As many already know, Route 22 can be anxiety inducing for motorists driving through the Lehigh Valley.
According to a survey conducted by a personal injury law firm, the Airport Road exit in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, is the second most stressful in Pennsylvania. Regan Zambri Long polled more than 3,000 motorists across the country and compiled a list for each state.
“These exits aren’t just frustrating — they’re where a lot of collisions happen,” said Patrick Regan of Regan Zambri Long. “When traffic compresses, and drivers are forced to react quickly, it increases the likelihood of rear-end crashes and sudden lane conflicts. From a legal perspective, we see how often these moments escalate.”
The study found that vehicles exiting Route 22 to Airport Road “slow as they approach nearby intersections and turning traffic. When demand increases, the ramp fills and speeds drop.
“Drivers often adjust their pace more than once while approaching the junction. The transition from highway travel to local streets happens within a short distance, and the flow tends to remain uneven as vehicles line up.”
Traffic exiting at Airport Road is likely going to several nearby destinations, including Lehigh Valley International Airport, several industrial buildings and warehouses, and the Airport Shopping Center along with other nearby stores, restaurants and hotels. During the spring and summer, fans heading to Coca-Cola Park use the corridor.
That section of Route 22 is also the busiest highway in the region, with Lehigh Valley Transportation Study figures showing an average of more than 100,000 vehicles using it on a daily basis.
Improvements are planned for Route 22 in this area; Lehigh Valley officials announced in January a $6 million investment of federal funds into the project to widen the highway to six lanes between Fullerton Avenue in Whitehall Township and Airport Road.
According to PennDOT, construction on the $28 million project will begin in late 2028 or early 2029, with completion two or three years later. It will be timed to align with the reconstruction of the Fullerton Avenue interchange.
PennDOT District 5 spokesperson Ron Young said the third lane on eastbound Route 22 will end at the Airport Road South off-ramp, while the westbound third lane will begin at the on-ramp from Airport Road northbound and will go to Fullerton Avenue. Route 22 is already six lanes between the Seventh Street/MacArthur Road interchange in Whitehall and Fullerton Avenue.
“The additional lane should help with some of the conflict movements as there will be a third lane in each direction between Airport Road and Seventh Street/MacArthur Road,” Young said.
Other stressful traffic areas
The law firm’s survey found that the interchange between Interstate 95 and Girard Avenue in Philadelphia was the most stressful in the state.
“The ramp can fill quickly, and the transition from freeway speed to local traffic happens within a short stretch,” the survey found. “Drivers frequently adjust their pace more than once while approaching the intersection, and the movement rarely feels continuous.”
At No. 3 was Interstate 376 and Grant Street in Pittsburgh, which is a short ramp that requires quick braking. I-83 and Paxton Street in Harrisburg is fourth, as cars stack quickly during peak travel times.
While big cities seem to have the biggest problems with substandard ramp design, the study found several issues in smaller cities.
“Places like Allentown, Grand Rapids (Michigan) and Greenville (South Carolina) appearing on the list suggest this isn’t purely a ‘big city problem,’” the report said. “The same design challenges — short ramps, tight merges, poorly spaced signals — show up at a smaller scale, but with the same effect on driver experience.”
Morning Call reporter Evan Jones can be reached at ejones@mcall.com.