Townships Break Ground On U.S. 422 Sanatoga Interchange WB Ramp

LIMERICK TOWNSHIP, PA — Limerick and Lower Pottsgrove township officials this week broke ground for construction of the new westbound on-ramp at the U.S. 422 Sanatoga Interchange.

This new ramp is the first of two planned ramp improvements to the busy interchange, which will reduce traffic delays and improve roadway safety by eliminating the existing left-turn movement for vehicles entering Rt. 422 westbound from Evergreen Road, Limerick Township said.

Gathered for the June 10 groundbreaking were Edward Wagner, Lower Pottsgrove Township Manager; Robert W. Mohollen, Commissioner; Bruce L. Foltz, President, Board of Commissioners; Kara Shuler, Chairman, Board of Supervisors; Patrick M. Morroney, Supervisor; Daniel K. Kerr, Limerick Township Manager; Joseph Platt, P.E., Traffic Planning and Design, Inc.; Tom Paisley, Project Manager, Construction Masters Services, LLC.

Construction Masters Services, Inc. of Sinking Springs was awarded the winning bid of $1,424,912, funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Financing Authority, Limerick Township's news statement said. Both municipalities have agreed to cover the required 30 percent match of the overall $2 million dollar project including design, permitting, and construction, which was done in partnership with PennDOT.

"This new ramp has been in the works for well over a decade and could not have happened if not for the positive working relationship between Limerick and Lower Pottsgrove. This cooperative effort is an example of how local municipalities can partner to achieve significant improvements that help our constituents without relying solely on the use of local taxes," said Lower Pottsgrove Township Chair, Bruce Foltz.

Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. (TPD) of Pottstown completed the full design and obtained all necessary permits and is assisting both municipalities with grant administration during the construction. "TPD was pleased to assist both Townships with their commitment to improve current traffic safety issues. This new ramp will also help address longer term impacts of future growth that is expected over the next decade," said Joseph Platt, PE, TPD Vice President of Traffic Engineering.

Construction of the new ramp is expected to be completed by November 2021. Lower Pottsgrove and Limerick townships have already begun preliminary planning for the next phase of the Sanatoga Interchange Improvements, which will be an eastbound off-ramp, Limerick Township's news statement said.

A joint grant application will be part of the effort to cover the cost of the estimated $4 million project, so both municipalities can once again limit the use of local tax dollars in achieving a significant public improvement, the news statement explained.

"Long-term planning is a bedrock of the Limerick organization and has brought forth many positive improvements to our community, such as this new ramp. We thank PennDOT for their support and look forward to working with them again, as well as with Lower Pottsgrove, who shares our pro-active approach to the future challenges facing our municipalities," said Limerick Township Chair, Kara Shuler.

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