The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced today a $3.6 million Route 54/Hauto Curve Realignment project will begin Thursday, March 1, in Nesquehoning Borough.

This project, which runs between the Schuylkill County Line to Cedar Street, will straighten the S-curve on Route 54 in the Village of Hauto. This project involves roadway realignment, earthwork, milling and paving work and new signing.On March 1, crews will be starting with preliminary work that will have no traffic impacts. Then, beginning on March 12, traffic will be restricted to a single lane controlled by flaggers Monday through Friday during the daytime hours (6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Motorists should expect delays during this time.During this first phase of construction, crews will be working to build a temporary road that will carry Route 54 traffic between Schuylkill County Line to Tippets Road.Once the temporary road is complete, Route 54 will be closed and all traffic will be shift to the temporary road. This roadway will be open in both directions and construction will not restrict traffic on it.Once the realignment work is complete, traffic will be shifted back to Route 54 and the temporary road will be closed.Work is expected to be completed in November 2012. All schedules are weather dependent.Reading Materials, Inc. of Skippack, Pa. is the general contractor on the $3,629,340 project.