If your weekend plans include the need to travel on Route 222 in Lancaster County, leave early or plan an alternate route.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said there will be lane closures on portions of the highway northeast of the city of Lancaster from 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, through 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 29. There will be an 11-foot width restriction in place.
The alternating right and left lane closures will impact both directions between Bushong Road and Pool Road overpasses so that the contractor can make expansion dam repairs on bridges.
An expansion dam is a device built into a bridge to allow it to expand during temperature fluctuations without causing the bridge to buckle, according to Dave Thompson, community relations coordinator for PennDOT Engineering District 8.
On larger bridges, Thompson said, “you see a metal strip the whole way across the bridge – that is the expansion dam.”
Those repairs are part of a 3.3-mile pavement preservation project on Route 222 in Manheim, Warwick and West Earl townships. Most of the work has been completed.
“However, overnight lane closures will continue on southbound Route 222 to finish various remaining items of work. Additionally, weekend lane closures will persist in both directions of Route 222 to repair the bridge pavement and replace the bridge expansion joints,” PennDOT said in a news release. The work is expected to be complete by Oct. 20.
Drivers can check conditions on major roadways 24 hours a day at www.511PA.com.