Section 103 Work to Improve U.S. 322 Progressing
Work continues to progress this spring on PennDOT’s Section 103 project to reconstruct and improve 1.4 miles of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) from Chelsea Parkway/Bethel Avenue to just east of Route 452 (Market Street) in Upper Chichester, Delaware County.
Clearing operations have been substantially completed, and utility relocations are ongoing in the two-lane section of the work zone east of Chelsea Parkway. Culvert construction is underway on Bethel Avenue at Bezors Run. This work is being done in preparation for widening the roadway and improving the intersection with Cherry Tree Road/Bethel Avenue.
Work is underway in the two-lane stretch east of Chelsea Parkway/Bethel Avenue to widen the roadway and improve the intersection with Cherry Tree Road/Bethel Avenue.
Bethel Avenue is expected to be closed and detoured at U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) and Cherry Tree Road for improvements in May.
Excavation, utility relocations, and drainage work continue at the Route 452 Interchange along Market Street and Bethel Avenue. Work at the interchange includes construction of turn lanes on Market Street and widening Bethel Avenue to allow for the construction of new ramps.
A section of the two-lane stretch of westbound U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) remains reduced to one lane (see below) approaching Route 452 (Market Street).
Section 103 will reconstruct and widen the two-lane section of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) to four travel lanes, add turn lanes, realign the on and off-ramps, realign the Cherry Tree/Bethel Avenue intersection, and upgrade traffic signals along the project corridor.
There will be periodic lane closures for the duration of the project for construction activities. PennDOT will continue to maintain at least one lane of traffic in each direction except during occasional, flagger-controlled restrictions at various times and locations. Access will be maintained as well to all residences and businesses within the work area during construction.
More information, including proposed detour routes, can be found on this website.
The $99.4 million Section 103 project is the second of four construction contracts under PennDOT’s U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) Improvement Program to improve travel and safety on a 6.7-mile section of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) in Concord, Bethel, and Upper Chichester townships.
R.E. Pierson Construction Co. Inc., of Pilesgrove, N.J., is the general contractor on this project, which is financed with 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent state funds.
Section 101 widening and intersection improvements were completed in 2020 between U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) and Clayton Park Drive.
Section CSX, which will replace the U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) bridge over the CSX Railroad and improve the adjacent Bethel Road Interchange, is scheduled to be advertised for construction later this year.
Final engineering design is advancing for Section 102, the widening and reconstruction from Clayton Park Drive to Chelsea Parkway/Bethel Avenue. Section 102 construction will wrap up PennDOT’s improvements to U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) between U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) and the CSX bridge and Bethel Road.