Melissa Batula, PennDOT acting executive deputy secretary | PAcast.com
Melissa Batula, PennDOT acting executive deputy secretary | PAcast.com
The Wolf administration recently met with local officials at a groundbreaking for Phase 2 of the Route 309 Connector project in Hatfield and Franconia, which is one of 200 projects in the Philadelphia area made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
The projects involve approximately 300 miles of resurfacing, repair or replacement of more than 40 bridges in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, a recent press release from Gov. Tom Wolf's office said.
"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be a dramatic impact for our state highways, and investing in our infrastructure is critical to safely moving people and supporting our economy," Transportation Acting Executive Deputy Secretary Melissa Batula said in the release. "As the 2022 construction season kicks-off with more than $2.8 billion of infrastructure projects in District 6, we know that we are making a positive impact through modernizing our transportation system."
In 2022 the BIL will be bringing in $115 million in funding allocated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Delaware Valley Regional Commission. Phase 2, also known as Section HT2, covers 2.3 miles of new roadway alignment from Allentown Road to Cowpath Road, as well as reconstructing the Township Line Road from Cowpath Road to Hatfield/Souderton Pike in Hatfield and Franconia.
"It is vital that we continue to invest in projects like the 309 Connector project to improve, strengthen and secure our vast transportation network in this region," Acting District 6 Executive Louis R. Belmonte said in the release. "With adequate funding and investments, we hope to accelerate future projects like the third phase of the 309 Connector project, Section HT3, that is currently in design."
Notable projects set to start this year include: a $262 million reconstruction of I-95 Bridge Street; a $226 million I-95 CAP reconstruction in the city of Philadelphia; a $2.1 million Headquarters Road bridge replacement in Bucks County; a $7.3 million project for U.S. 1 corridor improvements in Chester County; $15 million for I-476 pavement preservation in Delaware County; $73 million for U.S. 422 reconstruction in Montgomery County; and $8.7 million for the Route 309 Five Points intersection improvements in Montgomery County.
Some major ongoing projects include: three mainline I-95 reconstruction projects in Philadelphia costing $490.4 million; two U.S. 1 corridor widening and improvement projects in Bucks County costing $207.9 million; four U.S. 202 widening and improvement projects in Montgomery County costing $178.8 million; and others.
"Transportation is critical to helping our communities and economy grow," Wolf said. "The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping to bring even more progress to our network."
As construction is underway, motorists are reminded to drive safely and follow the speed limit while also using their headlights in work zones and paying attention to signs and flaggers, the release said.
Roadway conditions can be found at 511PA.com, and construction projects can be found at projects.penndot.gov.