Along with the first signs of spring in March 2016, another seasonal marker appeared along Route 501 and Broad Street in Lititz: orange construction cones.
PennDOT announced that a contractor would begin inlet work on March 9, 2016, as the first phase of a project to repair and resurface a 4.29-mile stretch of Route 501. The work zone ran from north of Lititz borough south to the intersection with Route 722, Oregon Road.
Where the work happened
Crews began at the southern end, near the intersection of Route 501 and Oregon Road in Manheim Township, according to the project superintendent.
From there, the project stretched north along Lititz Pike through the village of Kissel Hill and through Lititz borough along Broad Street, ending near the intersection with Wynfield Drive and North New Street. LititzDailyNews.com published a map of the corridor and suggested detours.
A busy road
Route 501 is the main north-south artery through Lititz, carrying an average of 21,850 vehicles a day. For those drivers, the project meant months of shifting traffic patterns.
During curb work, milling and base repairs, crews worked weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with possible single-lane restrictions and flaggers guiding traffic. The final repaving was scheduled overnight during the summer, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., to limit daytime disruption.
What the contract covered
PennDOT awarded the $3,361,176.50 contract to Pennsy Supply Inc. of Annville, Lebanon County. The work included:
- Minor drainage work, including inlets
- Curb cuts and ramps required by the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Roadway base repair
- Milling the top layer of asphalt
- Bituminous paving
- New signs and pavement markings
The project was expected to be complete by the end of August 2016.
Advice for drivers
PennDOT urged motorists to slow down approaching work areas for their own safety and that of crews, to stay alert and to obey work-zone signs.
LititzDailyNews.com offered more direct advice: unless you enjoy waiting on flaggers, find an alternate route for your usual commute while the daytime work is underway. Back roads through Warwick and Manheim townships offered options for drivers heading toward Lancaster.
Why it mattered
For Lititz businesses along Broad Street and Lititz Pike, the project brought both short-term headaches and long-term benefits. Daytime lane closures could slow customers reaching shops and restaurants, while the finished road promised a smoother surface, accessible curb ramps and fresh markings for the busy corridor.
Resurfacing projects on state routes like 501 are planned years in advance and funded through PennDOT’s regional program. The 2016 work addressed pavement that had worn under heavy daily traffic, including trucks serving businesses north and south of the borough.
For pedestrians, the ADA-compliant curb cuts were among the most lasting improvements. Ramps at crosswalks make it easier for people using wheelchairs, strollers or walkers to move through downtown, and federal rules require them to be brought up to standard when a road is resurfaced.
Tips for the work zone
Drivers who had to use the corridor were advised to leave extra time, watch for flaggers and equipment entering the roadway, and avoid sudden lane changes near work crews. Residents along the route were also reminded that overnight paving would bring noise and lights for short stretches as crews moved block by block.
Looking ahead
By late summer 2016, the overnight paving crews were set to finish the job, leaving Lititz with a renewed main street just in time for the busy fall season of festivals and events.
This story was originally reported by Lynn Rebuck for LititzDailyNews.com in March 2016 and has been updated for our archive.