Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Improving the county’s western region
From upcoming work on Route 30 to grant monies, members hear of improvements in county’s western region
“All of the investment is tipping the scales in the right direction for the City of Coatesville and Western Chester County.” – Chester County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Michelle Kichline
There is hope for Western Chester County commuters who find themselves too often idling on the Route 30 Bypass on their way to work in the morning.
But they will have to be patient.
An update on plans to improve the main artery connecting the western part of the county to the business centers in Great Valley, King of Prussia, Philadelphia and points in between was one of the highlights of the 16th annual Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce Municipal Luncheon held Friday at G.A Vietri Inc. in the Meetinghouse Business Park.
Giving updates on developments in their areas were officials from Atglen, Caln, Christiana, Coatesville, East Brandywine, East Fallowfield, Elverson, Highland, Honey Brook, Modena, Parkesburg, Sadsbury, South Coatesville, Valley, West Bradford, West Brandywine, West Caln, West Fallowfield and West Sadsbury.
Chester County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Michelle Kichline also updated the crowd of about 200 on projects the county is helping with in western Chester County.
“We’ve been focusing on the urban areas in Western Chester County for a number of years through our Community Revitalization Program,” Kichline said. “All of the investment is tipping the scales in the right direction for the City of Coatesville and Western Chester County.”
For many of those in attendance, improvements to the Route 30 Bypass are the most concern for the area.
Eugene J. Blaum, assistant to the district executive for District 6 at the Pennsylvania Department of Transpor-
tation, explained that work had stalled due to a lack of funding.
“Finally, thanks to Act 89, the plan to reconstruct and improve 14 miles of the U.S. 30 Bypass from Route 10 to Business U.S. 30 is once again active and in the conceptual stage of design,” Blaum reported. “The project restarted after stopping in the late 2000s due to lack of funds. The project is presently in conceptual design.”
Total construction cost is estimated at around $800 million, including $35 million in pre-construction costs.
Blaum laid out the schedule for upcoming work:
• Preliminary engineering is expected to start in 2018. The department plans to hold public meetings in May and early fall to initially roll out the alternative under examination and to obtain public comment.
• The project is being divided into an Eastern section – Business U.S. 30 to just west of Reeceville Road – and a Western section – just west of Reeceville Road to Route 10.
“The eastern section from Reeceville Road to Business Route 30 is very complicated,” Blaum said. “The project team is analyzing the possible expansion of this section to six lanes due to heavy traffic volumes.”
• Within the area of the two partial interchanges of Route 113 to Norwood Road, PennDOT will examine potential changes.
• The first western section work could go to construction in early to mid-2020s.
• The western section would remain two lanes in each direction with the right outside shoulders expanding from 10 feet to 12 feet. Travel lanes will be 12 feet wide.
• Improvements include new drainage system and new glare screen barriers.
• Two new ramps will be built to complete the Airport Road interchange; other interchanges along Route 30 will be upgraded.
• Rights of Way will need to be acquired on the eastern section of U.S. 30 if widening is done.
• Noise abatement will be examined on the eastern section and on the western section that contains the Airport Road Interchange.
In addition to Kichline, county commissioners Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell attended the lunch. Kitchline noted the county has invested in urban areas in the western part of the county.
“As many of you know, we have been working under a 10-year economic development strategy called Vista 2025 that focuses on the right balance of progress and preservation for our citizens,” Kichline said. “We’ve been focusing on the urban areas in Western Chester County for a number of years through our Community Revitalization Program.”
According to Kichline, some of the county’s investments include:
• In Atglen, and in Honey Brook - nearly $2.8 million each;
• In Modena and Parkesburg - $1.6 million each;
• In South Coatesville – $2.1 million;
• In Coatesville, $6.4 million over the past 15 years.
“We recognize that these grants have benefited the area’s boroughs and the City of Coatesville for many years … and they are very necessary to greatly improve the overall health of the community and provide for growth,” Kichline said.
In Coatesville, for example, they have resulted in a 15 percent taxable assessment increase, the commissioners’ chairwoman added. To contact Business Editor Brian McCullough, call 610-235-2655 or send an email to bmccullough@ dailylocal.com.