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And the plans, to add a middle turning lane to heavily traveled Manheim Pike in the suburbs north of Lancaster, took a step toward reality this week.
Supervisors in East Hempfield Township gave the go-ahead to accept bids for the project, expected to cost close to $1 million.
The project calls for the new turning lane on a stretch of Manheim Pike (Route 72) between Lancaster and East Petersburg.
East Hempfield officials, after receiving bids in coming weeks, said they expect to award the contract by late this summer.
The work could begin by mid- to late September and is expected to be completed by November.
East Hempfield is paying a small portion of the overall cost — some $80,000 — most of it in contributions from developers and businesses along the route.
The businesses are glad to see the addition of the extra turning lane, East Hempfield officials said during Wednesday night's supervisors meeting.
Most of the money comes from the state Department of Transportation, which is paying $750,000, East Hempfield Manager Bob Krimmel said.
The rest comes from a $152,000 grant from Lancaster County.
The third lane would be added from the area of Commerce Drive north past the car dealerships, restaurants and businesses along Route 72 and end at Miller Road, near the East Petersburg line.
The project also calls for paving, striping, installing wider curbs at some intersections, improving storm water runoff and other steps, Krimmel said.
"It's going to take more than a couple of weeks to do this because you're going to have different things being done," he said.
The paving work will be done at night to lessen the impact on motorists, while the curb work and other aspects can be done during the day, he said.
Manheim Pike, one of Lancaster County's busiest roads, in one part of that area is the dividing line between East Hempfield and East Petersburg.
E-mail: doconnor@lnpnews.com
