PennDOT to install ‘smart signs’

COATESVILLE » Single lane closures are scheduled in both directions on Route 30 weekdays between the Route 82 (Manor Road) Interchange and Swan Road in Valley, Sadsbury and West Sadsbury townships, Chester County June 9-17, from 9: a.m.-3 p.m., for rock drilling and sampling, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials announced.

The work is part of a project to install Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) improvements on U.S. 30 (Coatesville-Downingtown Bypass) and a 20-mile stretch of Business U.S. 30 that extends from west of Route 10 (Octorara Trail) in West Sadsbury Township to the U.S. 30 (Coatesville-Downingtown Bypass) Interchange with U.S. 202 in East Whiteland Township, Chester County.

The purpose of the project is to improve traffic operations in advance of the U.S. 30 reconstruction and improvements project that is expected to begin sometime in the mid-2020s. ITS improvements to be installed include variable message signs, traffic cameras and travel time readers which will aid the department in monitoring the flow of traffic, mitigating congestion, and handling emergency response during future construction operations.

The new ITS devices will be connected into PennDOT’s fiber optic communications system and will be managed from the department’s Regional Transportation Management Center (RTMC), located in the District 6-0 office in King of Prussia.

Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work areas because backups and delays may occur. The schedule is weather dependent and subject to change.

The entire project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2021.

Bruce & Merrilees Electric Company, of New Castle, PA, is the general contractor on the $5.8 million project which is financed with 100 percent federal funds.