U.S. 422 Section M1B
Project Overview
The U.S. 422 Section M1B project involves the total reconstruction of 2.1 miles of U.S. 422 from just west of the Sanatoga Interchange to the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks just west of Porter Road in Lower Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County.
Construction
Preliminary construction activities began in November 2023. PennDOT’s contractor then paved a temporary travel lane on the westbound shoulder to shift traffic off of the median area. Temporary travel lanes were then placed on the median area in the summer of 2024 and eastbound traffic was shifted there in September 2024 to mark the beginning of Stage 2 construction, and reconstruction of the eastbound roadway and bridges.
During construction, U.S. 422 drivers can expect periodic daytime and nighttime travel restrictions between Evergreen Road and Armand Hammer Boulevard.
J.D. Eckman, Inc. of Atglen, PA, is the general contractor on this project, which is financed with 100 percent federal funds. Physical work on this project is expected to be completed in late 2028.
Fall 2024 Construction Update
The eastbound reconstruction of U.S. 422 began in late September, marking the beginning of Stage 2 of PennDOT’s $83.6 million Section M1B project to reconstruct and improve 2.1 miles of the highway in Lower Pottsgrove township, Montgomery County.
Crews worked through the summer to excavate the existing median area and pave temporary travel lanes to shift eastbound traffic onto the median area (see above). Westbound traffic continues to travel on the right lane and temporary shoulders that were constructed during Stage 1.
New traffic pattern installation on U.S. 422.
In addition to reconstructing the eastbound roadway, PennDOT’s contractor has begun demolition and reconstruction of the eastbound sides of the bridges carrying U.S. 422 over Sanatoga Road and Sanatoga Creek, and over Porter Road and Sprogels Run.
Stage 2 construction will continue until the fall of 2025. Eastbound traffic will then shift onto the new pavement and shoulder and westbound traffic will shift onto the median area to allow for reconstruction of the westbound pavement and shoulder area.
Excavation also continues for the new, longer ramp to U.S.422 west from southbound Evergreen Road at the Sanatoga Interchange.
Installation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components — electronic message signs, and traffic cameras — included in the project also is underway on roadways that feed traffic onto U.S.422 and adjacent arterials at various locations. ITS work this spring finds crews working on Route 23 in Chester County in the Spring City, Phoenixville, and Valley Forge areas.
Motorists will encounter regular off-peak daytime and overnight lane closures during Stage 2 construction. In addition to reconstructing the travel lanes and shoulders in both directions to enhance travel and safety, improvements under this contract include:
- Reconstructing the acceleration ramp at the Sanatoga Interchange to westbound U.S. 422 • Constructing sound barriers along sections of westbound U.S. 422
- Improving the stormwater drainage system and stormwater management facilities with two new detention basins
- Upgrading highway signs
- Installing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) equipment and components along the U.S. 422 corridor and arterial roadways along the corridor.
Work on the project is scheduled to finish in late 2028.
The construction contract, financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds, is the seventh project in PennDOT’s initiative to rebuild and improve the U.S. 422 bypass near Pottstown. Since 2012, PennDOT has completed five projects, valued at $263.4 million, to improve the U.S.422 corridor in Montgomery and Chester counties.
A sixth project (Section MCP) — addressing maintenance issues between the Trooper Road and Sanatoga Road exits — is also underway.