For years we've called Route 322 - that nasty strip of highway that connects Route 1 in Concord with I-95 in Chester - the "Killer Conchester."
It's about to become less so.
Hallelujah!
PennDOT yesterday gave the final green light to a $248 million upgrade that will widen that outdated - and downright dangerous - two-lane stretch from Route 1 to Clayton Park into a four-lane parkway.
Residents and motorists who have dealt with the dangers on the heavily-traveled route should start seeing improvements next summer, according to PennDOT's Charlie Metzger. That's when PennDOT plans to start the widening project in Concord, Bethel and Upper Chichester townships, in the process widening the highway from two lanes to four lanes for six miles and improving the existing mile-long four-lane section of the highway.
The plan will provide two through lanes in each direction over the entire project length to improve capacity and enhance travel and safety. The reconstruction project will separate the two directions of traffic with a grass median to control access across the highway. Auxiliary left and right turn lanes will be provided at selected intersections to maintain the free flow of traffic through the corridor.
The widening of Route 322 from two lanes to four lanes will primarily entail widening to the south of the existing road to make use of the available right-of way. Widening to the north or about the center will be done at some locations to minimize impacts to environmental and community resources.
The first segment of the construction contract is expected to begin to work in spring/summer 2017. This section covers U.S. 322 from U.S. 1 to Clayton Park at the Concord Township/Bethel Township line. The construction cost is estimated at $92 million.
The second part of the project is expected to start in 2019 and cover U.S. 322 from Clayton Park to just east of the Route 452 Interchange. The construction estimate is $156 million.
This fall the initial mitigation contract will start to expand an existing wetland site in Thornbury Township and to provide a site pad for a future maintenance facility in Concord Township.
We'll have a full report on the project in tomorrow's Daily Times.
It's something that residents and motorists have been seeking fora long time. Now it appears it's finally going to happen.
Maybe we can finally roll out this headline: RIP, Killer Conchester.
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