JUST AROUND THE BEND Expansion of Panama Canal to magnify rail and truck traffic in eastern Pa., but can our infrastructure and warehouses handle it?

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With the completion of the $5.3 billion Panama Canal expansion planned for next year, much more rail freight and truck traffic could be headed throughout eastern Pennsylvania as cargo increases at New York City and Philadelphia ports.

The expansion would allow bigger ships, some tripling in size, to carry much more freight through U.S. ports, including New York and Philadelphia, spilling over into major truck and rail shipping traffic throughout eastern Pennsylvania. A little more than an hour’s drive from these two locations, the Greater Lehigh Valley is poised to reap the benefits of increased business opportunities from carriers looking for freight rail access, warehouse and distribution space.

Some officials say infrastructure improvements on the region’s highways are in place or in progress, making the region well positioned to take advantage of the expected increase in truck traffic. Others say the region’s roads already are heavily congested and question the ability of the region’s infrastructure to handle the looming surge.

One opportunity exists with the potential establishment of an inland port in Bethlehem at the intermodal facility near Route 412, which could relieve stress from U.S. ports. Others say recent improvements to Interstate 78, a new interchange project for Route 33 and future expansions of Route 22 could pave the way for better access as truck traffic increases.

But the question remains, are the region’s transportation, infrastructure and logistics networks equipped to handle it?

It’s not a simple question to answer and a lot depends on whether or not the canal expansion is delayed and if industry takes advantage of the economic opportunities around the bend.

The Panama Canal expansion will have an effect on the Lehigh Valley’s freight traffic, but the question is, how much?

“Freight is going to grow whether we want it to or not,” said Becky Bradley, executive director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, an organization based in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

Bradley said the organization, which manages a more than $1 billion transportation plan, is creating a regional freight plan to examine what products are moving through the Valley in terms of commodities and value. The report raises questions about air cargo capacity, road infrastructure and how resources can be targeted from the federal and state government to make improvements.

Though not directly related to the expansion of the Panama Canal, several transportation improvements are in the works which aim to enhance the flow of freight through the region.