Upper Macungie Township hosted show-and-tell time July 21 at Independent Park so PennDOT could unveil plans for improvement of the Route 222, Schantz Road and Route 863 intersections.

The project involves reconstruction of a portion of Route 222 in Maxatawny Township, Berks County, with the major portion of construction in Lehigh County.

The plans include construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Route 222 and Independent/Farmington Roads.

A one-mile section of Route 222 will be widened to two lanes in both directions with a center, left turn lane.

Schantz Road from the Route 222 intersection to a location to the rear of Getz's Garage will be vacated and a cul-de-sac will be installed where Schantz Road will end.

This section, from the cul-de-sac to Independent Road, will be named Old Schantz Road.

The current speed limit of 55 mph will drop to 45 mph near the roundabout and 20 mph traveling through the roundabout, which will have two lanes of traffic.

Bridges on Schantz Road and Route 222 will be replaced.

The project has been designed with future traffic flows in mind and anticipated traffic through 2036 has been included in the calculations.

Current traffic flow is 24,000 vehicles per day west of the Schantz Road intersection and 14,000 vehicles per day east of Schantz Road.

Schantz Road traffic is 9,000 vehicles per day; Independent Road at 1,500 vehicles per day and Farmington Road at 2,500.

With contracts granted in fall 2017, construction should begin in spring 2018.

This project should last approximately one-and-a-half years with completion expected in mid 2019.

Figures garnered by the Federal Highway Administration show roundabouts, compared to other types of intersections, have a 90-percent reduction in fatal accidents; a 76-percent reduction in injuries and a 35-percent reduction in crashes.

Head-on and high speed crashes, similar to those occurring at regular intersections are almost eliminated.

Congestion is also reduced at all times while fewer stops save fuel.

Roundabouts are touted as a way to save money by not needing any signalization, taking up less right-of-way and requiring less pavement.

The center of the roundabout can be planted with grass and shrubbery.

For more information on roundabouts, go to safety.fhwa.dot.gov or log onto dot.state.pa.us.