Townships push for Route 222 improvements

South Whitehall Township is exploring a multimillion-dollar traffic signal improvement project along Hamilton Boulevard and Cedar Crest Boulevard, while neighboring Upper Macungie Township has joined a regional effort urging the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to prioritize upgrades along the Route 222 corridor.

The initiatives, discussed during separate township meetings Nov. 4 and 5, reflect growing concern over traffic congestion, roadway safety and transportation demands as development continues throughout the Lehigh Valley.

At the Nov. 4 meeting of the South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners, Township Manager Tom Petrucci outlined plans to pursue preliminary scoping for a PennDOT Green Light-Go grant that could help fund improvements at four interconnected intersections.

The intersections include Hamilton Boulevard and Cedar Crest Boulevard, Cedar Crest Boulevard and Cedar Point, Cedar Crest Boulevard and Hamilton West, and westbound Hamilton Boulevard and Haines Mill Road.

Petrucci said the project is expected to cost between $2 million and $2.6 million, with individual signal replacements estimated at $500,000 to $650,000 each. If awarded grant funding, the township’s anticipated 20% match would range from $400,000 to $520,000.

Proposed upgrades include adaptive traffic signal controls, battery backup systems and other improvements intended to reduce traffic delays and congestion. Township officials also hope to address traffic concerns related to Dorney Park and explore warning systems for flood-prone areas.

Petrucci said the township also would seek a consistent appearance for the new signals, similar to the black, powder-coated installations recently completed at Hamilton Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue and at Cedar Crest Boulevard and Walbert Avenue.

Whitman, Requardt and Associates, working under an existing PennDOT contract, would provide technical assistance during the preliminary scoping process at no cost to the township.

The township expects to submit pre-application materials by Jan. 4, 2027. PennDOT is scheduled to provide feedback by Feb. 26 before accepting formal applications March 1-31.

“This preliminary step would help define the project, develop an initial cost estimate and obtain PennDOT feedback before the board considers a full grant application or any local funding commitment,” Petrucci said.

Board President Jacob D. Roth supported the approach, and commissioners raised no objections to proceeding with the preliminary scoping process.

Meanwhile, during the Nov. 5 meeting of the Upper Macungie Township board of supervisors, supervisors unanimously authorized Chairman Jeff Fleischaker to sign a regional advocacy letter asking PennDOT to prioritize improvements along the Route 222 corridor.

Fleischaker said Lehigh County Commissioner Ron Beitler approached the township about joining a regional effort involving representatives from Upper Macungie, South Whitehall, Lower Macungie and Allentown.

The letter seeks priority consideration for improvements along the Route 222 Fred Jaindl Memorial Highway and Hamilton Boulevard corridor, citing continued growth and increasing transportation demands.

Vice Chairman Sunny Ghai cautioned that emphasizing Route 222 could affect funding priorities for other transportation projects, including the Route 100 and Adams Road interchange. However, he said discussions with PennDOT are worthwhile and should include township input.

“I think it will start a conversation about status and priorities, which I think is a good thing,” Ghai said.

Fleischaker also pointed to congestion associated with development along Krocks Road as another reason for continued regional transportation discussions.

While the two initiatives are separate, both are aimed at addressing the transportation challenges accompanying ongoing growth in the western Lehigh Valley.

Townships push for Route 222 improvements

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