With an expected fall completion date, Potters Mills Gap construction project nears the finish line
At about 85% completion, the U.S. Route 322/Potters Mills Gap Project is running according to schedule.
Work remaining on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s $82 million project is geared toward finishing the new east and westbound lanes, meaning drivers should not have to worry about upcoming traffic delays. Project manager Greg Sidorick said Thursday that paving on the new roadway will begin Monday, and traffic is expected to shift onto the new Route 322 this fall.
“We’re on schedule. Yes, we are,” Sidorick said, despite delays from the COVID-19 pandemic. “The contractor has done a very good job at keeping things on schedule even with different obstacles we had to overcome.”
Most structural work — phase three of the overall construction project — has been completed. In this final phase, work continues to reconstruct Route 322 from Sand Mountain Road to Potters Mills, which includes the creation of a new Route 322/Route 144 intersection. Since February, crews have completed laying the beams and construction on a new bridge, retaining walls and are working to finish the median barrier.
The project started in 2015 with the purpose of improving safety and reducing congestion over the mountain from the Centre/Mifflin county line to west of the Route 322/144 intersection in Potters Mills.
Once complete, Sidorick said the roadway will be safer and less congested for travelers. In the event of a crash, the new design will allow easier access for emergency services as well as provide alternate routes for drivers.
“We’ll be glad to get it open,” Sidorick said.
PennDOT encourages drivers to use 511PA and check the project’s website for any updates. Message boards and signage will display updates, so drivers can consider alternate routes.
