Improvements to the interchange between Route 22 and Route 191 in Bethlehem Township are in the design phase, and PennDOT is ready to let the public get a look.
A meeting featuring a display of plans and a project presentation is scheduled 6-8 p.m. June 23 at the Bethlehem Township Municipal Building at 4225 Easton Ave.
Drivers using the interchange, which was constructed in the mid 1950s, have had their share of white-knuckle moments dealing with its short acceleration and deceleration lanes.
PennDOT plans to lengthen the westbound acceleration and the eastbound deceleration lanes, stretching them across the bridge over Route 191 and Monocacy Creek and a Norfolk Southern Railroad track. To accomplish this, the bridges would be replaced with a higher-clearance span for the railroad.
On Route 191, an additional through lane both northbound and southbound would be provided to eliminate the lane drops and inefficient weave conditions that occur between the ramp intersections. A dedicated northbound right-turn lane would be provided at the U.S. 22 eastbound and westbound ramp terminal intersections.
Dedicated left-turn lanes would be provided at the intersections of Route 191 with Highfield Drive, the U.S. 22 eastbound ramps, the U.S. 22 westbound ramps and Brodhead Road. Each of these four intersections would be signalized. New sidewalks would be provided along the corridor.
The intersection between Route 191 and Broadhead Road would be reconfigured into a four-way intersection, a railroad crossing on Broadhead would be relocated, and a new bridge would be built over Monocacy Creek.
According to PennDOT traffic numbers, about 92,000 vehicles travel that section of Route 22 while 18,000 use Route 191 in the project area.
Construction is expected to begin in fall 2031 and last three years.
PennDOT is taking public comments and questions June 20 to July 23. They can be submitted through the project’s website.