Route 33 Improvements Begin

On behalf of Gov. Tom Corbett, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced that much-needed improvements to the interchange of PA 33 and PA 512 in Plainfield Township and Wind Gap has begun.

The work started Tuesday.

The project includes the milling and paving of approximately one mile of mainline PA 33, new median barrier along PA 33, rehabilitation of the PA 33 bridges over PA 512 and Male Road, lengthening and rehabilitation of ramps at the interchange, patching and paving of PA 512 between Epps Street and Male Road, installation of a traffic signal at PA 512 and Jacobsburg Road, and other miscellaneous construction.

During the first phase of construction, PA 33 will experience nighttime (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) lane restrictions on weekdays for the paving of shoulders and median areas.

This work will begin in the southbound direction then move to the northbound side. This work is estimated to be completed by July.

Then traffic will be shifted and will utilize the median or shoulder area to allow two lanes of PA 33 to be maintained in both directions. No long-term lane restrictions are scheduled, but motorists may experience short-term lane restrictions when needed.

Throughout the project there will be lane restrictions on PA 512 between Male Road and Epps Street, but one lane of traffic will be maintained in both directions at all times.

Updates will be provided whenever traffic patterns change. Delays are expected and motorists are encouraged to use caution and allow extra time when traveling through the work zone.

The project is expected to be complete in May 2015. All schedules are weather dependent and subject to change.

James D. Morrissey Inc. of Philadelphia is the general contractor on the $13,117,000 project.

This section of PA 33 has an average daily traffic volume of 33,175 vehicles. The average daily traffic volume on PA 512 ranges from 8,882 vehicles at the western end of the project to 18,961 at the eastern end.