Hellertown officials recently posted the following update about PennDOT’s multi-year Rt. 412 widening project in Hellertown and Bethlehem on the borough’s Facebook page.
Southern Section (Cherry Lane to Commerce Center Boulevard)
The Interstate 78 east and west ramps are mostly complete. Additional work at and near the ramps includes minor median work, traffic signals, highway lighting and signing that will be done in conjunction with the Route 412 work.
In November, (contractor) HRI Inc. completed the Route 412 northbound roadway and switched traffic onto the northbound side to reconstruct the southbound roadway. They continue to work through the winter, removing curbing and sidewalk, installing sanitary sewer lines, water lines, storm drainage pipes, inlets and manholes. They are also working on the Silvex Road jughandle and the upgrades to the Hellertown Park-and-Ride lot.
Middle Section (Commerce Center Boulevard to Shimersville Road)
The middle section is controlled by the Saucon Creek Bridge construction, which is being done in three phases: the northbound side first, then the southbound side, followed by the median.
HRI completed the relocation of a 30-inch sanitary sewer line that allowed work to commence on the northbound side of the new Route 412 bridge over Saucon Creek. They are working through the winter, and have completed most of the northbound foundation and structure work on the bridge. They anticipate setting pre-stressed concrete bridge beams in March and placing the concrete bridge deck in April on the northbound side. This will allow the northbound roadway to be constructed and tied into the new bridge. HRI plans on being able to switch traffic onto the new northbound roadway and bridge by summer 2015. This will allow for construction of the southbound side of the Saucon Creek Bridge and the southbound roadway.
Northern Section (Shimersville Road to Daly Avenue)
HRI is currently working on removing the existing roadway and constructing sanitary sewer lines and storm drainage on the southbound side of Route 412. HRI intends to complete the southbound roadway, curb and sidewalk by fall 2015. The west side of Lynn Avenue will be closed in the spring and detoured while Lynn Avenue is reconstructed.
Entire Project
It is HRI’s intent to complete the construction of the entire southbound roadway, curb and sidewalk in the southern and northern sections by the fall of 2015, followed by the completion of the Saucon Creek Bridge and center section roadway by the end of 2015. This will allow two lanes of traffic to be put in the northbound and southbound lanes for the construction of the concrete center medians.
HRI will complete any remaining median work and install the pavement wearing course, permanent pavement markings, traffic signals, street lighting, signing and landscaping in 2016.
