12-year Pa. state transportation plan updated, includes Greater Lehigh Valley projects

The new plan anticipates $63.9 billion in funding over the next dozen years.

The newly adopted program, which takes effect Oct. 1, anticipates $11.53 billion being available for state highway and bridge projects in the first four years.

Public transit is in line for $9.62 billion; aviation, $128 million; rail freight, $228 million; and multimodal projects, $319 million.

A total of $165 million has been allotted for improvement projects for the U.S. Route 222 corridor in Berks and Lehigh counties.

According to state Department of Transportation spokesman Ron Young, the engineering study of Route 222 in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, between the Berks line and the southern terminus of the U.S. 222 Fred Jaindl Memorial Highway, is on the second four years of the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study’s 12-year plan. This engineering contract is expected to be placed out for bids in late 2024 or early 2025.

The 12-year program also includes numerous projects for Routes 222, 422 and 61 in Berks County.

There is an allocation of $117 million to rehabilitate the Hill to Hill bridge in Bethlehem, Lehigh County.

Young said the bridge project is under design. This project involves a rehabilitation of the 1,607-foot-long Hill-to-Hill Bridge over the Lehigh River, Lehigh Canal, Norfolk Southern railroad and several city streets.

The best estimate for a construction contract to be placed out for bids is late 2024, with construction work possibly beginning in mid-2025 and lasting about three to four years. Young noted, however, that all time frames are estimates and are subject to change.

There is an allocation of $142 million for work on the State Route 61 corridor through Schuylkill County.

State law requires the commission to review and update the 12-year program every two years. No capital project can move forward unless it is included in the 12-year program.

For a complete list of projects included in the newly updated 12-year program, click HERE.