Six-Year Roadwork Project Gets Underway on 422

sylva September 28, 2012 at 01:04 pm

Will you please tell me why it would take 8 to 10 years to fix a 7 mile stretch??? Even with some bridge work? In this day and age, with all the equipment available, this just seems like way too long to do this project!

Tom Brauner September 28, 2012 at 01:22 pm

6 years is an unacceptable amount of time for such a short stretch. Are they paying these bums by the hour?

Mike September 28, 2012 at 02:54 pm

BTW the two bridges over the river that are being replaced are the same type of bridge that collasped in Minnisota a few years back. Wanna wait any longer??
From the Penndot web site: Construction will start in September from about a mile west of the Armand Hammer Boulevard Interchange to the Route 724 Interchange. Work in this phase includes the replacement of two structurally deficient bridges and replacing nearly two miles of worn pavement. Over the next six years, crews will replace bridges over the Schuylkill River, Norfolk Southern railroad spur and Norfolk Southern mainline tracks. Crews will also replace the Armand Hammer Boulevard Bridge over Route 422 and improve and realign the ramps at the Armand Hammer Boulevard Interchange. Also, the Route 724 ramp to eastbound Route 422 will be reconstructed. This improvement plan also includes three new overhead sign structures; conduit for future Intelligent Transportation System equipment; two new traffic signals; a wetland mitigation site; stormwater management improvements; new median barrier and glare screen; new guide rail and signs; and a multi-use trail on the bridge over the Schuylkill River. Two travel lanes will remain open in each direction on Route 422 during peak travel times when the highway is under construction.

Stephen Eickhoff September 28, 2012 at 03:51 pm

The only problem I have is that this is incredibly slow-- so slow that by the time they are done, it will be time for another round of maintenance on another section in the area.

Lynne Hallman September 28, 2012 at 04:37 pm

Why don't they use some of that money to replace the Keim street bridge. The detour roadways are now deteriorating rapidly. Where is the common sense? I also agree that 6 years for this is outrageous. Out of that 6 years they will only be actually working for 6 months. Look how long it took to repair 1 bridge on Rt 100!

Tom Bartman September 28, 2012 at 07:15 pm

That comes out to $10.4 million per mile.

Rofo Mofo September 29, 2012 at 11:22 am

It's either take six years and with as minimal an impact to travel in our region by only having lane closures at night and on weekends...or by shutting 422 down for 2 years and shoving its traffic onto 724 and High Street through Pottstown. If the latter was done, there would be nothing but whining from the community about it because of all of the excess traffic on streets in the region. If you want 422 to at least stay open, there's a price to pay in having it take a lot longer to do the work.
This is very similar to the 309 project in Montco a few years back -- that took several years to do but the road was open almost 100% of the time while the work was being done...and likewise with what's being done on 202 now.

Shawnee October 1, 2012 at 03:24 pm

Can someone answer a question regarding the reduced speed limit signs along this stretch where they are doing construction? 40 MPH signs are posted throughout. Are these only to be applicable during ACTIVE work zones when they actually working? Or it is all the time regardless. It may seem like a stupid question but I was coming home traveling East on 422 the other other evening around 10pm and saw at least 3 people pulled over on the west bound side. There was no construction going on at that time. Just wondering what the guidelines are. I would think if they arent working on the road at that time, normal speed limits would apply. Thanks!

Stephen Eickhoff October 1, 2012 at 07:51 pm

The speed limit is whatever is posted. We all know that having the same 40 MPH limit whether workers are present or not is ridiculous, but that's the law. Could be revenue generation, could be for safety due to the lack of shoulders-- who knows. Probably the former, as I'm sure they give you double the fine regardless of the fact that there are no workers to endanger.

Erika Plageman November 17, 2012 at 08:47 pm

Just received a speeding ticket Eastbound 422 right after the Armand Hammer exit. Officer told me that PA has issued a special speed limit for that area regardless of whether the work area is active or not. I searched the internet for hours and cannot find any proof of this statement. This goes against everything I was ever taught when learning to drive. I am beginning to believe this ticket is worth fighting. Anyone else have this issue?