The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation invites Lebanon County residents to review plans online for a culvert replacement project on state Route 501 (North College Street) in Jackson Township.
The project calls for replacing a steel arch culvert built in 1952 that carries Route 501 over an unnamed tributary to Owl Creek. The existing structure is 15 feet long with a 24-foot curb-to-curb width.
The stretch of Route 501 in the project area is a two-lane arterial roadway in a rural agricultural setting with a posted speed limit of 45 mph and an average daily traffic volume of about 7,150 vehicles, PennDOT said in a news release.
PennDOT plans to remove the existing structure and replace it with a pre-cast box culvert featuring concrete wing walls and rock scour protection at each end. The roadway and bridge will be widened to accommodate 12-foot lanes and 5-foot shoulders, bringing the curb-to-curb width to 34 feet. Additional work includes pavement reconstruction, rock slope protection, and guide rail upgrades.
Route 501 will be closed within the project limits during construction, with separate vehicle and truck detours in place. The vehicular detour will follow Route 501 to Route 422 (Conrad Weiser Parkway/Benjamin Franklin Highway) to Route 645 (Kutztown Road/Locust Street) to Route 1012 (Rosebud Road), a distance of 5.9 miles. The truck detour will use Route 501 to Route 422 to Route 419 (Rehrersburg Road), a 22-mile route.
The project is currently in the design phase, with construction expected during the summer 2028 season.
An online plans display is available for public review through July 29. PennDOT is accepting comments, questions and concerns about the project during that period.
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