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Overview The second phase of bridge replacements over Route 202 in Chester County is wrapping up in 2010 with two new structures now in place at the Route 29/Great Valley Interchange. New bridges at Route 29/Morehall Road and Swedesford Road, along with the opening of the new Cedar Hollow Road overpass and raising of the abandoned railroad overpass immediately to the north in 2009, round out the first (Section 310) and second (Section 311) phases of improvements that have been completed as planned and on schedule. Construction on the first stage of bridge replacements (Section 310) wrapped up in November 2008 with completion of the new Swedesford Road overpass, located between the Route 30 and Route 401 interchanges, and the new Church Road bridge, located immediately south of the interchange. A new Mill Lane overpass was opened to traffic late in 2007.
The bridges were replaced with longer structures to provide room for improvements that will take place on the expressway during the final two phases of the overall project to reconstruct Route 202 from North Valley Road, in Tredyffrin Township, to the US Route 30 Interchange in East Whiteland Township. Section 320 expressway reconstruction is scheduled to begin in 2011. That project will widen and rebuild Route 202 between the existing six -lane section near North Valley Road (south of Chesterbrook) and the bridge over Valley Creek, located between the Route 209 and Route 401 interchanges.
Turn lanes were constructed at two intersections and a section of roadway approaching the Route 202 interchange at Route 401 was widened in 2007 under Section 310 as well. Work at Phoenixville Pike/Planebrook Road/Swedesford Road, and at Phoenixville Pike/Route 401, also has been completed. During all of the upcoming construction, we’ll use this website to keep you informed about matters that may affect your travel or impact the communities within the corridor. We’ll link you to everything you need to know about the work ahead and provide Web-based services that will allow you to keep pace during the coming construction seasons.
So log-on and stay informed. Drive safely, courteously and distraction-free on Route 202 and elsewhere. And please respect the safety of the men and women at work on the roads and bridges of America by slowing down and obeying all posted work zone restrictions.
Project Background
Significant growth in the region, especially over the last two decades, has increased traffic on US Route 202 to levels well beyond those that the two-lane highway originally was designed to handle. In fact, 73,000 vehicles a day now travel on this section of Route 202, and the improvements we have planned will help the highway carry its present and future traffic more efficiently. Under the overall Section 300 project, PennDOT will utilize significant federal and state transportation funding, most of which is collected at the fuel pump and through licensing fees, to
- Reconstruct Route 202's four existing travel lanes
- Add a third travel lane in each direction, utilizing the existing grass median
- Rebuild seven overpasses to provide additional horizontal and vertical clearance
- Construct a two-lane collector-distributor (C-D) roadway along northbound Route 202 at the Route 29/Great Valley Interchange to eliminate conflicts between ramp traffic and through traffic
- Improve the Route 401/Frazer Interchange and install new traffic signals
- Install Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components, including highway cams and electronic message signs
- Improve the expressway’s storm water management system, and
- Erect sound walls at eligible locations
Due to the large size of this project, Section 300 improvements will be completed under four separate contracts: Section 310, Section 311, Section 320, Section 330. Sections 310 and 311
Bridge Replacements and Intersection Improvements
PennDOT will rebuild or modify seven bridges over Route 202 and complete improvements to two intersections before beginning work to widen and rebuild the main line expressway. Section 310
Replace three (3) bridges* over Route 202 at - Swedesford Road (South)
- Church Road
- Mill Lane
Improve two (2) Intersections - Phoenixville Pike/Route 401
- Phoenixville Pike/Planebrook Road/ Swedesford Road
Start Construction: March 2007
End Construction: Fall 2008
*Swedesford Road will remain open during bridge construction. Church Road and Mill Lane bridges will be closed and detoured, but not concurrently. Section 311 Replace/modify four (4) bridges* over Route 202 at - Swedesford Road (North) near Route 29
- Route 29
- Cedar Hollow Road – New bridge on new alignment
- Abandoned Rail Crossing north of Cedar Hollow Road - Modify and raise
Start Construction:February 2008
End Construction: Spring 2010 * Swedesford Road (North), Route 29 and Cedar Hollow Road will remain open to traffic during bridge construction. Sections 320 and 330
Main Line Reconstruction and Widening
Section 320 - North End Reconstruction and Widening - Reconstruct and widen Route 202 to three lanes each direction for 4.2 miles between the Valley Creek bridge (between Route 29 and Route 401 interchanges) and North Valley Road
- Construct two mile long, barrier-separated Collector-Distributor lane northbound beginning at Valley Creek bridge through the Route 29 Interchange
- Modify/widen Route 202 bridges over Valley Creek and North Valley Road
- Modify on and off ramps at Route 29 Interchange
- Install concrete median barrier-glare screen
- Construct noise walls at eligible locations
- Improve storm water management system
- Construct park and ride lot at Route 30 and Route 322 (Caln Township)
Start Construction: 2011
End Construction: TBD Section 330 – South End Reconstruction and Widening - Reconstruct and widen Route 202 to three lanes in each direction for 2.1 miles between the Valley Creek bridge to Route 30/Exton Bypass Interchange
- Modify Route 202 bridges over Planebrook Road
- Replace Route 202 bridge over Chester Valley Trail and Route 401
- Modify on and off ramps at Route 401 Interchange and install traffic signals
- Widen Route 401 for left turn lanes at the Route 202 interchange
- Modify eastobound Route 30 ramp to northbound Route 202
- Construct noise walls at eligible locations
- Improve storm water management system
Start Construction: TBD
End Construction: TBD Project Brochures, Newsletters
PennDOT will publish a brochure at the beginning of each construction season, once work begins on the mainline expressway, that provides details of the coming year's reconstruction. To order the brochure, as well as copies of the project newsletter go to Request Publications and fill out the on-line form to be added to the mailing list. PennDOT will publish project newsletters periodically during construction. Copies of all publications also will be available on-line as PDFs.
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