The Government of Pennsylvania has initiated the $89m reconstruction project on a six-mile road stretch of Route 283 in Dauphin County in the US. 

Reconstruction works will be carried out by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDoT).

Repair and resurfacing of 547 miles of highways and fixing of 154 bridges this year are expected to take place in the PennDOT Engineering District 8 region covering Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties. 

Works on the Route 283 project will include reconstruction of the existing highway between Eisenhower Boulevard in Lower Swatara Township and Route 341 in Londonderry Township. 

In addition, the project will see rehabilitation of 11 bridges, comprising eight mainline and three overhead, including the Newberry Road, Union Street and Vine Street bridges.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said: “A safe, efficient transportation system is a necessity to have thriving commerce and travel in Pennsylvania.

“From improving rural roads to reconstructing heavily travelled highways, we’re investing heavily in communities’ quality of life.” 

"From improving rural roads to reconstructing heavily travelled highways, we’re investing heavily in communities’ quality of life."

The state transport agency has awarded the contract to Pennsylvania-based construction firm Hempt Bros, which has already begun the survey works and is expected to complete other preparation activities in the coming weeks. 

PennDOT secretary Leslie Richards said: “This is PennDoT’s biggest project to get underway this year in south central Pennsylvania and it’s going to make a big difference for the thousands of motorists who travel in this area.

“This significant project is just one part of a much bigger construction programme to improve highway transportation in the mid-state.”

Next month, the contractor will begin paving crossovers in the median.

During the same month, rehabilitation work on the Newberry Road bridge over Route 283 is scheduled to start, while rehabilitation of the Union Street and Vine Street bridge is expected to begin in July.

Project works will also include construction of a new interchange between Route 283 and Interstate 283 in front of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Transport authorities will install a new signal at the west end of the bridge that carries Route 283 over the I-283 connection with the Pennsylvania Turnpike. 

The project is slated for completion in late-2020.