Project
Senior Project Delivery Leader:
Shawn Reppert
The Project
The SR 222/Schantz Road/SR 863 corridor is rural in nature, with active farmland, vineyards, small businesses, and residential properties throughout the area. SR 222 is a high-volume roadway with a high volume of truck traffic. Schantz Road (SR 3012) acts as a shortcut connecting SR 222 to SR 100 just south of the I-78 interchange. The purpose and need of this project was to improve safety and enhance mobility. This was accomplished by reconfiguring the intersection geometries and roadways to improve sight distance and correct roadway superelevation at the SR 222 at SR 3012 and SR 222 at SR 863 and SR 3012 at SR 863 intersections.
RK&K team members designed the preliminary layouts, completed field visits, prepared existing conditions measurements for the multiple intersection alternatives, and also designed pavement marking plans, traffic control plans, and phasing for temporary signal plans during construction. The preferred alternative selected from the alternatives analysis involved replacing the existing SR 222 (Hamilton Boulevard) and SR 863 (Independent Road) intersection with a roundabout.
The severely skewed intersection at SR 222 and Schantz Road (SR 3012) was eliminated, forcing all of the left turns further east to the location of the existing SR 222 and SR 863 intersection. At that intersection, a four-leg hybrid roundabout was built with two SR 222 legs, Farmington Road (SR 3011), and Schantz Road (SR 3012) comprising the four legs of the roundabout. SR 863 was realigned to intersect Schantz Road (SR 3012) as a three-legged T-intersection, near the existing SR 863 and Schantz Road (SR 3012) intersection.
Two existing structures over an Unnamed Tributary (UNT) to Schaefer Run in close proximity to the noted intersections were also replaced.
The roundabout and geometric upgrades increased roadway capacity in the corridor and improved safety by providing adequate intersection and stopping sight distances and reducing conflict points.
By implementing a public outreach program that was tailored toward educating the travelling public about roundabouts, the project team was able to flip the skepticism toward the project to something that was embraced. As a result, momentum increased toward the project. As a major artery within the Lehigh Valley, SR 222 has a socioeconomic impact on the future of not only those that live and work near the project, but also the entire region. Improvements to Schantz Road make the corridor safer and position the region for future growth and socioeconomic development
The SR 222/Schantz Road/SR 863 corridor is rural in nature, with active farmland, vineyards, small businesses, and residential properties throughout the area. SR 222 is a high-volume roadway with a high volume of truck traffic. Schantz Road (SR 3012) acts as a shortcut connecting SR 222 to SR 100 just south of the I-78 interchange. The purpose and need of this project was to improve safety and enhance mobility. This was accomplished by reconfiguring the intersection geometries and roadways to improve sight distance and correct roadway superelevation at the SR 222 at SR 3012 and SR 222 at SR 863 and SR 3012 at SR 863 intersections.
RK&K team members designed the preliminary layouts, completed field visits, prepared existing conditions measurements for the multiple intersection alternatives, and also designed pavement marking plans, traffic control plans, and phasing for temporary signal plans during construction. The preferred alternative selected from the alternatives analysis involved replacing the existing SR 222 (Hamilton Boulevard) and SR 863 (Independent Road) intersection with a roundabout.
The severely skewed intersection at SR 222 and Schantz Road (SR 3012) was eliminated, forcing all of the left turns further east to the location of the existing SR 222 and SR 863 intersection. At that intersection, a four-leg hybrid roundabout was built with two SR 222 legs, Farmington Road (SR 3011), and Schantz Road (SR 3012) comprising the four legs of the roundabout. SR 863 was realigned to intersect Schantz Road (SR 3012) as a three-legged T-intersection, near the existing SR 863 and Schantz Road (SR 3012) intersection.
Two existing structures over an Unnamed Tributary (UNT) to Schaefer Run in close proximity to the noted intersections were also replaced.
The roundabout and geometric upgrades increased roadway capacity in the corridor and improved safety by providing adequate intersection and stopping sight distances and reducing conflict points.
By implementing a public outreach program that was tailored toward educating the travelling public about roundabouts, the project team was able to flip the skepticism toward the project to something that was embraced. As a result, momentum increased toward the project. As a major artery within the Lehigh Valley, SR 222 has a socioeconomic impact on the future of not only those that live and work near the project, but also the entire region. Improvements to Schantz Road make the corridor safer and position the region for future growth and socioeconomic development
