Work will begin Sunday night (April 20) on improvements to the Interstate 78/PA 100 interchange (Exit 49) in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County.  The project entails widening the I-78 west ramp to PA 100 south (Exit 49 A) and the PA 100 north ramp to I-78 east to accommodate two travel lanes on each ramp.

In addition, a traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of the I-78 west ramp to PA 100 south. 

From Sunday (April 20) to Thursday (April 24), there will be nighttime (9 PM – 5 AM)  single lane conditions on I-78 east and west between US 22 and Adams Road. 

From April 27 to May 9 (weeknights excluding Friday nights), the I-78 west ramp to PA 100 south and the PA 100 north ramp to I-78 east will be closed and detoured between the hours of 9 PM and 5 AM. 

During the ramp closures, all I-78 west traffic wishing to access PA 100 south will be detoured to Exit 45 (PA 863) where they can access I-78 east back to PA 100 south; and all PA 100 north traffic wishing to access I-78 east will be detoured on PA 100 north, Tilghman Street east, US 22 east and PA 309 south. 

All lanes will remain open on I-78 and the PA 100 interchange ramps from 5 AM Fridays through 9 PM Sundays.

There may be other times when either I-78 or the PA 100 interchange ramps will be restricted, and updates will be provided prior to their occurrence.  

The project is expected to be completed in August 2008.  All work schedules are weather dependent.     

The general contractor on the $2.17 million project is Road-Con, Inc. of West Chester, Pa. 

This section of I-78 has an average daily traffic volume of 68,879 vehicles.  The PA 100 ramp to I-78 east has an average daily traffic volume of 15,000 vehicles, and the I-78 west ramp to PA 100 south has an average daily traffic volume of 12,000 vehicles.

PennDOT encourages motorists to visit its travel information page at www.dot.state.pa.us; click on traveler information.  The Web site offers a variety of useful tools, including current closures on Pennsylvania interstates and links to PennDOT traffic cameras.