Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in the city of Allentown will be closed from Lehigh Street to 15th Street for approximately two months beginning Tuesday, June 28 for concrete repairs required on the underside of the Eighth St. Bridge.

The detour will be put in place to prevent traffic from passing under the Eighth Street Bridge while repairs are being made to the supporting columns and arches of the bridge. The contractor will be removing loose concrete materials and performing repairs of deteriorated portions of the bridge.

According to PennDOT, the duration of the closure may fluctuate based on the extent of deteriorated concrete needing repair.

Drivers are encouraged to find alternate routes if possible. The detour will be clearly signed and will be as follows:

Westbound traffic: Westbound traffic will be directed south on Lehigh Street and west on W. Wyoming Street to Ward Street and the 15th Street Bridge. Traffic then traveling west on MLK, Jr. Drive will exit the 15th Street Bridge ramp back to westbound MLK, Jr. Drive.

Eastbound traffic: Eastbound traffic will be directed off of MLK, Jr. Drive to north on 15th Street and then directed east along Walnut Street to south on Seventh Street. Traffic will then travel east on Union Street and south on Lehigh Street back to MLK, Jr. Drive.

Temporary changes will be made to the traffic signal configuration at MLK and Lehigh Street, and temporary traffic signal timings will be applied at various locations throughout the indicated detour routes.

Access to Fountain Park located just west of the Eighth St. Bridge will be maintained from the west side.

Pedestrian access will be maintained on MLK during the closure.

Work on the project is anticipated from 7am – 7pm, Monday through Saturday. For operational reasons the closure will remain in place day and night for the duration of the work.

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