What's Happening to 378??

If you drive 378 between 309 and the I-78 overpass, you've more than likely been inconvenienced by the increased traffic while PennDOT workers cut down trees and trimmed bushes. And like everyone else in standstill traffic watching while the men and women of PennDOT put tree parts through the wood chipper, the question has probably crossed your mind...

Why are they cutting down the trees along 378??

Upper Saucon Patch made a few phone calls, hunted down some secret microfiche, and fought off Goldfinger to find out the answer to your question.

While it may look like major construction is about to take place along 378, fear not. The tree clearing along 378 is part of a multi-year project to maintain 378. The project, which started in October 2010, includes curb work, asphalt maintenance, new lines on the roads, and new guard rails along the three-mile stretch of road. The tree clearing is part of the process.

"We [PennDOT] cleared the trees and brush to make it safer for drivers along 378," said Sean Brown, Safety Press Officer for PennDOT. "That much overhang and vegetation that close to the road can be very dangerous to drivers, especially in the winter." Is the tree clearing a sign that PennDOT is considering additional lanes on 378? Nope. “There aren’t any plans to widen any areas of 378 at this time,” said Brown.

But why take two years to finish a maintenance project? The answer lies in the fluffy white stuff outside your window this morning. “Asphalt just doesn’t adhere to the road very well in the winter,” said Brown. “Unfortunately the severity of the weather dictates just how much work we can accomplish before winter.”

The project is projected to finish mid to late summer 2011.