Last year, area motorists were given a glimpse of reconstruction to come when the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) began the first of four mainline contracts to rebuild and improve the PA 309 Expressway in eastern Montgomery County.

Penn DOT is rebuilding the expressway and upgrading its nine interchanges under a five-year, $300 million initiative that is expected to be completed in 2008.

2005 marks year two of rebuilding the 10-mile long highway. Over the next year, construction activities will expand across the entire expressway, creating a continuous work zone between Cheltenham Avenue at the Philadelphia border and PA 63 (Welsh Road) in Lower Gwynedd Township. PennDOT is transforming the 1950's era expressway into a modern roadway capable of meeting the expectations of today's motorists. But in the meantime, there is much to be done:

• Reconstruct the concrete pavement between Cheltenham Avenue and PA 63 (Welsh Road)
• Repair, modify or replace 42 bridges, culverts and overpasses
• Construct a new Fort Washington/PA Turnpike Exchange
• Construct a new PA 152/Easton Road Interchange
• Add a northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp at the Norristown Road/Springhouse Interchange
• Lengthen 16 other on- and off-ramps
• Improve the intersection of PA 309 (Bethlehem Pike) with PA 63 (Welsh Road)
• Widen the roadway shoulders and median
• Install sound walls at several locations
• Install 50-inch high concrete median barrier/glare screen
• Improve storm water drainage
• Install traffic cameras and other Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components
  

What To Expect During Construction

With the PA 309 Expressway carrying an average of approximately 63,000 vehicles on weekdays and 48,000 on weekends, PennDOT will continue to maintain two travel lanes in each direction in most work zones during peak travel hours.

During the 2005 construction season, peak-hour travelers will find two lanes open southbound along the entire expressway. Two lanes of northbound traffic also will be available during rush hours from Paper Mill Road north to the end of the expressway, and from Cheltenham Avenue to approaching the PA 152/Easton Road Interchange.

From PA 152/Easton Road north through Paper Mill Road, northbound traffic in 2005 will be limited to a single lane around-the-clock. This northbound restriction is necessary for reconstruction activities.

In all two-lane areas, contractors again will have the option to close a lane in one or both directions as weather permits during off-peak daytime and nighttime hours, and on non-holiday weekends. In fact, single-lane conditions will be in effect on several consecutive weekends in the southern construction section and at the Fort Washington/Pennsylvania Turnpike Interchange work zone during the early stages of work on each contract.

Travel in one or both directions also may be stopped at times for brief periods (15-minute maximum) during overnight hours for the removal or placement of bridge beams at all the expressway's overhead crossings.

Whatever the roadway conditions, motorists should anticipate traffic impacts and delays anywhere, anytime with the work zones as drivers respond to narrow and shifting lanes, concrete barriers, ramp closures and the routine distractions of the construction process.

Work Zone Laws

PA law requires motorists to switch on their headlights/taillights when entering posted highway work areas. This added visibility helps protect workers and motorists alike. Remember too that fines are doubled for work zone traffic infractions. Drivers also face a 15-day license suspension if caught speeding 11 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit in an active work zone.

PA 309 Expressway reconstruction and travel information is available at www.309online.com

309 Information Line: Phone: 215.358.3093

For a free copy of the 309 Expressway Improvement Project brochure call The Partnership TMA Mobility Manager at 215.699.1801 or e-mail mobilitymanager@ptma-mc.org