Update: Big Shift in 202 Traffic Now Starts Friday PM

Editor's note: PennDOT’s schedule for implementing a new traffic pattern on U.S. Route 202 between the Route 29 and Swedesford Road interchanges in Tredyffrin and East Whiteland townships has changed due to Thursday's forecast for heavy rain. The traffic shift now begins Friday night. Below is the full press release from PennDOT. 

Route 202 Traffic Pattern Change Scheduled in Tredyffrin and East Whiteland Townships, Chester County

Northbound and Southbound Traffic to Move onto New Pavement North of Route 29

King of Prussia – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation today announced that Route 202 traffic will move over to the newly rebuilt northbound side of the highway from just north of the Route 29 Interchange to the Swedesford Road Interchange in Tredyffrin and East Whiteland townships, Chester County, starting Saturday morning (Dec. 22).

This upcoming traffic pattern change is part of PennDOT’s $105 million project to improve travel and reduce congestion on Route 202 by widening the highway from four lanes to six from just south of the Chesterbrook Boulevard Interchange to just north of the Route 401 Interchange.

Weather permitting, crews will work from Friday night to Sunday afternoon (Dec. 21-23) to relocate barriers, paint traffic lines and establish crossover lanes to move a 1.5-mile long section of Route 202 traffic over to the newly built northbound side of the highway. 

PennDOT’s contractor plans to move northbound Route 202 traffic over to the new northbound lanes Saturday morning (Dec. 22), while southbound traffic will move on Sunday (Dec. 23).

To implement the new traffic pattern, Route 202 will be restricted to one lane in each direction between the Route 29 and Swedesford Road interchanges from 11:30 p.m. Friday (Dec. 21) to 1 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 22).

From 11:30 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 22) to 1 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 23), southbound Route 202 will be down to one lane between the Swedesford Road and Route 29 interchanges. In addition, the Swedesford Road on-ramp to Route 202 South in Tredyffrin Township will be closed and detoured during this time. Posted detours will take motorists west on Swedesford Road to the on-ramp to Route 202 South at the Great Valley Corporate Center in East Whiteland Township, and east on Swedesford Road, north on Route 252 to Chesterbrook Boulevard, and left on Chesterbrook Boulevard to the ramp to Route 202 South.

Route 202 motorists are advised to allow additional time for travel during construction because slowdowns will occur. The speed limit in the Route 202 work area is 45 miles per hour.

Route 202’s northbound and southbound travel lanes have been running on the southbound side of the highway this year as crews rebuild and expand the northbound side between the Route 401 and Swedesford Road interchanges. 

PennDOT’s contractor will work next year to finish rebuilding the remaining 2.5 miles of northbound Route 202 between Route 29 and Route 401, and to reconstruct the entire southbound side of the highway.  

Richard E. Pierson Construction Company, Inc. of Woodstown, N.J. is the general contractor on the project, which is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds. Construction began in April 2011 and is scheduled to finish in June 2014.

This project is phase one of PennDOT’s two-phase program to widen 6.5 miles of Route 202.

PennDOT will begin construction in early 2013 to expand the southern part of the Route 202 construction corridor, which runs from just north of the Route 401 Interchange to the Route 30/Exton Bypass Interchange in East Whiteland Township. This $63.3 million project is scheduled to finish in May 2016.

Route 202 carries an average of 76,000 to 68,000 vehicles a day between the Chesterbrook Boulevard and Route 30/Exton Bypass interchanges, respectively. 

For more information on the Route 202 widening and reconstruction project in East Whiteland and Tredyffrin townships, visit www.us202-300.com.

PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to www.511PA.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on Route 202 and other major highways before heading out.

Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly.

See also:

PennDOT Awards $63.3 Million Contract to Widen U.S. Route 202