Route 222 ramps in Wyomissing set to open Wednesday night – Reading Eagle

For commuters like Brady Yurkiewick who drive daily beyond Allentown the reopening of the Route 222 on and off ramps in Wyomissing is a godsend.

Yurkiewick, 22, of Mohnton drives more than an hour each way to work at the Dundore & Heister butcher shop in Easton, on Routes 222 and 22 and Interstate 78. He typically stops at the Wyomissing branch of the butcher store on the way home.

Its been taking me out of my way for 10 or 15 minutes every day, Yurkiewick said. Youre sitting in traffic on the detours around the Berkshire Mall. It seems like its been closed for a long time.

Yurkiewick was elated Tuesday to hear that the ramps are reopening Wednesday night.

Yurkiewick is one of more than 30,036 motorists driving daily on Route 222 south and 31,087 driving daily on Route 222 north in that area, according to PennDOT.

The $2.2 million PennDOT upgrade of the Route 222 bridge over Business Route 422 and a Norfolk Southern line includes structural steel repairs, concrete deck repairs, paving and painting. Kinsley Construction Inc. of York is the contractor.

The work began in spring 2019 with posted detours taking motorists on Route 724 and State Hill Road.

During the spring, contractors will return to perform additional paving work when the temperature is consistently warmer, said Ron L. Young, spokesman for the Allentown office of PennDOT.

He said the work will be performed at night and will not interfere with traffic.

Alan D. Piper, Berks County transportation planner, said the project planning began in May 2018.

He said the ramps are typically traveled by locals.

Having the ramps closed is an annoyance if you are the one who is using it regularly, he said.

Lisa Banco, 55, of Wyomissing said she uses the Route 222 ramps on a regular basis for shopping, errands, travel and work.

Its been aggravating, Banco said. It was also frustrating not knowing when the end was in sight. Many people will be happy to hear that its opening.

Not everyone was fazed by the ramp opening.

Stephanie Stricker, 34, of West Lawn said the detours do not bother her daily commute to work at Reading Hospital.

I drive on the back roads, Stricker said.

Read the rest here:
Route 222 ramps in Wyomissing set to open Wednesday night - Reading Eagle