Work to begin in Bucks on Route 202 project

Work is to begin today on the Bucks County portion of the project that will transform congested Route 202 into the long-anticipated Route 202 Parkway.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced that earth movers will start clearing land to make way for the 3.4-mile stretch between Pickertown Road and Route 611. That section of the project traverses Warrington and Doylestown Townships.

Work will begin where the parkway will cross over New Britain Road, PennDot spokesman Gene Blaum said. No lane closures are expected immediately, he said.

"Basically, it will be working in land and ground, and to take out bushes and trees near New Britain Road," Blaum said.

Workers also will put up orange construction fencing. James D. Morrissey Inc. of Philadelphia is the general contractor on the $42.1 million road-building project in Bucks County.

That segment - the northern piece - is one of three that form the 8.6-mile construction project between Routes 63 and 611.

Building began in November 2008 with the 1.8-mile southern segment running from Route 63 to Route 463 in Montgomery County. Construction is set to start Thursday on the central portion of the parkway, between Route 463 in Montgomery County and Pickertown Road.

Detours will not be set up until work affects a road intersecting the parkway or a spot where a bridge will be built, Blaum said.

If a lane must be closed, signs would be posted two weeks in advance announcing the detour, Blaum said. Construction will be done between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m., he said.

"People can adjust their driving habits and be prepared for the traffic restrictions. We won't do anything to adversely affect drivers during peak hours," he said.

These are detours associated with the northern part of the parkway project:

Eastbound Bristol Road will be closed for widening and reconstruction from Upper State Road to where it intersects 202 from June to September.

Almshouse Road will be closed from Upper State Road to Quail Drive from June to September.

Wells Road will be closed from late spring to summer 2011 between Valley Circle and Radcliffe Drive.

These detours are associated with the central section of the parkway project:

Pickertown Road will be closed between Stump Road and Upper State Road in the fall until fall 2011.

In Warrington, Detweiler Road will close Jan. 28 between Upper State Road and Stump Road. It will be reconfigured into cul-de-sacs on either side of the parkway. Work will end in fall 2011.

Motorists have groused for years about traffic tie-ups along 202, which has one lane in each direction in some places and multiple lanes in others.

Plans call for the parkway to have a total of four travel lanes between Route 63 and Route 463, and one lane in each direction between 463 and 611. There will be 11 intersections, according to a PennDot map.

The refurbished highway is expected to open in late 2011. The $200 million project is being paid for with state money.

The segment between Pickertown Road and 611 will have left-turn lanes at intersections. It also will feature bicycle lanes, signal improvements, and several rebuilt bridges, Blaum said.

Doylestown Township Manager Stephanie J. Mason said PennDot had briefed local officials on its plans.

"We're obviously going to monitor this as things proceed. We're not anticipating traffic problems," she said.

No Warrington Township official was available for comment Friday.