PennDOT to begin Rt. 422 upgrade

$35.5M project will reconstruct 1.2 miles of highway near Pottstown

HARRISBURG » State officials announced that a major construction project on Route 422 in the Pottstown area is scheduled to begin on Monday, Sept. 25.

The project will involve the improvement and reconstruction of 1.2 miles of Route 422 from just east of the Schuylkill River bridge to just west of the Montgomery County line in North Coventry Township in Chester County, West Pottsgrove Township in Montgomery County, and Douglass Township in Berks County.

“This project is about moving traffic more effectively, efficiently and safely along a major southeast Pennsylvania corridor,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a press release. “Breaking ground on this project moves PennDOT another step closer to completing the overall reconstruction of seven miles of Route 422 in Chester and Montgomery counties.”

Under this improvement project, PennDOT will reconstruct Route 422 on both existing and new alignments; reconfigure the Route 422/ Stowe Interchange to a diamond configuration; remove and replace the existing ramps and culverts; install new Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) equipment, message boards, signing, pavement markings, lighting, concrete median barriers, median glare screens and guide rail; upgrade storm water management facilities and pipes; and construct and restore wetlands.

The entire project is scheduled to be completed in fall 2020.

On Monday, Sept. 25, and Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning, east-

bound Route 422 will be closed and detoured from the split with Benjamin Franklin Highway in Douglass Township to Route 100 (Pottstown Pike) in North Coventry, for storm pipe installation.

During construction, eastbound Route 422 motorists will be directed to continue on Benjamin Franklin Highway/High Street and turn right on Route 100 South (Pottstown Pike) to access the ramp to eastbound Route 422.

On Wednesday, Sept. 27, and Thursday, Sept. 28, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning, westbound Route 422 will be closed and detoured from Route 100 (Pottstown Pike) to the split with Benjamin Franklin Highway. During construction, westbound Route 422 motorists will be directed to take Route 100 North (Pottstown Pike) and High Street/Benjamin Franklin Highway to access westbound Route 422.

Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling near the work area because backups will occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.

H & K Group Inc. of Schwenksville, is the general contractor on the $35,581,408 improvement project, which is financed with 100 percent state funds from Act 89, Pennsylvania’s Transportation Plan.

For more information on the project, visit w w w.422improvements. com.

For more information on projects occurring or being bid this year, those made possible by or accelerated by Act 89, or those on the department’s Four and Twelve Year Plans, visit www.projects.penndot.gov.