Route 412 Project to Last 3 Years, Cost $36 Million

Although PennDOT is touting improvements that will be made to Route 412 as part of a widening project between Hellertown and South Bethlehem, some local residents may be dismayed to learn that the project's expected completion date is not until August 2015.

In an email announcement Tuesday, Ron Young of PennDOT Engineering District 5 (Allentown) affirmed that date and explained that preliminary work on detention basins between Wagner Avenue in the borough and Lynn Avenue in Bethlehem would begin Wednesday, March 29.

The work will not entail lane closures, but motorists should "be alert for slow moving construction vehicles entering or exiting the roadway," Young said.

has also announced that temporary . 

"The PA 412 Project involves the reconstruction and widening of PA 412
between Cherry Lane in Hellertown Borough and Daly Avenue in the City of Bethlehem," Young explained. "The project also includes improvements to the PA 412 Interchange with Interstate 78."

The aim of the project is to reduce , which currently handles more than 20,000 vehicles per day, according to PennDOT.

According to Young's email, this will be accomplished with the following improvements:

• widening the roadway to accommodate two southbound and three northbound travel lanes between the I-78 interchange and Shimersville Road in Bethlehem
• creating a northbound "collector/distributor lane" for right turn traffic between I-78 and Commerce Center Boulevard in Bethlehem
• 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 the Saucon Creek
• installing new traffic signals
• adding bus pull-off areas to enhance safety for transit riders
• implementing drainage improvements
• line painting

To help local residents keep apprised of traffic advisories as the project progresses, the Borough of Hellertown has created a dedicated Route 412 Project page on its website.

The borough also shares information with residents via its Facebook page.

According to PennDOT, major road construction related to the almost $36 million, weather-dependent project is expected to begin this spring.

The contractor for the project is HRI, Inc., of State College.

PennDOT said it will provide updates as work progresses, and that Twitter users can receive updates by following PennDOT at www.twitter.com/511PAAllentown.