The drop of the first puck at the hockey arena in Allentown is still almost two years away, but some drivers are already complaining about traffic around the construction site.

So, will the downtown streets be able to handle the extra traffic once it's "game on?"

"Horrible," said driver Kelly Fischl.

"It seems like there's always delays over here all the time," added another driver, Danny Martinez.

The current delays are minor, though.  What about when the arena opens?

When asked if she thought the streets can handle it, Fischl said, "No."

Fischl may not think so, but an independent traffic study concluded that downtown streets can handle the extra load. 

The study was commissioned by the Allentown Economic Development Corporation and conducted by Center Valley-based Traffic Planning and Design.

TPD's study predicts almost 2,000 additional vehicle trips during events, plus up to another 600 for an events center planned across 7th Street from the arena.  That venue is tentatively scheduled to open in 2015.

Hamilton Street between 6th and 9th streets would see the biggest congestion jump, according to the study. 

Since most events will be at night and on the weekends, though, arena traffic is not expected to significantly compete with commuters. 

Study authors also expect the new American Parkway Bridge, slated for construction this year, to lessen traffic delays by providing a faster connection to Route 22.

"Every developing city, it takes time," said one Allentown driver.  "There's growing pains no matter what you do."

For a look at the future, look at Reading, which opened the Sovereign Center in 2001.  Drivers we spoke with there have few traffic complaints.

"It might have been heavier traffic," said John Williams, of Birdsboro, Berks Co., "but … the police in Reading have everything under control."

"It's still the same. It's always going to be the same," said Amy Swenk, of Birdsboro. "So here, there's no traffic build-up.  It's -- no -- none at all."

In Allentown, the traffic study recommends re-timing traffic signals, restricting on-street parking during arena events, and perhaps getting rid of pedestrian-only signal crossings.  It also suggests digital signs telling drivers how many spots are available in downtown parking garages.

Of course, Mayor Ed Pawlowski, D-Allentown, said he envisions more bars, restaurants, and hotels downtown as well, and the traffic study did not factor in any of those things.

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