Governor Wolf Joins PennDOT Secretary, Local Officials to Break Ground on
U.S. 322 Improvement Project in Delaware County
4/28/2017-KING OF PRUSSIA
Governor Tom Wolf joined Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
(PennDOT)
Secretary Leslie S. Richards and local officials today to break ground on
the
first of two mainline projects to widen and reconstruct a 6.7-mile section
of
U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) from U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) to just east of
Route 452 (Market Street) in Concord, Bethel and Upper Chichester
townships,
Delaware County.
The project is part of the more than $550 million that the department
expects
to invest in highway and bridge improvements across the Philadelphia region
in
2017.
"Whether it's in a rural community or a suburban area, transportation
improvements make commerce and our daily lives move more smoothly,"
Governor
Wolf said. "This major investment will double the highway's capacity to
improve
traffic flow and safety."
The ceremony marked the start of work on the long-awaited, $62.7 million
project to improve travel and safety on the first section, or western
section
of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) from U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) to just east
of
Mattson Road/Featherbed Lane near Clayton Park in Concord Township, by
widening
the highway from two lanes to four lanes with a grass median separating the
eastbound and westbound travel lanes.
"The state transportation plan is allowing this project to start faster
than it
would have otherwise, and we're pleased to bring these improvements to this
region faster," Richards said. "This will make a huge difference for the
tens
of thousands of people who use the highway to connect to Interstate 95,
Philadelphia International Airport and New Jersey."
The scope of work on the first section also includes:
• Reconstructing, widening and upgrading five intersections to provide four
through lanes and turn lanes on U.S. 322 at Evergreen Drive, Fellowship
Drive/Station Road, Cambridge Drive, Featherbed Lane/Mattson Road and
Clayton
Park Drive;
• Upgrading traffic signals on U.S. 322 at U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike),
Evergreen
Drive, Fellowship Drive/Station Road and Featherbed Lane/Mattson Road;
• Eliminating through and left turn movements on Spring Valley Road, Merion
Drive, Cambridge Drive, Station Road and Clayton Park Drive; and
• Installing three dynamic message signs, six closed circuit TV cameras,
and
Bluetooth tag readers to optimize traffic flow.
In addition, the bridge carrying U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) over
SEPTA/Webb
Creek and the bridge over Smith Bridge Road will be replaced. Five
retaining
walls and a sound barrier will also be constructed in this section.
"This day is a tremendously important day for our region. Area residents
have
been calling for this road to be improved for decade, going back some 30
years
when the late Senator Bell made this project a top priority for our
region,"
said Senator Tom Killion. "I was happy to help build legislative support
for
Act 89—the legislation that made this project possible. Getting to this
point
took a lot of effort from a lot of people. I want to thank all those who
contributed to making this project happen. The impact this project will
have on
improving the quality of life for our community cannot be overstated."
During construction, U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) between U.S. 1
(Baltimore
Pike) and Clayton Park Drive will remain open to one lane of traffic in
each
direction during peak travel times. Periodic flagger-controlled lane
restrictions may occur Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and
from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM, for various operations as construction advances
along
the corridor.
Work on the first mainline section of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) is
scheduled to be completed in fall 2020.
J.D. Eckman, Inc. of Atglen, Chester County, is the general contractor on
the
project which is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state
funds.
Engineering design is advancing for the widening and reconstruction of the
eastern section of the highway from Featherbed Lane/Mattson Road to just
east
of Route 452 (Market Street). Construction on this section is expected to
start
in 2019.
An additional contract to replace the U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) bridge
over
the CSX railroad and Bethel Road as well as improvements to the adjacent
Bethel
Road Interchange is under design and not yet scheduled for construction.
PennDOT has launched a new website —
us322conchester.com — to keep
motorists
and residents informed during the reconstruction and widening of U.S. 322
(Conchester Highway). The site provides updated construction details and
photos, graphics showing improvements at each intersection, travel
information
for commuters, a form for submitting questions or comments, and an email
subscription service for receiving news and other information about the
project.
For more information on projects occurring or being bid this year, those
made
possible by or accelerated by the state transportation funding plan (Act
89),
or those on the department's Four and Twelve Year Plans, visit
www.projects.penndot.gov.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by
visiting
www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides
traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and
access
to more than 825 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and
Android
devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts
accessible
on the 511PA website.
For more PennDOT information, visit
www.penndot.gov. Follow local PennDOT
information on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly, and follow the
department on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/pennsylvaniadepartmentoftransportation and Instagram at
www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot.
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