The Shapiro Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, District 5, which covers Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties, detailed progress the highway department has made in 2025 as part of a commonwealth-wide commitment to improve and/or rehabilitate roads in the state.

Included in the detailed report of projects completed and/or underway in the district are 15 local projects, seven of which have been completed.

PennDOT announced there were 87 active construction projects in its district this year, 39 of which were completed. The work included replacing or repairing 133 bridges and paving over 100 roadway miles.

“It was a great year for road and bridge projects, including a major I-78 project in Berks County,” said District 5 District Executive Chris Kufro said. “PennDOT will continue to work with regional planning partners to prioritize projects to improve safety and mobility in east central Pennsylvania.”

The I-78 project, the district’s largest job completed this year in terms of contract amount, was an interstate improvement project in Hamburg Borough and Tilden Township in nearby Berks County.

Work on the $134.6 million project included the reconfiguration and reconstruction of the Interstate 78/Route 61 interchange ramps, widening and rehabilitation of the I-78 mainline arch bridge over the Schuylkill River, widening of the I-78 bridge over Port Clinton Avenue, replacement of the Route 61 bridge over I-78, construction of retaining walls, sound barriers, sign structures, highway lighting, ITS devices, drainage system improvements, guide rail, and safety barriers.

Continuing projects

District 5 notable projects that are continuing this year include:

Carbon County

• Replacement of the I-80 bridge over the Lehigh River, Lehigh Gorge State Park, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad and River Road in East Side Borough, $120 million;

• Repairs to a retaining wall along Route 209 in Jim Thorpe Borough and Mahoning Township, $8.47 million.

• Rehabilitation of a retaining wall along Hudsondale Street and Hazel Creek, drainage upgrades, guiderail upgrades, and barrier upgrades in Weatherly Borough, $2.8 million.

Monroe County

• Replacement of the Business Route 209 bridge over Kettle Creek in Hamilton Township, $2.7 million.

Schuylkill County

• Reconstruction and safety improvements on Route 61 in Frackville and St. Clair boroughs, Blythe, New Castle, Ryan and West Mahanoy townships, $115 million.

• Replacement of the Lincoln Drive bridge over Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad in Rush Township, $2.9 million.

• Replacement of the Brockton Mountain Drive bridge over Locust Creek in Ryan Township, $1.38 million.

Completed projects

Notable projects that were completed or are substantially completed this year in the district include:

Carbon County

• Rehabilitation of the Route 209/East Patterson Street Bridge over the Lehigh Canal and abandoned Northern Reading Railroad in Summit Hill Side Borough, $1.4 million.

Monroe County

• Route 209/Hamilton West milling, paving, and bridge repairs in Hamilton Township, $11 million.

• Replacement of the Route 209/Route 33 North Bridge over Appenzell Creek in Hamilton Township, $10.2 million.

• Safety improvements on Route 115 in Chestnuthill Township, $5.6 million.

• Milling and paving Route 209 in Hamilton Township, $3.3 million.

Schuylkill County

• Milling and paving Route 54 in Mahanoy, Rush and Ryan townships, $2.7 million.

• Milling and paving Route 54 in Rush Township, $2.6 million.

Multiple counties

• Rehabilitation of the Route 873 Bridge over Lehigh River in Washington Township, Lehigh County, and Lehigh Township, Northampton County, estimated $6.9 million.