The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently unveiled plans to repave a heavily traveled section of Route 209 in Lansford borough.

The project will begin in July 2017 and last approximately five to six months."Residents should expect a nice smooth ride, new ADA ramps, new signal poles," senior project manager Imitaz Nathaniel said.Construction is expected to take place overnight between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. During that time, the roadway will be restricted to one way, with flaggers directing traffic.Traffic during the day will not be affected.The project will consist of milling and resurfacing the top layer of pavement. Base repairs will take place as needed.The project will not include any new turning lanes or major changes to the existing curbing and sidewalks along Patterson Street. However, new ADA-compliant handicap ramps will be constructed at all intersections along the stretch.Crews will also replace the traffic lights at Center, Coal, Spring Garden, Tunnel and Chestnut streets with new equipment. The lights will be equipped with technology that allows police and first responders to "pre-empt" the light if they are en route to an emergency.The majority of the project is being resurfaced for the first time since 1986. Two sections were resurfaced in 1999 and 2003, project manager Cathy Longenecker said.She described the current condition of the road as "heavily traveled … in need of repair."Council President Martin Ditsky said that the number of trucks that use the road has increased in recent years.