tony Sisti Park at the southeast corner of the intersection. Smaller portions of the northeast and northwest corners of the intersection will also be converted from asphalt to green spaces.

Northbound traffic that now flows directly from Franklin St. to Linwood Ave will have to make a right turn on North St., then a left turn onto Linwood. The single traffic signal at the intersection will be replaced by two signals, one at Franklin and North, one at North and Linwood.

Thomas Duk, a city engineer who is the project manager, said the purpose is to increase pedestrian safety by reducing speed and calming traffic from Franklin St. Tapestry Charter School is just east of the intersection at North and North Pearl Sts. Ascension Episcopal Church is at the intersection’s northwest corners.

The project was planned with the encouragement of the Linwood Preservation District & Friends which pressed for the changes, he said. The organization plans to use funds from its fundraising tour of homes to beautify the north side of the intersection.

The project will also include esthetic improvements to harmonize the intersection with the surrounding Allentown and Linwood historic districts. North St. is the boundary between the two historic districts.

These changes include curbing of Medina sandstone, no longer quarried and available only be reusing reclaimed stone from other construction, as well as decorative retro traffic signals and light standards, Tom Duk said.

C. Destro Development is the construction contractor. Berman Associates is the contractor for design and construction. Some delays in the project will make it difficult to complete by the Sept. 9 target, but work on the south side of North St. is to be finished by that date, the opening of Tapestry School.