PennDOT Engineering District 5 announced that work will begin Monday on a roadway improvement project to improve US 209 in Mahoning Township, Lehighton, and Jim Thorpe.

The project is financed with federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).Beginning Monday (Nov. 16), motorists can expect weekday shoulder restrictions on US 209 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. There will be no lane restrictions for this phase of the work.All work on this project is expected to be complete in July 2010. All schedules are weather dependent.PennDOT awarded Hanson Aggregates, LLC of Allentown, Lehigh County the $1,710,782 contract to rehabilitate US 209.The project includes resurfacing nearly four miles of US 209 between the Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge and Susquehanna Street and installing new drainage features.Within the six-county District 5 region, PennDOT will invest $122 million of federal economic recovery funds on transportation projects, which include road and bridge improvements and Intelligent Transportation System installations.To learn more about how the federal economic stimulus will benefit