Ridge Pike Update

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RIDGEImprovement Project PIKE in Plymouth UPDATE& Whitemarsh Townships ////////////////////// JUNE 2020 What is the Ridge Pike Improvement Project?

Ridge Pike is a major roadway through The Ridge Pike Improvement reduce congestion. The project will Montgomery County dating back to Project in Plymouth and Whitemarsh also improve pedestrian safety and Pennsylvania’s colonial era, when it Townships will rebuild the road from transit accessibility by providing a connected Philadelphia and Reading. the bottom up, improve safety and continuous sidewalk along the road. Today, the county owns Ridge Pike between Philadelphia and Norristown, Project Area: Butler Pike to Crescent Avenue a stretch of road that passes through TPKE numerous suburban communities, GERMANTOWN PIKE ANIA connects to I-476 and provides an V alternative to I-76, the Schuylkill CRESCENT Expressway. It was originally pavedPENNSY inL AVE the 1930’s. EXPY Parts of Ridge Pike have not changed RIDGE PIKE much since the early 1900’s. Some sections were widened in the 1970’s or BUTLER PIKE

as development occurred but much of this MID-COUNT Y portion of Ridge Pike needs extensive repair, additional travel lanes and drainage upgrades. Ridge Pike accommodates daily Whitemarsh Township traffic volumes of 30,000 vehicles, and thousands more when incidents on the

Schuylkill Expressway divert traffic. HARMON RD

The Ridge Pike reconstruction will provide numerous What are the project’s benefits? benefitsMontgomery to citizens, drivers and businesses, including: County 0 900 1,800 3,600 Feet Planning Commission Harmon Rd to Crescent Ave Montgomery County Courthouse - Planning Commission PO Box 311 Norristown PA 19404-0311 (p) 610.278.3722 (f) 610.278.3941 ¯ www.montcopa.org/plancom REDUCED IMPROVED CONGESTION WALKABILITY

SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS

SMOOTHER BETTER DRIVING DRAINAGE SURFACE

SAFER ENHANCE TURNING TRANSIT ACCESS

For more information, visit www.RidgePikeProject.com What’s New Center left turn lane; new sidewalk What improvements 30,000 North South are being planned? Side Side To improve safety and efficient traffic flow, the county will add Cars Per Day left turn and right turn lanes at critical intersections, will add sidewalks to the greatest extent feasible and continue working PROPOSED TYPICAL SECTION: WHITEMARSH SHOPPING CENTER with commercial properties to improve access. AND WHITEMARSH SENIOR LIVING (LOOKING EAST)

Rebuilding Infrastructure: Upgrade Drainage: Ridge Pike is a critical element of Modern drainage facilities will improve the region’s road network. The county safety by managing stormwater. has a duty to maintain it. Road Widening: Install Sidewalks: Completion of the second eastbound Pedestrians have no safe place to walk. travel lane at Joshua Road will Providing sidewalks on Ridge Pike will improve traffic flow. improve pedestrian safety and comfort. Installing New Signal at With over 30,000 cars per Reconstruct Entire Road: Chestnut Street & Crescent Ave: day, Montgomery County New and coordinated traffic signals will needs to rebuild Ridge Pike Originally paved in the 1930’s, Ridge Pike improve congestion and safety while is in need of a complete reconstruction. metering travel speeds along Ridge Pike. and keep it in good shape.

What’s New Second eastbound travel lane; sidewalk on south side

What’s New South side sidewalk North South Side Side South North Side Side

PROPOSED TYPICAL SECTION: CRESCENT AVENUE (LOOKING EAST)

PROPOSED TYPICAL SECTION: DUNKIN DONUTS (LOOKING EAST)

What’s New Second eastbound travel lane; sidewalk on south side.

North South Side Side

PROPOSED TYPICAL SECTION: JOSHUA ROAD (LOOKING EAST) www.RidgePikeProject.com www.RidgePikeProject.com Congestion at Ridge Pike and Butler Pike

What is the status of the project?

The Ridge Pike Improvement Project in Plymouth and Montgomery County Board of Commissioners

Whitemarsh Townships will soon begin final engineering. The Valerie A. Arkoosh, MD, MPH, Chair right of way acquisition phase will follow before construction Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr., Vice Chair can begin. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2022 and Joseph C. Gale, Commissioner continue for two years.

CONSTRUCTION COST: FUNDS: Montgomery Scott Brown Steven Kline TBD by Preliminary Engineering Chair Chair County/PennDot ANTICIPATED For more information please contact: CONSTRUCTION START: ENGINEER: Matthew Edmond, Section Chief: Transportation RK&K Mid 2020’s Montgomery County Planning Commission 610.278.3742 • [email protected]