Bethlehem Steel pedestrian promenade delayed, but Hoover-Mason Trestle to open partially by year's end – Revitalization continues as several projects advance

Construction of an elevated pedestrian walkway at the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. site has been delayed, but the Hoover-Mason Trestle should be partially opened by year's end, an official said today.

Tony Hanna, executive director of the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, said today the basic walkway should be done by the end of the year, but the park's historical interpretation elements won't be done until next year.

"It will be done by the end of the year at least to walk to one end or the other," he said.

The authority, which is overseeing the $11 million project, had to hire a new company to implement the historical interpretation plan because of personnel changes at the previous company, Hanna said.

The historical elements include large projectors that will screen movies and photographs of former Steel operations and workers on the buildings lining the trestle. The walkway also will include several viewing platforms to provide bird's-eye views of both the Steel site and other historic buildings in the neighborhood.

The steel to construct the half-mile walkway is being delivered next month and the authority is planning an event to celebrate the start of its installation, Hanna said.

"That will be a momentous occasion for this project," he said.

A new timeline on when the walkway will be fully completed will be announced at the installation event, which is expected to be in about a month, Hanna said. The project is being paid through a special tax fund to pay for infrastructure improvements on the former Steel site.

The authority has made progress on redesigning the colored lighting of the blast furnaces, which also is part of the project, Hanna said. The new lighting is expected to be completed by mid-September, and it will illuminate the furnaces more fully and highlight important elements, officials have said.

The Hoover-Mason Trestle connects the SteelStacks arts complex with Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. Officials say they expect the trestle both to be an attraction on its own and increase cross visitation between SteelStacks and Sands.

The Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority also today announced:

- Progress on plans for a Bass Pro Shops, convention center and second hotel at Sands will be announced in upcoming weeks, Hanna said. There have been rumors the project wasn't happening but "it's still moving ahead," Hanna said.

- More details on the distillery planned at the former National Museum of Industrial History office building on East Third Street will be announced Sept. 2, Hanna said. Franklin Hill Vineyards is expected to open both a distillery and small restaurant in the building.

- The authority also in September will announce plans to build as many as two new parking garages to accommodate further redevelopment at Steel, Hanna said.

Source: Lehigh Valley Live