Traffic Improvement Projects Will End by 2015

In three years, all major traffic improvement projects should be wrapped up in .

Joe Platt, of Traffic Planning & Design, presented supervisors this month with an update on current and future transportation construction improvement projects in the township.

"I'm sure you are reminded every night when you walk in of the $350 million of investment in this area," Platt said. 

His presentation looked at the main arteries of the township where projects are underway or ready to be underway, such as the 202 Parkway Project, Five Points and County Line Road. 

Route 202-Section 65N

The 202-Section 65N project is "a little behind schedule," said Platt.

"There were some utility coordination issues late last year, getting those poles moved," he said. "Most have been done and widening continues."

Widening on the Montgomery Township side has been completed and traffic has now shifted over to that section so widening can be done on the southern side.

"Widening on 202 from 63 to Knapp Road is complete," Platt said.

PennDOT is undertaking a $17.7 million project to widen and improve two miles of Route 202 between Swedesford Road and Route 309 in Upper Gwynedd, Lower Gwynedd and Montgomery townships. 

According to PennDOT, the contractor, Road-Con Inc., will mill and resurface the existing five-lane section of Route 202 from Knapp Road to Route 309; widen Route 63 to five lanes from just east of Bell Run Boulevard to Stump Road; build a four-lane, 700-foot long road to connect DeKalb Pike to the Route 202 Parkway at the intersection of Route 63; install new traffic signals at several intersections; install Intelligent Transportation System components; build concrete curb ramps; and add new signs and landscaping. 

According to PennDOT, as part of this project, sound walls will be placed along northbound Route 202 from just south of Hancock Road to Route 63; along the northbound side of the road connecting DeKalb Pike to the Route 202 Parkway; and along southbound Route 202 from Hancock Road south about 700 feet.

Platt said construction for Section 65N would be done in September 2012.

"The total project will open up," he said. "They are opening it little by little. The Parkway won't be open until everything is complete. Come September, we hope everything will open up and be a complete project." 

Route 202-Section 711

Route 202-Section 711 Project, from Horsham Road to Pickertown Road, is also projected to wrap up in September 2012.

Platt said paving is not complete in the areas of some bridges.

"Some bridgework needs to be done, and a shared use, 12-foot trail is mostly complete," he said. "They are wrapping up the landscaping on that."

County Line Road Section WD1

Section WD1 of County Line Road is underway. Excavation and stormwater insfrastructure is being installed.

"Excavations are in order for foundations for soundwalls along County Line Road," Platt said. "Fifty percent of foundations are in the ground and the panels will be in in late springtime."

The Section WD1 project has a December 2012 completion date. Platt said the widening is from Route 202 to Stump Road on County Line Road.

Supervisor Mike Fox asked, since the Section WD1 will be opening in December, and since the Parkway is set to be open in September, would most of the work to be completed not be all traffic related?  

Platt said everything is going to be coordinated together.  

Limekiln Pike Bridge

With the Limekiln Pike Bridge project, all approvals have been obtained, Platt said.

"They are in the final stages of right-of-way acquisitions. The bid package is prepared and waiting to be advertised," Platt said.

This project has a start date of March 2012 and a completion date of September 2012. 

"This project had been bounced around and different things were considered: cantilever bridge or replace it entirely. This project, as it stands now, is refurbishment as the bridge stands today," Fox said.

He asked Platt if there was anything to require PennDOT to go out and do anything spectacular, or to stop progression from the bridge getting fixed.

Platt said there is not, as all approvals are in hand. There are some right-of-way issues being worked out.

"We do get a lot of people and board members asking when projects are getting done, where they are in the process," Fox said. "The whole reason that I asked for this evening's presentation is one resident, Bob Taggert, said there are so many things going on, can we get some idea of when they are going to end?"

Upcoming Projects

Platt updated supervisors on other upcoming projects.

For instance, Section WD2, which is the other portion of County Line Road between Stump Road and Limekiln Pike.

"That's a little bit behind, as far as where other projects stand," Platt said. "That has a 2013 let date and it will be about one year's construction season. By Fall 2014, it should be wrapped up."

Platt said there would be "significant improvements" at the triangle made by Limekiln Pike, Stump Road and County Line Road. 

The Route 202-Section 71A is the traffic improvement project at the Five Points intersection. Platt said all right-of-way acquisitions are in place, and the project is set to begin in 2014.

"Looking at the scope of that project, I would put it at a year (for completion)," Platt said. 

CCTV and Section 7IT

The biggest traffic improvement project coming down the line is the Route 202-Section 7IT project.

This project is a design-build InSync Adaptive Traffic Signal project to upgrade traffic signals along Route 309 between Five Points and Stump Road. Construction is set to being in August 2012.

There will be upgrades at 23 intersections: Nine along Route 309, 12 along Route 202 and two along State Street.

According to an informational packet from Jacobs Engineering,cameras, traveler information and signal control capabilities will be part of the project.

According to the packet, the upgrade would allow PennDOT to effectively respond to incidents, diversions and emergencies.

One element of the project is an Intelligent System Transportation Deployment.

There will be 21 CCTV cameras surveilling the traffic along the corridor. There will also be high-speed communications via fiber-optic cable and the capability for agencies to share videos of traffic with one another.

"A fiber-optic line was installed in the township, so police can monitor intersections remotely," Platt said. "When 7IT comes in, video can be brought to the township."

There will be 17 installations of a Bluetooth Travel Time System. Each one will read Bluetooth MAC addresses from on-board devices to track vehicles.

There is also a Changeable Message Sign system for providing travel times to destinations on arterial roadways. One location is set for along Route 463.

"The project has more to it than traffic signals: there's dynamic mention signs and traffic time signs," Platt said.

When all is done, Rhythm Engineering's InSync Traffic Adaptive Signal System will self-adjust to variations in traffic volumes.

"PennDOT will turn on the system when all is ready," Platt said. "When the 7IT is complete, the system throughout the whole township will become active."

According to Jacobs Engineering, studies using the Insync system have shown more than 60 percent reduction in stops, up to 30 percent reduction in travel time, a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and a 30 percent reduction in emissions.

The cost is about $50,000 per intersection for the upgrade, according to Jacobs Engineering.

The 7IT has a completion end date of September 2012.

"There will be a littl ebit of work once the Parkway comes up," Platt said.  

Platt said 2015 looks like a good time for traffic projects to come to an end in Montgomery Township.

"In 2015, we'll be set," said supervisor Joe Walsh. "That's when my term ends, so it'll all be done."