Traffic reminder: Markley Street project to begin

NORRISTOWN >> Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) motorists will encounter periodic, flagger-controlled lane closures in either direction between Main Street and Elm Street in Norristown on Monday, January 20, through Friday, January 24, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., for installation of temporary traffic signal poles and wires under a project to reconstruct and improve the highway, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today. The temporary signals will be used during the project’s construction stages, which include replacement of the existing permanent traffic signals.

In addition to the lane closures, beginning on Monday, January 27, through fall 2022, Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) will be closed to northbound motorists and detoured between Main Street and Elm Street when work begins on the first major stage of construction to rebuild and improve the northbound side of Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) within the project area.

Northbound U.S. 202 motorists heading to Markley Street will be detoured north on DeKalb Street (U.S. 202 North) in Bridgeport Borough to Johnson Highway in Norristown. Northbound motorists using the Dannehower Bridge will be required to turn east or west on Main Street in Norristown for the duration of construction.

Under this improvement project, PennDOT will perform the following roadway, bridge, streetscape and pedestrian enhancements:

• Rebuild the four-lane section of Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) between Main Street and Marshall Street;

• Reconstruct and widen Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) 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 (U.S. 202 South) over Stony Creek with a single bridge to accommodate five lanes of traffic;

• Rehabilitate the Markley Street (U.S. 202 South)/ Elm Street stone arch bridge over Stony Creek;

• Construct a new sidewalk on the west side of Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) to link SEPTA train stations at Main Street and Elm Street;

• Reconstruct and widen Main Street between Water

Street and Barbadoes Street to provide additional travel lanes and improve traffic flow through the signalized intersection at Markley Street (U.S. 202 South);

• Install brick pavers, trees and decorative pedestrian streetlights along Main Street between Barbadoes Street and Markley Street (U.S. 202 South);

• Upgrade railroad grade crossings at Main Street and Marshall Street by installing new gates and signals in coordination with SEPTA;

• Install Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) components at intersections on Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) and DeKalb Street (U.S. 202 North) to better manage traffic flow;

• Replace existing Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) traffic signals at Main Street, Marshall Street and Elm Street; and

•Install new ADA curb ramps at all intersections to include pushbuttons, countdown signals and continental crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety.

Crews will rebuild Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) in two stages between Main Street and Elm Street beginning with the northbound side before switching construction activities to the southbound side, which will also include improvements to Marshall Street. Access will be maintained to all driveways and local roads during both construction stages.

During Main Street construction, crews will utilize three major stages to perform widening between Water Street and Barbadoes Street. Construction will start on the north side, followed by the south side, and finish with the middle section west of Markley Street (U.S. 202 South). In order to minimize traffic impacts, one through lane and one turn lane will be maintained on both Main Street approaches to Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) during peak travel times.

A pedestrian detour route will be provided on Astor Street between Marshall Street and Main Street until access is reestablished on the new bridge over Stony Creek.

Alan Myers, LP, of Worcester, Montgomery County is the general contractor on the $23,925,515 project which is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds. Construction on the entire project is expected to be completed in late 2022. For more information on this U.S. 202 improvement project, visit us202-markleystreet.com.

MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO The Elm Street area will see several upgrades during the Markley Street Improvement project set to begin construction this fall.

MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO The Markley Street Improvement project is expected to take four years to be completed.