PECO Performing Upgrades on Route 29 Next Week

Another week, another construction plan that will effect traffic in the Phoenixville area.

The Upper Providence Police Department has advised area motorists that beginning Monday, May 18, PECO will be upgrading electrical facilities and installing new poles and cable along Route 29, between Spares Lane and the Rt. 29 bridge into Phoenixville.

The work is expected to last six to eight weeks between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will require intermittent closures of one lane of traffic, utilizing flaggers for traffic safety and control.

Next week’s project will most likely add more congestion to an area inundated with major road projects that has caused major delays in the daily commute, including PennDOT’S plan to improve U.S 422 and its interchange at Route 724 in Lower Pottsgrove that forced the closure of the ramp from Route 724 to U.S. 422 east last week.

Of course, the conversation would not be complete with mentioning the closure of Route 23 at the Valley Forge Road Bridge in Schuykill Township, a road that carries 20,000 commuters daily.

State Senator Andy Dinniman said that PennDOT officials have responded to his request for assistance with the traffic congestion issues and significant costs associated with the closure of bridge.

According to PennDOT officials, traffic engineers have visited the site to adjust the timing of traffic signals at key intersections to alleviate congestion issues. In addition, $30,000 for police coverage associated with the detour is provided in the construction contract.

“I appreciate PennDOT’s timely response to this issue,” Dinniman said. “The Route 23 Bridge is traveled by thousands of motorists each day and remains a vital thoroughfare for residents and businesses in the Phoenixville area. I am committed to continuing to work with PennDOT to ensure that this project is completed as safely, as efficiently and as soon as possible.”

Crews are currently in the process of replacing the 48-year-old bridge, which spans the Pickering Creek, and is traveled by almost 20,000 motorists a day. Construction on the $1.7 million project began on April 20 and is not scheduled to be completed until late this year.

Dinniman said the bridge’s closure has been a major problem for motorists and his office has received complaints from hundreds of drivers who have been stuck in traffic on the detour.