As Construction Season Begins, PennDOT Urges Motorists To Slow Down

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA — Motorists are warned to slow down to avoid crashing into work zones and killing construction workers.

There are more than 220 road and bridge projects planned this spring southeastern Pennsylvania, according to PennDOT.

“We are beginning another construction season,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said in a prepared statement during National Work Zone Awareness Week, which began Monday and concludes Friday.

“Too often this means hazards for the men and women who are delivering improved roads and bridges. These workers deserve to get home safely. Please slow down and never drive distracted, especially in work zones where roadway conditions can change every day.”

In 2021, there were 1,617 work zone crashes, resulting in 15 fatalities, according to preliminary state records.

Here is a breakdown of the projects and estimated costs of projects in southeastern Pennsylvania:

• Chester County: 27 projects, totaling $120 million;
• Montgomery County: 59 projects, totaling $463 million;
• Delaware County: 19 projects, totaling $172 million;
• Bucks County: 57 projects, totaling $687 million;
• Philadelphia: 65 projects, totaling $1.1 billion.

Turnpike project

Mark Compton, CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, said crews are working day in and day out, inches from live traffic.

The turnpike is in the midst of a $117.9M project to widen a 2-mile stretch at the Valley Forge Interchange at Route 422, Upper Merion Township, to the Valley Forge overpass, Tredyffrin Township.

“Our colleagues have been injured and lives have been taken when drivers do not pay attention to construction signage, respect posted speeds or maintain a safe distance,” he said.

A sampling of PennDOT road slated in 2022

• County Line Road reconstruction in Bucks County, Montgomery County: $11.2 million;
• U.S. 30 intelligent transportation system enhancements in Chester County: $8.1 million;
• Interstate 95 pavement preservation in Delaware County: $72.6 million;
• Four U.S. 202 widening and improvement projects in Montgomery County: $178.8 million;
• Route 309 connector project in Montgomery County: $42.3 million;
• U.S. 1 Wayne Junction Viaduct rehabilitation project in Philadelphia: $91.8 million;

• Three mainline I-95 reconstruction projects in Philadelphia:$490.4 million.

Penalties

In Pennsylvania, motorists stopped driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted for failing to drive at a safe speed, automatically lose their license for 15 days.

The law also provides for up to five years of additional jail time for individuals convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone.