Roadway, Drainage, Bridge, Utility Construction Continue on US 322
Activities to reconstruct and widen the eastbound side of U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) between Chelsea Parkway/Bethel Avenue and the Market Street Interchange (Section 103) are progressing, while utility work and preliminary construction activities also continue on the adjacent project to replace the bridge over CSX and improve the Bethel Road interchange (Section CSX).
Crews will install the remaining segments of the precast culvert on U.S.322 at Cherry Tree Road/Bethel Avenue this summer. Bethel Ave will remain closed through 2026.
Drainage installation and utility work continue near the Chelsea Parkway/Bethel Avenue intersection at the western end of the project.
At Market Street/Route 452, bridge abutment construction continues for the eastbound side. Retaining walls are being constructed to support roadway widening in the existing four lane section approaching the overpass.
U.S. 322 remains one lane in each direction through the work area, with traffic shifted onto the north (westbound) side to allow for construction on the south side. 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.
Since the Section CSX bridge replacement project got underway in late spring, the focus of work has been on utility relocations and clearing at the Bethel Road Interchange.
Crews will continue island and curb work at the Highland Ave and Bethel Rd intersection this summer.
Construction of the new bridge over the CSX Railroad is expected to ramp up in spring 2027 and will be closely coordinated with Section 103 activities to minimize disruption for motorists.
The $99.4 million Section 103 project will reconstruct and widen the highway to four travel lanes from just east of Chelsea Parkway/Bethel Avenue to the existing four-lane section approaching Route 452 (Market Street); improve the Cherry Tree Road/Bethel Avenue intersection; and reconfigure the U.S. 322/Route 452 interchange, including replacement of the bridge over Route 452.
Section CSX, a $63.4 million infrastructure investment, will replace the bridge over the railroad and improve the Bethel Road/Highland Road interchange.
The Section 103 and CSX projects are the second and third 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 in Concord, Bethel, and Upper Chichester townships.
R.E. Pierson Construction Co. Inc., of Pilesgrove, N.J., is the general contractor on Section 103. JD Eckman Construction Inc. of Atglen, PA, is the general contractor for Section CSX. Both projects are 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.
Final engineering design is advancing for Section 102, the widening and reconstruction from Clayton Park Drive to Chelsea Parkway/Bethel Avenue. Section 102 construction, which is not yet scheduled for construction, will wrap up PennDOT’s improvements to U.S. 322 between U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike) and I-95.