Two out of three Route 222 bypass fixes isn't bad

Q: It's nice to see that PennDOT installed the larger street-name signs in advance of the intersections on the Route 222 Bypass, after people complained about the tiny original signs at the intersections.

[Road Dude]

Nice work RW. And kudos to Penndot for listening and making the sign changes.

[Allentown Native]

Why would you put a bypass in with stoplights? Doesn't this defeat the purpose? Alleviating traffic flow is one thing but putting it straight through these rural areas is just outrageous.

[Sound Reasoning]

It would be REAL NICE if PennDOT would also fix the light they "broke" during the Bypass project at Hamilton and Lincoln.

The light keeps thinking that there is traffic waiting to turn left from Hamilton onto Lincoln, when in fact, there is not one single car in the left-turn-only lane.

As part of the Bypass Project, PennDOT upgraded that intersection, and added a much longer left-turn-only lane to handle the backup from Dorney's $10/car collection booths.

[Richard_in_S_Whi tehall]

Sound Reasoning wrote:

It would be REAL NICE if PennDOT would also fix the light they "broke" during the Bypass project at Hamilton and Lincoln.

I called South Whitehall Public Works on that a couple months ago. No response.

Those inductive loops might have been damaged by the Hamilton Blvd paving project of last summer, not the Bypass construction.

Also -- the SNAP rumble strips were put on the western half of the bypass (west of Rt. 100) when it was built, so PennDOT's response to RW wasn't entirely correct.

[Dennis Mac]

And why did they even bother to install crosswalks and buttons? Do you think a pedestrian can walk from Cetronia Rd. down to Hamilton along Mill Creek without getting killed?

There are no sidewalks, and the fog line is only about two feet from the berm in places!

Way to waste money.

[Common Sense]

And what about allowing the new Krocks road at old 222 intersection a right on red intersection now? Traffic flow on old 222 in this area has really dropped off. I sit there thinking...no traffic coming on old 222...why am I sitting here when I could be making a right on red. Well..it says...no right on red. Its time. Take the signs down. Put up right turn on red with caution signs. At least tell the impatient idiot behind me blowing his horn that right on red is illegal when so marked.

[Scott]

the 45 mph speed limit is so ridiculous. also all the lights along the route...why call it a bypass? and the "special" road going to walmarts...hmmmm money talks

[2nd amendment]

Sound Reasoning wrote:

The light keeps thinking that there is traffic waiting to turn left from Hamilton onto Lincoln,

That's an illegal turn.

[RideEmCowboy]

2nd amendment wrote:

That's an illegal turn.

You are claiming that the left-turn-only lane is therefore a trick?

[RideEmCowboy]

Richard_in_S_Whitehall wrote:

Those inductive loops might have been damaged by the Hamilton Blvd paving project of last summer, not the Bypass construction.

I thought the paving of Hamilton Blvd was part of the Bypass project, as was the redesign of the Hamilton/Lincoln intersection.

The Hamilton/Lincoln intersection was torn up, together with the Hamilton/Rt78 exchange, for as long as the Bypass project lasted.

[RideEmCowboy]

Actually, the problem with the left-turn-arrow started long before the re-paving. It started back when the left-turn-lane, and the original concrete separation curbing, was first torn up to extend the length of that lane.

I thought it was turned 'off' on purpose because of the construction, and that it would be simply turned back 'on' when the Bypass project was complete.

That is why I have this feeling that all PennDOT or South Whitehall needs to do, is to flip the switch back in the light control box.

[2nd amendment]

RideEmCowboy wrote:

<quoted text>
You are claiming that the left-turn-only lane is therefore a trick?

My mistake. I was thinking about traveling south on 222.

[RideEmCowboy]

2nd amendment wrote:

My mistake. I was thinking about traveling south on 222.

No problem. I was specifically trying to not use "north", "south", "east", or "west" in describing direction.

PennDOT claims Rt222 goes only north/south, but reality and common sense, supports that it goes east/west in this area. So, I just give up.

[King of the Road]

RideEmCowboy wrote:

<quoted text>
No problem. I was specifically trying to not use "north", "south", "east", or "west" in describing direction.
PennDOT claims Rt222 goes only north/south, but reality and common sense, supports that it goes east/west in this area. So, I just give up.

There are times when 222 may go east/west, but overall the route goes north/south which is why it has a north/south designation. So if you start at the northernmost end in Allentown, and head to the southernmost end in Lancaster, you're heading south overall.

With the topography there is no way a road goes strictly north/south or east/west. It would be too confusing for people if 222 switched many times from north/south to east/west.

[Dennis Mac]

RideEmCowboy wrote:

<quoted text>
No problem. I was specifically trying to not use "north", "south", "east", or "west" in describing direction.
PennDOT claims Rt222 goes only north/south, but reality and common sense, supports that it goes east/west in this area. So, I just give up.

I'm with you.

Also, aren't North-South routes supposed to have an odd numbered designation? Or is that just for Interstates (although 222 does cross state lines, it's still not I-22)

OH FORGET IT!:-)

[yeah]

The biggest problem with the newly constructed road is when you get off the Hamilton exit traveling east on 78, and you need to cross over 4 lanes to make a left at that first light. When traffic is light, it's no big deal, but any other time it's near impossible.

[Ollie North]

"...on April 1 PennDOT spokesman Ron Young confirmed..." -- April Fools Day! Good one, Ronnie!!!

[Ollie North]

King of the Road wrote:

<quoted text>
There are times when 222 may go east/west, but overall the route goes north/south which is why it has a north/south designation. So if you start at the northernmost end in Allentown, and head to the southernmost end in Lancaster, you're heading south overall.
With the topography there is no way a road goes strictly north/south or east/west. It would be too confusing for people if 222 switched many times from north/south to east/west.

Actually, Lancaster is about 48 miles west, and 35 miles south, of Allentown. As the crow flies, that is! So one actually goes farther east/west than north/south.

[Matt]

They need to address some of the lights on this road. Specifically there needs to be a left turn signal onto the bypass Northbound from Grange Road. In the evenings as many as 10 cars can get backed up waiting to turn and without the arrow, sometimes only 2-3 cars actually get through.