Chestnut, Lehigh streets in Emmaus, Allentown set for 8-mile paving in 2026

In his 11 years as Emmaus borough manager, Shane Pepe estimates he has received at least one complaint a month about the condition of stateowned Chestnut Street, particularly about bumpiness and potholes.

“It’s not a recent complaint,” he said.

A fix could be on the way by 2026, according to PennDOT spokesperson Ron Young.

The department intends to spend $7 million to $8 million to resurface 8.3 miles of Chestnut and Lehigh streets — officially, State Route 2005 — from Cedar Crest Boulevard to Sixth Street, through Emmaus, Salisbury Township and Allentown.

The heavily trafficked thoroughfare can see, on average, more than 42,000 vehicles every day, according to PennDOT.

“That is the main artery of this community,” Pepe said. “Ninety-five percent of our traffic goes through that road in some way, shape or form.”

PennDOT expects to bid out a contract in early-to-mid 2025, Young said. The funds would come through money allocated through the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study Transportation Improvement Program.

The project has been in the works for years, and is part of the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study’s list of road priorities. The resurfacing for the street was originally slated for May 2024.

In the meantime, Pepe recommended residents reach out to the borough and PennDOT to make them aware of any street issues, noting the borough is working to address the disrepair of some of its own roads as well, including a half-mile of South Second Street next year.