Motorists had to learn patience as they encountered their share of challenges on the roadway this year.

Massive road projects along Route 443, Route 248, and the Route 209 roundabouts in Brodheadsville all got underway.

Ron Young, district press officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said all of the projects remain on schedule.

“There have been no significant problems on any of these projects,” Young said.

Route 248

Young said the Route 248 project is about 80% complete.

It involves redoing the road between Route 209 and the Northampton County line.

Work includes upgrading rock fence, upgrading median barrier, concrete patching, concrete joint rehabilitation, milling and paving, upgrading shoulders and guide rail, new pavement markings and other miscellaneous items.

The project also includes rehabilitating interchange ramps on this section of Route 248.

J.D. Eckman Inc. of Atglen is the general contractor on the $13.9 million project, which began in June 2020 and is slated for completion in June 2022.

This section of Route 248 runs through East Penn, Franklin and Lower Towamensing townships, and Bowmanstown, Palmerton and Parryville boroughs and was first constructed in 1962 and received a major resurfacing in 1999. Smaller sections received minor resurfacing in 2012 and 2014.

The average daily traffic volume on Route 248 in Carbon County varies between 18,813 and 22,161 vehicles.

Route 443

Young said the Route 443 project is about 40% complete.

The project to reconstruct a portion of Route 443/Blakeslee Boulevard will rehabilitate the portion of roadway from the Carbon Plaza Mall in Mahoning Township to the Route 209/Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge in Lehighton.

H&K Group Inc. of Skippack is the general contractor on the $21 million project.

However, businesses along the busy corridor have been affected by the project since it got underway.

Work includes reconstructing 2.25 miles of roadway; adding a center turn lane along the corridor; adding left-turn lanes and traffic signal improvements at the Route 443 intersections with Mall Road/Mall Lane and East Penn Street/Mahoning Mountain Road designed to improve traffic flow and reduce crashes; drainage improvements; utility installation/relocation; new guide rail; pavement markings and other miscellaneous construction; and rehabilitating the Route 443 bridge over Mahoning Creek. The Route 902/South Ninth Street bridge over Mahoning Creek will be replaced and the intersection of Route 902 and Route 443 will be realigned slightly to the east to make a “T” intersection.

Young noted the 443 project began in October 2020 and is anticipated to be complete in September 2024.

Roundabout

Young said the intersection project at Route 209 and Route 115 is about 20% complete.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is moving forward with the Pleasant Valley roundabout project in Chestnuthill Township.

In February, PennDOT opened bids for the construction of the intersection of routes 209 and 115 in Brodheadsville. Two roundabouts are slated, one at the Route 209 and 115 intersection, the other at the entrance to Pleasant Valley High School at Pleasant Valley Way.

The road project will include the widening of both Route 209 and Route 115 from two to four lanes around the school campus.

There are also four campus intersection improvements. The largest of these is at the intersection with Pilgrim Way. A realignment is needed, along with a possible traffic signal.

The roundabout is a two-lane roundabout, which means that two lanes of traffic run around the circle, not one lane.

Young said at that time the apparent low bidder, Latona Trucking Inc., came in at a little over $18.4 million.

Since 2018 when PennDOT announced the roundabout project, it faced pushback from Pleasant Valley School District and people in the surrounding community. They questioned the safety of constructing the pair of roundabouts, especially the Pleasant Valley Way roundabout.

In preparation for the work, several businesses relocated. DiMarco’s Bakery and Lyndee’s ice cream shop left the area. Subway relocated down the road. Rite Aid just relocated in February to a new building constructed on Route 115 near Marion Lane.

While the first two-lane roundabout is to be constructed and also while the second, more controversial traffic roundabout, is to be constructed at Pleasant Valley Way, Young said PennDOT will do everything possible to lessen the impact of the construction on high school traffic and to make sure everyone is safe.

Young said the intersection project at 209 and 115 began in April 2021 is anticipated to be complete in November 2024.