PennDOT Starting $63.3 Million Widening of U.S. 202 to Improve Travel in Chester County

King of Prussia – On behalf of Governor Tom Corbett, PennDOT today announced that a $63.3 million project to expand 2.6 miles of U.S. Route 202 to six lanes to improve travel and reduce congestion in East Whiteland Township, Chester County, will begin Monday night, April 1.

This project is the final contract to go to construction for PennDOT’s program to expand 6.2 miles of Route 202 to six lanes from just south of the Chesterbrook Interchange in Tredyffrin Township to the Route 30 Interchange.

“The start of this second mainline contract is another positive step forward in our plan to transform Route 202 into a modern highway capable of moving travelers smoothly and safely through the Great Valley area of Chester County,” PennDOT District Executive Lester C. Toaso said.

PennDOT’s contractor will reconstruct and widen Route 202 from four lanes to six between the Route 401 and Route 30 interchanges. This project is scheduled to finish in May 2016.

In addition to widening Route 202, crews will rebuild and improve the Route 202/Route 401 Interchange; reconstruct bridges over Route 401 and Planebrook Road; replace the bridge over Chester Valley Trail; erect three miles of sound walls; build a 32-space park-and-ride facility at the intersection of Route 322 and Lloyd Avenue in Caln Township; install Intelligent Transportation System components; plant landscaping; and build storm water management and mitigation sites.

Initially, crews will work the next two months to rebuild the outside shoulder on northbound Route 202 so it can support vehicular traffic during the next phase of construction. This operation will reduce northbound Route 202 to one lane Sundays through Thursdays from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Work next week will start just south of the Route 401 Interchange. 

PennDOT advised motorists to drive with extra care and allow additional time for travel on Route 202 because slowdowns will occur in the single-lane pattern. 

Allan A. Myers, LP of Worcester, Montgomery County, is the general contractor on the $63,381,084 contract, which is financed with 100 percent federal funds.  

Phase one construction began in April 2011 and crews are actively working to widen four miles of Route 202 to six lanes from just south of the Chesterbrook Interchange to the Route 401 Interchange. This $105.4 million contract is scheduled to finish in mid-2014.

Route 202 carries an average of 71,000 to 76,000 vehicles a day between the Chesterbrook and Route 30 interchanges, respectively. 

Visit www.us202-300.com for more information on this Route 202 improvement project. 

PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to www.511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on Route 202 and other major highways before heading out.

For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly.

Malvern, PA - New Food & Beverage Director at The Desmond looks to make his mark on the Main Line.

The Hunt Room at The Desmond in Malvern is looking to push the culinary envelope with the addition of Chef Chris Calhoun as its new food & beverage director.  Chef Calhoun has created a new menu with emphasis on seasonally available ingredients, simply prepared.  Each dish on the new menu uses unique ingredient pairings which are meticulously prepared.

“Basic foods tend to offer amazing flavors that we often mask by over-preparing and over seasoning” said Calhoun.  “It’s my aim to coax maximum flavor with minimal manipulation to let the ingredients speak for themselves.”

Calhoun comes to the director of Food and Beverage role with a wealth of experience and a passion for food.  After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, he apprenticed under Michelin star and James Beard award winning Chef Gunter Seeger the Executive Chef of the first ever Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Buckhead, Atlanta.  Calhoun worked for Chef Seeger for 6 years, becoming his executive sous chef at Seeger’s own establishment appropriately named Seeger's where Calhoun oversaw a menu which was created daily based on the freshest locally sourced ingredients.  In Chef Seeger's own words "Out of hundreds of people who pass through my kitchen, in the end, only a handful have what it takes to rise to the top...Chris Calhoun was one of the most talented."

Calhoun moved on from Chef Seeger when the opportunity arose for him to take on the Executive Chef position at Orchids at The Palm Court in the Netherland Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati where he earned instant acclaim locally, taking the forgotten restaurant on to Cincinnati Magazine's coveted Top 25 list and earning the Magazine’s “Dish of the Year.”

As Director of Food & Beverage, Chris will be responsible for not only the food but also service in both the á la carte and banquet operations.  His standards are just as high on the service end and his enthusiasm and professionalism ensure that every diner will receive exemplary service.  

The Desmond is a full service hotel and conference center located in Malvern, PA. The Hotel offers three award winning dining facilities and its traditional charm and contemporary comfort complement state of the art conference facilities.  Easily accessible from all major highways, the hotel is ideally situated in suburban Philadelphia, just minutes from King of Prussia and convenient to popular Brandywine Valley attractions. 

Located at One Liberty Boulevard, Malvern, PA  19355

Phone  610-296-9800       fax  610-889-9869   www.desmondgv.com