The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is planning 30 projects this year throughout District 5, which consists of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties. Highlights from the announcement include roughly 120 miles of paving, 24 bridges to be repaired or replaced and about 285 miles of roadway to be seal coated.

“Our highway and bridge improvement program is designed to provide safe and convenient travel across the region,” Acting District 5 Executive Chris Kufro said.

“Improved travel is vital to quality of life for area residents and for the efficient movement of goods, and this year we will see over $130 million invested in new road and bridge construction projects, as well as more than $400 million invested in continuing projects like our Interstate 78 improvements in Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties.”

Milling and paving on Route 309 in Tamaqua were among the announced projects, at an estimated state cost of $650,000-$700,000.

“It’s definitely needed,” said Tamaqua Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt.

“We would like to see all of 309 and all of 209 through the borough resurfaced. I understand that the state’s funding is limited due to the pandemic. And my understanding is that is eventually they’re plan - to do all of 309 in the county line. That’s what we’ve been told.”

Sean Brown, PennDOT safety press officer, noted the project is scheduled to begin in August, with opening of bids for contractors take place in late June. Brown said the it should be complete by October.

“They’re due for a resurfacing,” Steigerwalt said.

“We’ve requested it and asked them to consider resurfacing all of 309 and 209 a couple of times. They’re interested in doing that, it seems that it comes down to a matter of their budget. We’ll keep requesting it and help them out however we can. Hopefully this is the beginning of more projects.”

Brown noted that the project will take place from the bridge over Little Schuylkill River (southern) to just north of Route 209 - and a small section of Route 209 from North Railroad street to just east of Route 309.

“It impacts traffic, people can expect delays whenever there is road construction. It’s just the nature of it,” said Steigerwalt.

“Normally, we wouldn’t have to do any traffic control, that’s all part of the project - the bid package when PennDOT puts it out. The contractor would be responsible for establishing traffic control.”

Work will include milling, base repair, patching, paving, pavement markings and other miscellaneous items.

“We tell people a short-term inconvenience for a long-term solution. But I know that doesn’t help when you’re sitting in traffic,” Steigerwalt said.

“Avoid the area if you can - if you can’t, we understand, it’s a heavily traveled road. Allow yourself some extra time.”