Motorists traveling on Route 30 in Lancaster County should be prepared for more traffic delays than usual.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said there will be lane restrictions in place this week to prepare for the upcoming demolition of the old bridge that carried eastbound Route 30 to northbound Route 222 at the Route 222/Route 30 Interchange Improvement Project.
The bridge is scheduled to be demolished the weekend of Oct. 10-13.
Overnight lane restrictions will be in place this week on westbound and eastbound Route 30 from the Oregon Pike (Route 272) to the New Holland Pike (Route 23) between 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, and 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2; and between 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, and 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 3.
“The contractor will perform saw cutting and removal of bridge barrier to help expedite the demolition procedure during the weekend closure,” PennDOT said.
The weekend of Oct. 10-13, a detour will be in place when eastbound and westbound Route 30 and the bridge carrying northbound/southbound Route 222 over Route 30, are closed from 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, through 5 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 13. The work is weather permitting. The backup plan is Oct. 17-20.
The contractor will demolish and remove the bridge.
“During this closure there will be periodic 15-minute stops on Route 222 southbound to Route 30 westbound for the erection of overhead sign structures,” PennDOT said.
“The new southbound Route 222 bridge over Route 30 was opened to traffic this spring. Eastbound Route 30 to northbound Route 222 traffic was then switched to the new southbound bridge, which currently carries both northbound and southbound Route 222 traffic.
“This traffic pattern will remain in place until a new bridge is built for Route 30 east to Route 222 north.”
The detours for the weekend of Oct. 10-13 will be:
Eastbound Route 30 will use Route 501 (Lititz Pike) south to Route 222 south to Duke Street to Route 23 east to Route 30.
Eastbound Route 30 to northbound Route 222 will use Route 272 (Oregon Pike) to Jake Landis Road to Butter Road north to northbound Route 222.
Westbound Route 30 will use northbound Route 222 to the Route 272 (Oregon Pike) Exit, Butter Road north to Jake Landis Road west to Route 272 south to southbound Route 222 and westbound Route 30.
Southbound Route 222 to eastbound Route 30 will use Route 30 west to Fruitville Pike to Chester Road to Route 222 south to Duke Street to Route 23 east to Route 30.
Drivers should avoid the area or allow extra time for travel because delays and congested are expected.
The $72 million project “includes improvements at the Route 222/Route 30 Interchange and reconstructing Route 222 from the interchange north approximately one mile near Stoner Park, which is just south of the Landis Valley Road bridge spanning the highway.
“Work on the north side of the interchange includes constructing a second lane on the southbound Route 222 ramp to westbound Route 30 that will tie into the existing northbound Route 272 (Oregon Pike) exit ramp. A third lane will be added from the westbound Route 30 ramp to northbound Route 222 while extending this lane to the existing westbound Route 30 third lane approaching Oregon Pike (Route 272).
“Work on the south side of the interchange includes constructing a second ramp lane from eastbound Route 30 to northbound Route 222. The new ramp lane will tie into the existing Route 30 travel lane (right lane), giving drivers using the right lane of eastbound Route 30 the option to continue east or exit to northbound Route 222.
“Route 222 will be converted from four lanes to six lanes from the interchange to the north end of the project limits.
Additionally, the two bridges carrying Route 222 ramps over Route 30 will be replaced, with the northbound Route 222 bridge being widened to two lanes. The Eden Road bridge spanning Route 222 north of the interchange will remain in place. Route 222 under the bridge will be lowered to increase clearance under the bridge.
“Four lanes of traffic will be maintained during the life of the project,” PennDOT said.
This project is expected to be completed by Sept. 3, 2027.
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