Plans are underway to change the Y-intersection of Route 115 and Merwinsburg Road in Effort, Chestnuthill Township, to a T-intersection.

Ron Young Jr., a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said the improvements on Route 115 will run from Astolat Road to about 300 feet north of the Pohopoco Creek Bridge.

Merwinsburg Road will be realigned, and Route 115 northbound will be widened with a new left turn lane. This will enable motorists on Route 115 to turn left at the new T-intersection onto Merwinsburg Road. No more Y.

PennDOT also will construct a soil nail wall, and put in new signs and pavement markings.

Widening is also coming to the southbound lane on Route 115.

PennDOT plans to widen the road as it approaches Evergreen Hollow Road. A new left turn lane on Route 115 will be provided for motorists wanting to turn left onto Evergreen, Young said.

Then at the intersection of Astolat Road and Route 115, the shoulder will be widened and a retaining wall will be constructed at the corner.

The project will cost $5,026,399. The contract to improve Route 115 was awarded to Road-Con Inc. of West Chester.

“The contractor plans to begin working on the retaining wall first, and will shift traffic to the northbound side of Route 115,” Young said. “A 10-foot travel lane in each direction will be maintained.”

PennDOT gave the green light in December, so the project is allowed to begin any time.

“At some point in early summer, there will be short-term lane restrictions with flagging operations,” Young said.

During the wall and realignment work, Astolat and Merwinsburg roads will be closed and detoured, Young added. Updates will be provided to the public when these closures or any other traffic pattern changes occur.

The project should be completed in August 2025.