January 2021 – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has completed three years of construction on the $62.6 million Section 101 contract to widen and improve 2.5 miles of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) and opened two lanes in each direction to traffic between U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) to Clayton Park Drive.
Construction crews over the fall months finished construction of the grass median and placed the final pavement layer and lane markings on the travel lanes and shoulders. Work also wrapped up on improvements to nine intersections within the project corridor prior to opening all the lanes along the entire project length in mid-December.
In addition to taking the first steps toward enhancing travel on the busy highway, PennDOT's construction at Section 101's intersections will significantly improve traffic safety along the corridor.
Left and right turn lanes and upgraded traffic signals were added at intersections with U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike), Evergreen Drive, Fellowship Drive/Station Road North, and Mattson Road/Featherbed Lane.
Left and/or right turn lanes and acceleration lanes were installed at Spring Valley Road, Station Road South, Cambridge Drive, Merion Drive, and Clayton Park Drive.
Bridges over Webb Creek/SEPTA lines and Smithbridge Road were replaced with new, wider structures.
Five retaining walls were constructed to support the roadway and embankments in widened areas, and 1,500 feet of sound barrier wall was installed along the eastbound lanes between Station Road South and Cambridge Drive.
Three dynamic message signs and six closed-circuit TV cameras also were installed to optimize traffic flow along the corridor.
Section 101 is the first of four phases of the overall project to improve travel and safety on a 6.7-mile section of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway between U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) and Interstate 95 in Concord, Bethel, and Upper Chichester townships. PennDOT's general contractor, J.D. Eckman, began work in early 2017 and completed the project on schedule. Improvements were financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds.
The next location along the U.S. 322 corridor to be addressed will be Section 103, which will reconstruct and widen 1.4 miles of U.S. 322 from Cherry Tree Road/Bethel Avenue to just east of Route 452 (Market Street). Various roadway and intersection improvements are also planned for Section 103, which is expected to begin in 2024.
