Changes could be coming to one of the busiest roads in the area.
An ongoing study has a number of areas for improvement on the 23-mile stretch from I-78 in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, to the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border in Easton.
We asked people their opinions on what should be done with Route 22.
“It definitely needs at least another lane and those turn on lanes from the side roads. That’s where the big problem is,” said Cathy Beer. “Once people come on, everyone stops.”
Cathy and Dan Beer say they try to avoid 22, but that wasn’t always an option for Dan, who drove that way for work for 40 years.
“It played a role in my retiring maybe earlier than I would have because the stress of driving that road every day became too much,” said Dan Beer.
Becky Bradley, the executive director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, says they are learning from the study, including crashes.
“When you actually start looking at what those crashes are, a huge percentage of them are because of bad-driver behavior. Not because of the road itself,” said Bradley.
That means looking into what needs to be done to alleviate some of drivers’ frustrations.
“Some of those improvements are going to be construction related. We will be suggesting some widening in certain locations where you have a high percentage of congestion,” said Bradley.
Ramp structure is another thing being looked at. The study found interchange ramps too close together. The good news is that some improvements are on the way; lane widening is already planned between Fullerton Avenue and Airport Road.
As for what’s next, specific alternatives are set to be rolled out in the fall. A complete plan is expected by the end of the year
“We wanted this one to be targeted, strategic, and not just look at what’s happening now but what it’s going to take to grow the facility along with the growth in the region,” she said.
More information about the study can be found HERE.