PENNDOT and its project team have been very active over the last several months. The project received approval for Environmental Clearance in the fall of 2004 and PENNDOT issued Notice-to-Proceed for Final Design in February 2005. During this phase, the design aspects of the project will be further refined including addressing stormwater management needs, erosion control, property access and right-of-way requirements, traffic signalization, structure design, utility relocation, and traffic control during construction. The new Connector roadway will require rebuilding and improving parts of Wambold and Township Line Road involving widening existing roadway, providing adequate shoulder width, realigning tight curves and intersection doglegs, and providing turn lanes and traffic signals. The proposed roadway will have two 11-foot travel lanes and 8-foot wide paved shoulders. In areas where there are tight constraints on the sides of the alignment and at most intersections, shoulder widths will be reduced and augmented by curbs. Most intersections will have dedicated turning lanes. In addition, the project also includes a Sumneytown Pike Realignment and a PA 309 Direct Connection, described as follow: Sumneytown Pike Realignment A proposed realignment of Sumneytown Pike would shift the roadway to the east of its current location, starting from Freed Road and extending east to Old Forty Foot Road (See project map). The previous design was constrained by the historic Mainland Inn north of the intersection of Wambold Road and Sumneytown Pike, and by the cemeteries of two churches that flank Sumneytown Pike south of Wambold Road. These constraints limited the addition of turning lanes needed to handle traffic entering and leaving the Connector. The Sumneytown Pike realignment avoids both constraints and has been projected to be more effective in handling current and future traffic. As part of the project's right sizing effort the realignment was reduced from 4 lanes to 3 lanes. PA 309 Direct Connection The direct connection from southbound PA 309 to the Connector will be included in this project (See project map). The previous design required southbound PA 309 traffic to travel beyond the Connector to a proposed jug handle at Bergey Road, which would lead traffic onto the Connector. PENNDOT believes the direct connection will provide smoother traffic flow and meet the project need. As part of the project's right sizing effort the Route 309 northbound ramp was eliminated. Other improvements proposed for the project include the follow: Intersection Improvements Intersection improvements along Wambold Road and Township Line Road will be expanded from two lanes to three or four lanes with provisions for separate right and left turn lanes. Additional Roadway Improvements Elroy Road Cul-de-sacs have been proposed on Elroy Road at either side of the Connector to reduce the number of intersections along the Connector. Ongoing coordination with the proposed residential developments along Elroy Road may elminate the need for cul-de-sacs. Souder Road As part of the project's right sizing effort the improvements to Souder Road were removed from this project. Cassell Road Cassell Road will retain a direct connection with Wambold Road. Fretz Road At the intersection of Fretz and Wambold roads, Fretz Road in Towamencin Township will be shifted to the west to enhance safety by eliminating the existing offset intersection. Township Line Road Township Line Road will end in a cul-de-sac just west of County Line Road, near the entrance to the Hidden Springs Community. Local traffic will still have access to this portion of Township Line Road but will not have direct access to the new Connector. A new driveway will connect Hidden Springs to the cul-de-sac and the remaining of Township Line Road. Maron Road As part of the project's right sizing effort realignment of Maron Road was eliminated.