A significant road repair project is about to begin on a heavily-traveled section of Rt. 22 in Northampton County, and officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation say it will affect traffic along the corridor through the fall.
In a news release Wednesday, PennDOT Engineering District 5 officials said the $6.7 million resurfacing project will begin Friday–weather permitting–and will involve milling, patching, paving and sealing Rt. 22 between Rt. 191 in Bethlehem Township and 25th Street in Palmer Township.
The project will also involve making guide rail updates and will include milling, patching and paving all ramps at the Rt. 22 and Rt. 33 interchange in Bethlehem Township.
“Beginning Friday, motorists should expect weekend and weeknight lane restrictions on Rt. 22,” the news release said. “Weekend lane restrictions will be in place Friday nights at 9 p.m. through Monday mornings at 6 a.m. Weeknight lane restrictions will be in place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.”
Richard E. Pierson Construction Co. Inc. of Woodstown, Pa., is the general contractor on the project, and PennDOT said the company’s plan is to begin work on Rt. 22 west and then move to Rt. 22 east. That work will be followed by the ramp work at the Rt. 22 and Rt. 33 interchange.
“Updates will be provided whenever traffic pattern schedules change,” PennDOT said.
The agency also said that special health and safety protocols will be in place for the project due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Work on this project will be in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which will include protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job-site cleaning protocols, management of entries to the jobsite and relevant training,” it said.
The project is expected to be completed in October.
For more information on road projects occurring or being bid this year, those made possible by or accelerated by the state transportation funding plan (Act 89), or those on PennDOT’s Four and Twelve Year Plans, visit Projects.PennDOT.gov.
Motorists can also check 511PA before they travel for the latest conditions on more than 40,000 miles of road, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting 511PA.com. 511PA, which is free, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 950 traffic cameras.
