The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Wednesday afternoon the
safety improvement project on Route 61 between Route 183/Douglass Drive and
University Drive in the Borough of Schuylkill Haven and North Manheim
Township
in Schuylkill County is moving forward.
New traffic patterns are being implemented, and tomorrow through early next
week drivers will experience daytime lane restrictions with flagging on Route 61
between Route 183/Douglass Drive and Manheim Road while the contractor
installs
concrete barrier and sets up new long term traffic patterns.
The new traffic patterns, which will be in place for the duration of the
project, include reducing Route 61 north to a single lane between Manheim Road
and
University Drive, restricting left turns from Route 61 north to Route 443/Dock
Street, and narrowing the travel lanes through the work zone. Access to all
businesses and residences will be maintained during the project.
Drivers should expect possible delays on Route 61 north or south and are
advised
to allow for extra time and use caution when traveling through the area.
Updates will be provided whenever traffic patterns change.
Work includes widening and reconstructing Route 61 between Route 183/Douglass
Drive
and University Drive; installing new sidewalks, drainage facilities, and
retaining walls; replacing an eight foot single-span bridge over Willow
Creek;
and upgrading traffic signals.
PennDot says that this section of Route 61 has an average daily traffic volume of 28,428
vehicles.