Concrete paving is under way on the Central Section of the Route 222 project in Pennsylvania, including the ramp from Lancaster Avenue and adjoining stretches of the main roadway, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) recently announced in a construction update for the $116-million project to build a new U.S. Route 222 in southern Berks County, PA.

The ramp and roadway sections are being prepared to carry Lancaster Avenue (existing U.S. 222) traffic, which is currently using the existing roadway, through the Grings Hill Road interchange area beginning later this summer. The traffic switch will allow crews to begin large-scale construction on the west side of the interchange south of Shillington.

At the northern end of the section, Old Fritztown Road traffic has been placed on the newly completed bridge over the new Route 222. With traffic now on the bridge, the temporary roadway, in place during bridge construction, is being removed and the area re-graded. Crews will now complete sound wall installation south of the Route 724 interchange.

Meanwhile, excavation is the dominant activity across the entire Southern Section, where several work areas have been established.

Excavation for structures that will carry Old Lancaster Pike, which crosses back and forth over the new roadway at several spots, is under way at two locations: at the southern end of the Central Section, and near Goose Lane.

Massive earthmoving activities also continue on both sides of Lancaster Avenue through to Lancaster County, especially at the Mohns Hill Road interchange and Adamstown Road interchange areas. At the sprawling Adamstown Road area, crews continue to build drainage structures and foundations on both sides of Lancaster Avenue.

Progress also is being made on construction of Deer Creek Road, which will run parallel to the new highway between Route 568 and Old Lancaster Pike, proving access to local properties. Excavation and structure building are the main activities at this location.

Utilities also continue to work across the Southern Section, relocating poles, lines and pipes.

The Central Section will extend 2 mi. of new Route 222 from the Route 724 interchange in Spring Township to the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and Old Lancaster Pike. The Central Section will contain new interchanges at Lancaster Avenue, which will become Business Route 222 at the completion of the project, and at Grings Hill Road.

The Dick Corporation, of Pittsburgh, PA, is the general contractor on the $45.7-million contract. Work on the section got under way in August 2001 and is expected to be completed in late 2004.

The Southern Section will transform 4 mi. of existing two and three-lane Lancaster Avenue (existing Route 222) into a four-lane, limited access highway between Grings Hill Road and Lancaster County in Spring and Brecknock townships. New interchanges will be built at Mohns Hill Road and Route 568/Adamstown Road.

The Joint Venture of Reading Site Constructors and No. 1 Contracting is the general contractor on the $47.8-million Southern Section.

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