Major Reconstruction of Route 412 Imminent

Preliminary work to widen and rebuild Route 412 between the city and Hellertown is getting under way today, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

This work will not entail any lane restrictions, however motorists should be alert for slow moving construction vehicles entering or exiting the roadway, according to a PennDOT news release. The first physical part of the $36 million project will be to build new detention basins between Wagner and Lynn avenues.

The overall project will target the area between Daly Avenue and Cherry Lane in Hellertown. The project also includes improvements to the Route 412 Interchange with Interstate 78.

The project is designed to reduce congestion and increase safety for the
20,750 vehicles travelling Route 412 each day.

Work will include:

• Widening the roadway to accommodate two southbound and three northbound travel lanes between I-78 and Shimersville Road.
• A northbound collector/distributor lane between I-78 and Commerce Center Boulevard for right turn traffic.
• Intersection widening and adding turning lanes at the intersections with the I-78 east and west ramps.
• Widening and adding turning lanes at the intersections with Commerce Center Boulevard, Shimersville Road, Emery Street and Lynn Avenue.
• Replacing the bridge over Saucon Creek.
• New traffic signals.
• Adding bus pull-off areas to enhance safety for transit riders.
• Drainage improvements.
• Line paint.
• Other miscellaneous construction.

This is a design/build project, which means the contractor, HRI, Inc. of State
College, is responsible for the final design and construction.

HRI is currently finishing aspects of the final design and major road construction is expected to begin this spring. The project is expected to be complete in August 2015. All schedules are weather dependent.

PennDOT will continue to provide updates as work progresses.