Weekend lane, ramp closures for Route 202

Posted by Press Release on December 18, 2015

Drivers on Route 202 in Chester County will face lane and ramp closures this weekend for construction to shift two lanes of northbound traffic onto the newly widened and rebuilt northbound side of the highway between the Routes 30 and 401 interchanges, PennDOT said in a press release.

The upcoming traffic pattern change marks the start of the final, major construction stage of the $63.3 million project to rebuild and widen 2.5 miles of Route 202 to six lanes between Route s 401 and 30. Construction is expected to be completed in late summer on the project, which began in late 2011.

Weather permitting, PennDOT’s contractor will move two lanes of northbound traffic over to the newly built northbound side by 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20. The operation will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, when the northbound traffic will be reduced from two lanes to one between Routes 30 and 401 for the relocation of concrete construction barriers, eradication of traffic lines, and the painting of new lines. In addition, the Route 30 Bypass east off-ramp to 202 north will be closed and detoured as will the 202 north off-ramp to Route 401, the release said.

Early Sunday morning, Dec. 20, the contractor will shift one lane of northbound traffic over to the new northbound pavement and reopen the 202 north off-ramp to Route 401, requiring a 15-minute traffic stoppage on northbound 202. By 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, the contractor will move the second northbound lane onto the new pavement and reopen the Route 30 east off-ramp to Route 202 north.

During the two ramp closures, detours will be posted. Then from 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20, to 5 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 21, southbound 202 will be reduced from two lanes to one between Routes 401 and 30 for the relocation of concrete barriers. The southbound left lane will be closed during this operation.

A lane closure also may occur on 202 north or south from 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 21, to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22, to adjust concrete barriers. Motorists are advised to allow additional time for travel and use extra care when driving through the construction zones.

Once the new northbound 202 traffic pattern is in place, crews will begin rebuilding the center of the highway and installing the new concrete median barrier and glare screen. Work also will continue into 2016 on the new northbound entrance and exit ramps at the Route 401 Interchange and the widening and rebuilding of Route 401 at the interchange.

In addition to widening 202 from four lanes to six and improving the interchange at Route 401 under this construction contract, crews are reconstructing bridges over Route 401 and Planebrook Road; replacing the bridge over Chester Valley Trail; erecting three miles of noise barriers; installing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) components; landscaping the project area; and building storm water management and mitigation sites.

This project is the second and final mainline contract for the widening of 6.5 miles of 202 from just south of the Route 252/Swedesford Interchange to Route 30. For additional information on the widening of 202 in East Whiteland and Tredyffrin townships, visit www.us202-300.com.