Bristol Business Owner Holding Route 13 Meeting Thursday Evening

A public meeting about the Route 13 project that will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Order of Moose Lodge at 2299 Radcliffe Street.

The meeting is being organized by Bristol Borough business owner Gary Paul. The grass median PennDOT is set to construct is one of the main reasons Paul, who owns the Bristol Blitz ice cream shop, has concerns about the project.

Project and borough officials have been invited to the meeting, along with Route 13 business owners.

In a conversation last month, Paul also raised concerns that property owners along Route 13 were not notified through certified mail that the road work was going to take place. Paul said he does not get the newspaper and did not hear too much on the project, which began in late January.

Previous to road construction, PennDOT held open public meetings, according to officials. Public input was even used when the plan was put together by state transportation officials.

“I think it’s great that local businesses are looking out for the growth of the community,” said borough council candidate Eric Sokalski, who hopes to attend the meeting and hear concerns from residents.

PennDOT has said the nearly $40 million project will creating a new grass median, rid the roadway of some jug handles and reconstruct the road surface from concrete to asphalt.

PennDOT spokesperson Charles Metzger said earlier this year that sidewalks will be added to parts of the roadway in an effort to reduce pedestrian deaths, which are not uncommon on the roadway.