Drivers who regularly use Route 22 through Northampton County are likely familiar with the interchange with Route 191 in Bethlehem Township, and not in a good way.
Approaching the offramp from the eastbound lane at highway speed (or a little faster), requires putting your foot on the brake as you approach a sharp curve on the ramp that takes you down to Nazareth Pike.
Coming back onto Route 22, the short onramp makes getting onto the highway another hair-raising experience.
This map shows proposed improvements to the Nazareth Pike/Route 191 interchange of Route 22 in Bethlehem Township. (Courtesy of PennDOT)
Imagine an easier exit and entrance to Route 22 with longer ramps. Getting there will be easier, too, as Route 191 will be widened in both directions. Two bottleneck intersections north of the interchange along Route 191 will also become one with a traffic light.
PennDOT District 5 said the project will “relieve congestion, correct facility deficiencies and prepare the future for growth.” According to PennDOT daily traffic numbers, about 92,000 vehicles travel that section of Route 22 while 18,000 use Route 191 in the project area.
On Tuesday evening, PennDOT presented its plans to improve the interchange, which dates to the mid-1950s. The project, estimated at $115 million, is in the preliminary engineering phase. Final design is scheduled for completion in 2031 with construction to be finished in fall 2034.
PennDOT District 5 hosted an open house at the Bethlehem Township Municipal Building. Project engineers were on hand for questions and several displays gave details on the current design.
Spokesperson Sean Brown said some details could change as PennDOT goes through various clearances, such as environmental, while moving toward a final design.
“This is still proposed,” he said. “The project can still change. This is why we have public meetings.”
For those who couldn’t make the open house, PennDOT is taking public comments and questions until July 23. They can be submitted through the project’s website.
The plans as of now call for the following changes:
Route 22
PennDOT plans to lengthen the westbound acceleration and the eastbound deceleration lanes, stretching them across the bridge over Route 191 and Monocacy Creek and the Norfolk Southern Railroad track. To accomplish this, the bridges will be replaced with a higher clearance for the railroad.
Shoulders will be widened on both the sides and along the median.
Route 191/Nazareth Pike
On Route 191, an additional through lane both northbound and southbound will be provided to eliminate the lane drops and inefficient weave conditions that occur between the ramp intersections. A dedicated northbound right turn lane will be provided at the U.S. 22 eastbound and westbound ramp terminal intersections.
Dedicated left turn lanes will 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 will be signalized.
For pedestrian safety, sidewalks will be built on each side of the road.
Broadhead Road
The intersection between Route 191 and Broadhead Road will be reconfigured into a four-way intersection. A railroad crossing on Broadhead will be relocated and a new bridge will be built over Monocacy Creek.
Morning Call reporter Evan Jones can be reached at ejones@mcall.com.