Final Phase of Potters Mills Gap Project Moving Forward

The final phase of a project to improve safety and traffic on Route 322 in the Potters Mills Gap area took a step forward this week.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Thursday bid phase three of the project and expects to award $82,374,064 and give notice to proceed in May. Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. of State College, which was the contractor on the second phase, was the apparent low bidder, according to PennDOT. 

“This project is the culmination of years of work toward safer, more convenient travel in the area,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a release.

Phase three, the biggest of the $100 million project,  will reconstruct Route 322 from Sand Mountain Road to Potters Mills, including a new Route 322/Route 144 intersection that will be a part of the local access road.

The Potters Mills Gap project began in 2015 with the construction of the new bridge at Sand Mountain Road. Phase two created the new, recently completed local interchange for Route 322 and Sand Mountain Road.

“This last phase of the project will promote safer travel, ease the congestion seen during high traffic volumes, and make the movement of goods and services easier and more timely,” said PennDOT District Executive Karen Michael. “We are thrilled to see this job get underway.”

PennDOT expects the new road to be open in the fall of 2020.