The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
READY TO HIT THE ROAD
PennDOT to host open house on Norristown’s Markley Street Improvement Project
NORRISTOWN >> From widening the road to installing brick pavers and decorative pedestrian streetlights, the Markley Street Improvement Project will get things rolling this fall and will likely take four years and plenty of twists and turns before it’s completed.
On Thursday, Oct. 10, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy cafeteria, 1601 Markley St., Norristown. PennDOT will kick things off by hosting an informative Open House about the upcoming project to reconstruct and improve Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) between Main Street and Elm Street, and Main Street between Water Street and Barbadoes Street.
Although Facebook comments at “You Know You’re From Norristown” were along the lines of “They’re going to do what they want to do; it will be a nightmare for four years,” PennDOT spokesman Brad Rudolph maintained
that these informational opportunities are helpful to the public.
“Open Houses are typically well-attended by community members so they can learn about all facets of the project,” he said. “The meeting will be conducted as an open-house plans display where (guests) will have the opportunity to circulate among the subject displays to gather information and discuss the different facets of the project with PennDOT’s design team.”
A press release noted that construction is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds.
Many might be surprised to learn that the project dates back more than a decade.
“Following the completion of preliminary and pre-final design activities, PennDOT began final engineering design on the Markley Street Improvement project in January, 2009,” Rudolph explained. “The initial studies were performed by Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc.”
Among the upgrades PennDOT will perform include rebuilding the fourlane section of Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) between Main Street and Marshall Street; reconstructing and widening Markley Street to provide one northbound lane, two southbound lanes and a center turn lane between Marshall Street and Elm Street; replace the two existing bridges for Markley Street over Stony Creek with a single bridge to accommodate five lanes of traffic; rehabilitating the Markley Street/Elm Street stone arch bridge over Stony Creek; constructing a new sidewalk on the west side of Markley Street to link SEPTA train stations at Main Street and Elm Street; reconstructing and widening Main Street between Water Street and Barbadoes Street to provide additional travel lanes and improve traffic flow through the signalized intersection at Markley Street; installing brick pavers, trees and decorative pedestrian streetlights along Main Street between Barbadoes Street and Markley Street; upgrading railroad grade crossings at Main Street and Marshall Street by installing new gates and signals in coordination with SEPTA; installing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) components to better manage traffic flow along both Markley Street and DeKalb Pike (U.S. 202 North) corridors; replacing existing Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) traffic signals at Main Street, Marshall Street and Elm Street and installing new ADA curb ramps at all intersections to include pushbuttons, countdown signals and continental crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety.
While traffic will only be allowed south bound during construction between Elm Street and Main Street, access to all businesses and properties will be maintained at all times, Rudolph pointed out.
“SEPTA is aware and has modified their bus routes to minimize any impact the detour will have on their routes,” he said. “The detour for (northbound) traffic will be the same detour that was implemented in section 520 so it should be familiar to the general public. That is, the bulk of the traffic will be directed to exit off 202 in King of Prussia onto DeKalb Pike through Bridgeport, but the road will not actually be closed until 202 intersects Main Street. This means any northbound traffic that is accessing Main Street will not be effected by the closure.”
That includes Norristown Centre and the upcoming Royal Farms construction, which will not be affected, Rudolph added.
“Traffic north of Elm Street through Johnson Highway should not be affected, as travel will be maintained in both directions. Northbound traffic south of Markley Street will follow the detour utilizing DeKalb Street to Johnson Highway. Bus routes that would be affected by the closure to travel there have been modified by SEPTA, so the general public should not see an impact.”
Throughout construction, drivers will be able to check conditions by visiting www.511PA.com or downloading the 511PA application for iPhone and Android devices. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, providing traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 950 traffic cameras.
No one should ever abandon hope that the project could be finished ahead of schedule, Rudolph allowed.
“The department always looks for ways to complete the project earlier and works with the contractor to achieve that,” he said. “This is dependent on various elements, such as weather, unknown factors and underground conditions, the various utilities and how fast they can relocate their facilities out of the construction zone. With that said, the total contract is for four years, the detour on Markley Street is anticipated to be removed by late 2021 with construction complete late in 2022 on both Main and Markley streets. The final year of the project will be for ITS and signal support as well as plant establishment (completion late 2023).”
Attempts to reach Crandall Jones, municipal manager for Norristown, for comment were unsuccessful.
More information is available at us202-markleystreet.com