Markley Street and Main Street Improvements Finish Between Elm and Main Streets in Norristown
Construction has been substantially completed on the Section 510, Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) Improvement Project following three years of work to reconstruct and widen 0.6 miles of the Montgomery County roadway, replace the bridges over Stony Creek, and improve two intersections and rail crossings between the Main Street/Dannehower Bridge and Elm Street in Norristown.
Crews wrapped up major construction in mid-December with improvements at Main and Markley streets (above) that were completed during a 10-day closure in early December. PennDOT used an accelerated schedule using pre-cast concrete pavement slabs (below) to provide a new riding surface through the busy intersection, upgraded utilities, a new SEPTA rail crossing, and new sidewalks with ADA ramps.
The northbound U.S. 202 detour along DeKalb Pike through neighboring Bridgeport that had been in place for the duration of construction was lifted following completion of work at the intersection, reopening Markley Street to two-way traffic.
Under the Section 510 project that went into construction in early 2020, PennDOT
- Rebuilt the four-lane section of Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) to include a center turn lane between Main Street and Marshall Street;
- Replaced the northbound and southbound bridges over Stony Creek with a single structure;
- Reconstructed and widened Main Street between Water Street and Barbadoes Street to provide additional travel lanes and improve traffic flow through the signalized intersection at Markley Street (U.S. 202 South);
Widened Marshall Street between Corson Street and Markley Street;- Upgraded railroad grade crossings at Main Street and Marshall Street by installing new gates and signals in coordination with SEPTA;
- New stormwater drainage and upgraded utilities;
- Installed Traffic Adaptive Signal Control Systems at seven traffic signals on Markley Street between Main Street and Johnson Highway including ITS network elements, and replaced existing traffic poles and signals on Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) at Main Street, and Marshall Street;
- Installation of ITS network elements on Markley Street and SR 0202 from Norristown Municipality to Lower Gwynedd Township;
- Improved traffic markings, signing, landscape plantings, and highway lighting;
- Extended Barbadoes Street between Lafayette Street and Washington Street;
- Installed new ADA curb ramps at all intersections to include pushbuttons, countdown signals, and continental crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety; and
- Installed new traffic signal signals.
While the project is substantially completed, work crews and minor traffic restrictions may be in place in the project area to complete minor work items over the winter. No major traffic restrictions are scheduled for the remainder of the project.
A final Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) project, Section 540, that will rehabilitate the historic stone-arch bridge over Stony Creek at Elm Street is expected to go into construction later in 2023. This final contract will finish PennDOT’s Section 500 initiative to improve Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) between Main Street and Johnson Highway in Norristown under several projects that began in 2013 with Section 520 construction.
Alan Myers, LP, of Worcester, Montgomery County is the general contractor on the $23,925,515 project which is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds. Construction on the entire project is expected to be completed in 2023.
Additional improvements to U.S. 202 are currently underway north of Johnson Highway in East Norriton and Whitpain townships as part of PennDOT’s Section 600 contracts. Go here for information about that project.