Bethlehem Township officials are looking into a possible opportunity to straighten out the dog-leg intersection of Farmersville Road and Freemansburg Avenue.
Farmersville Road does not align at the crossroads, leading to the disjointed intersection — two intersections really — that officials have long hoped to realign.
“I know everyone knows we need it,” township commissioners’ President Michael Hudak said during Monday night’s board meeting. “It’s a long time coming.”
The solution may be 12 acres owned by the Bethlehem Area School District north and east of the intersection. School officials are beginning a study of whether it makes sense to hold onto that land or sell it off, and a portion going to the township could pave the way for a newly aligned intersection.
The school board and administration began discussing the possible land sale, coincidentally, on Monday, just as township commissioners were talking about a possible purchase.
“It’s be great if we could get that intersection,” township Commissioner Malissa Davis said Monday.
Freemansburg Avenue and Farmersville Road has been the scene of several crashes over the years, including one last month involving three vehicles that resulted in two injuries.
The district bought its land there, which is vacant and leased for agriculture, as possible space for a new building, if the need were to arise, said Bethlehem Area schools Superintendent Joseph Roy.
It’s way too early to say how much the land is worth, he said.
“Aligning the intersection there is probably good for the school district if we’re talking about the value of the property,” Roy said.
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First, the district needs to look at enrollment trends, the capacity to add on to existing schools if needed and the potential revenue from the sale of the land. An appraisal would follow. He likened it to the district’s sale in November 2014 and February 2015 of its Monocacy building at 1816 Main St. in Bethlehem and Rosemont building at 815 Pennsylvania Ave., respectively.
Those sales brought in a combined a combined $1.25 million. Revenue from selling off assets can be used to upgrade or expand existing facilities, as needed, Roy said.
The next step is a discussion with the school board next month, Roy said.
“That would be good,” he said of the possible land sale to the township, “and we’re going to be getting together with the township in the future.”
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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