Lower Pottsgrove Township Building Plans Updated

Photos by Evan Brandt

In the above photo, the green area at the left is space for the administrative offices in the new $8.2 million municipal building now being designed. The blue area at the right is for the police. Below, architect Randy Galiotto, from Alloy 5, presents the current plans.

Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners were updated Monday night on the plans for the new $8.2 million municipal building first unveiled in August.

Randy Galiotto from the Bethlehem architecture firm of Alloy 5 told the commissioners that the firm is currently studying the site conditions.

He said soil tests indicate "good percolation" for rainwater into the soil and wells dug seem to indicate they would not hit bedrock, which is about 10 feet down, during construction as there are not plans to dig that deep.

This photo shows the locations of wells dug to test for groundwater.

The new building, planned for the southeast corner of East High Street and South Pleasantview Road in Sanatoga, will be located on five lots the township has obtained and will have room for expansion.

Police Chief Mike Foltz said the police department was recently re-accredited, but that note was made of t he cramped space out of which the department operates in the basement of the current township building on Buchert Road.

Galiotto said the current site, and design for the new 16,000 square-foot building, would allow for expansion, at least 3,000 square feet more for the administration; and 4,500 square feet for the police department.

New 422 Ramp On Track

Lower Pottsgrove Township Manager Ed Wagner told the commissioners Monday night that the final designs for the new Route 422 ramp at the Sanatoga interchange is nearing completion.

The concept behind the new Route 422 Sanatoga ramp.

The interchange is very busy during rush hour and from traffic headed to the Costco and Limerick
outlets there. The new Sanatoga Green mixed-use development now heading toward its final permits will only add to the traffic there.

The new ramp will eliminate the need for those headed east on Evergreen Road to cross the opposing traffic to get onto Route 422 west.

Wagner said bids for the project, which is being undertaken by PennDOT with contributions from both Lower Pottsgrove and Limerick townships, will likely go out to bid by the end of the year with constructions starting in February or March of 2021.

The project is expected to take four to six months to complete.

Estimates offered in 2018 indicated the project would already be complete.

Police Report

Foltz said that in addition to the township department once again getting accredited by the police chiefs association, that the department answered 1,110 calls in February.

He also reported that a new police cruiser recently put into service to replace one that was destroyed in a wreck has already been damaged.

Foltz said the police was struck by a driver who was trying to beat the light at Armand Hammer Boulevard during the afternoon rush hour.

He also said police have identified a suspect in the December shooting in Rolling Hills.

Click here to see the Tweets from last night's meeting.