The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Engineering District 5 announced today work is scheduled to begin on a project to improve Route 61 between University Drive and Mill Creek Avenue in North Manheim Township, City of Pottsville, Palo Alto and Schuylkill Haven boroughs, Schuylkill County.

Work on the project includes roadway milling, road base repairs, paving, guide rail updates, Americans with Disabilities Act compliant curb ramps, and new pavement markings.

Starting Monday motorists should expect daytime work in the shoulder areas and at intersections while crews begin ADA curb ramp construction. In late March or early April work on the roadway is anticipated to commence and will include weeknight lane restrictions between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Motorists should allow for extra time to travel though the area and can visit www.511PA.com to check for traffic delay information. Updates will be provided whenever traffic patterns change.

Allan A. Myers LP of Worcester, is the general contractor on the $7,026,789 project that is anticipated to be complete in July 2024.

This section of Route 61 has an average daily traffic volume that varies between 6,128 and 12,350 vehicles northbound and between 5,478 and 10,370 vehicles southbound.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.