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422improvements.com

PROGRAM INFORMATION

U.S. 422 IN POTTSTOWN

Status of Project:  On-going 

Construction Start: September 2012 

Completion Date of all Proposed Sections: Estimated 2030 

Projected Cost:   

  • Section M01: $164.5M 

  • Section M02: $163.9M 

  • Section M03: $55.9M 

Contractor:   

  • Section M01: J.D. Eckman, Inc of Atglen (Chester County), PA; H&K Group, Skippack, PA 

  • Section M02:  J.D. Eckman, Inc of Atglen (Chester County), PA;  H&K Group, Skippack, PA 

  • Section M03: In the design phase.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

 

The planned improvements to U.S. 422 in the area of Pottstown are divided into three (3) main sections and described as follows: Sections M01, M02 and M03.  The total approximate length of these improvements is approximately seven (7) miles. Within those main sections,  seven (7) subsections were designated to facilitate the planning, design, and construction of major structures and the safe maintenance and protection of traffic between sections and local approach points. A description of the limits of each subsection of the project and the current update for that section is given below:

LATEST PRESS RELEASES
M01
Section M01
Section M1A - PA ROUTE 724 INTERCHANGE TO NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROAD MAIN BRIDGE

 

Project Update-November 2018 (Project Complete) 
 

  • Let date: June 28, 2012 

  • Low bid by JD Eckman: $73.4 million 

  • Construction Started: September 4, 2012 

  • Completion Date: November 5, 2018 

 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The improvement plan in this location completed reconstructing one mile of U.S. 422; replacing three bridges carrying the highway over the Schuylkill River (crossing #2), Norfolk Southern Railroad Spur and the Norfolk Southern Railroad mainline tracks; replacing one bridge carrying Armand Hammer Boulevard over U.S. 422; removing one existing structure carrying U.S. 422 over two ramps; and reconfiguring the Armand Hammer Boulevard Interchange from a trumpet configuration with tight loop ramps and indirect connection to a diamond configuration with a direct connection between Armand Hammer Boulevard and U.S. 422.   

 

The new Schuylkill River Bridge is a multi-girder superstructure and provides for a 14-foot-wide Schuylkill River Trail crossing separated by barrier from vehicular traffic.  A new traffic signal was provided at the intersection of Armand Hammer Boulevard and the eastbound on-and-off ramps at U.S. 422, while the existing traffic signal at the westbound U.S. 422 off-ramp and Industrial Highway was replaced.  Both signals became part of the Pottstown Closed Loop Signal system.

Section M1B-NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROAD MAIN BRIDGE TO PARK ROAD NEAR THE SANATOGA INTERCHANGE

PROJECT UPDATE- September 2021

​Final design activities continue on this section of the  U.S. 422

improvements.  In order to expedite the work on the overall U.S.

422 improvement project, two (2) bridge replacements have been

‘removed’ from this section. The Pleasantview Road and Park Road

bridges have become Section MAB (Advanced Bridge). See Section
MAB (below) for schedule and description.

Final design activities are progressing on the remainder of the Section M1B. 
Hydraulic studies, foundation and structural designs are complete for the
Sanatoga Road and Porter Road bridges. Right-of-way acquisition process is complete. Coordination with Lower Pottsgrove and Pottstown on sanitary sewer and water line relocations required by the project and required permitting process continue.

Noise studies have been completed and meetings will be scheduled soon with residents. Safety and ‘Incident Management’ protocols have been reviewed with first responders from the local community.

 

PROJECT COST & SCHEDULE

  • Estimated construction cost: $74 million 

  • Earliest anticipated Bidding Date: January 2022 

  • Estimated Construction Start: Spring 2022

  • Anticipated construction duration: 4 years 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This easternmost section consists of the reconstruction of approximately 1.7 miles of expressway including two bridges carrying U.S. 422 over Porter Road and  Sanatoga Road / Sanatoga Creek.  One culvert at Sproegels Run, located just east of Porter Road, will be removed and a new two-span structure will be built over Porter Road and Sproegels Run.  U.S. 422 will be reconstructed on both existing and new alignments to meet current design standards for horizontal radii, shoulder widths, and vertical clearance.  The acceleration lane for the westbound on-ramp from the Sanatoga Interchange will also be improved.  Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) elements will be deployed on the U.S. 422 corridor allowing for the integrated use of technology for the assessment of vehicle movement, motorists alerts, queue detection, etc.

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Section MAB-PLEASANTVILLE ROAD BRIDGE & PARK ROAD BRIDGE
(Advanced Bridge Work within Section M1B)

 

PROJECT UPDATE - September 2021 (Construction on-going)
 

PROJECT COST & SCHEDULE
  • Let Date: February 27, 2020

  • Low bid by H&K Group: $7.13M

  • Construction Started: April 2020

  • Anticipated Completion Date: December 2021

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

 

With the recent completion of Section M1A, PennDOT has created an ‘Advanced Bridge’ portion of Section M1B. The Pleasantview Road bridge and the Park Road bridge replacement projects within Section M1B was let for early construction which will: 1. Allow the contractor to move from completed Section MAB to Section M1B with no measurable ‘down time’.  (Maximizing efficiency.), and 2.  Reduce the overall construction time for Section M1B.

Park Road Bridge will be completed using staged construction. Park Road Bridge traffic control measures will allow for one lane continuously open during construction. Pleasantview Road Bridge was constructed while traffic detoured.

M02
Section M02
Section M2A - SCHUYLKILL RIVER BRIDGE CROSSING #1

 

PROJECT COMPLETED

PROJECT UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2021

Wetland and stream restoration work associated with this project is Completed. 

  • Let Date: September 11, 2014 

  • Low bid by J.D. Eckman: $36.2 million 

  • Construction Started: November 3, 2014 

  • Completion Date: September 20, 2018 

 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

 

This section of the U.S. 422 improvements completed replacement of the dual bridges carrying U.S. 422 over the Schuylkill River between the Route 100 and Stowe Interchanges.  The three-staged improvement plan consisted of replacing the existing westbound U.S. 422 structure, then replacing the eastbound U.S. 422 bridge, and finally rebuilding the roadway center median on both approaches. The new U.S. 422 crossing is 924 feet long and 95 feet wide. The concrete beam structure is carrying two 12-foot travel lanes, a 12-foot outside shoulder and an 8-foot inside shoulder. This previous structure was a fracture critical bridge. In 2003, a crack was found in a girder carrying eastbound U.S. 422, requiring closure of the bridge followed by emergency repair work. 

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Section M2B-Schuylkill River Bridge Crossing #1 to Keim Street Interchange

​PROJECT UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2021

​​Design activities are progressing along with the completion of the

environmental site assessments and coordination with the Federal

Highway Administration on federal bridge design components. 

Coordination continues with North Coventry Township on traffic control issues and

cultural evaluation of River Bend Park. Design engineers completing soil

infiltration testing and value engineering with emphasis on stormwater

design requirements.  Anticipated construction start has been revised to

Spring 2025.

New traffic information is being incorporated into the Final Design Noise Study and the traffic control plan is under review since the full-depth reconstruction of all ramps within the project limits may require longer ramp detour duration.

Anticipated construction start has been revised to Spring 2025.

PROJECT COST & SCHEDULE

  • Estimated construction cost - $85 million

  • Earliest anticipated Bidding Date - April 2025

  • Estimated Construction Start – Spring 2025

  • Anticipated construction duration: 4 years

PROJECT DESCRIPTION​

​This section consists of the reconstruction of 1.5 miles of U.S. 422 including the replacement of three bridges carrying U.S. 422 over Laurelwood Road, PA 100, and Hanover Street; reconstruction of ramps at PA 100 and Hanover Street Interchanges; and the improvement of outer acceleration and deceleration lanes at the PA 100 and Hanover Street Interchanges to meet current design standards.

M2B.JPG
Section M2C-Berks County Line to Schuylkill River Crossing #1 Including the Stowe Interchange
 

PROJECT UPDATE -SEPTEMBER 2021 (Project Complete)

  • Let Date: June 22, 2017

  • Low bid by H&K Group - $35.6 million

  • Construction Started: August 7, 2017

  • Completion Date: October 19, 2019

 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project involved the reconfiguration of the “S-curve” along

U.S. 422 and the improvement of the Stowe Interchange. The Stowe
Interchange has been realigned from the existing trumpet

configuration with tight loop ramps to a diamond configuration. 

The horizontal radii comprising the Stowe “S-curve” was increased to
meet current design standards including stopping sight distance.
The bridge carrying eastbound on-and-off ramps over U.S. 422 at the Stowe Interchange has been reconstructed with the realigned interchange and provides 16 feet 6 inches of vertical clearance with U.S. 422. Structural improvements also include the replacement of one culvert.  ITS elements along U.S. 422 west of Hanover Street Interchange were deployed under this project.

M03
Section M03
Section M03-Keim Street Interchange to PA Route 724 Interchange
 

PROJECT UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2021

​Design efforts for this section include completion of safety studies, design filed view
plans and approval of CE document, and design exceptions being reviewed for
approvals. Keim Street bridge over Schuylkill River is a Montgomery County-owned
bridge; coordination efforts required between roadway and bridge design.
Environmental site assessments are underway along with cultural resource inventories.
Anticipated construction start has been revised to Summer 2027.

Final Design will be starting in Fall 2021

PROJECT COST & SCHEDULE

  • Estimated construction cost - $55.9 million

  • Earliest anticipated Bidding Date– Spring 2027

  • Anticipated construction duration: 3 years

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

​Plans for this area include the reconstruction of U.S. 422 Interchanges from 1,500 feet west of Keim Street to the Schuylkill River Bridge Crossing #2 including two bridges, concrete glare screen, and acceleration and deceleration lanes at the Keim Street and PA 724 Interchanges in North Coventry Township.

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