WORTH TWP — New ramps off Route 422 will help make access to the North Shore of Moraine State Park easier.

The state Department of Transportation is planning for the $2.5 million to $5 million project to begin in 2017 in Muddy Creek and Worth townships.

A public meeting was held Thursday night at the Worth Township Hall to display the plans. About 40 people showed up.

“The whole purpose of the project is to increase access to the North Shore of Moraine State Park,” said Eric Buchan, design project manager for PennDOT.

The project will give drivers going east and west access to the North Shore.

It will involve the removal of the current access road leading from the westbound lane of Route 422 to North Shore Drive. Buchan said this also will entail removing a bridge that has been deemed structurally deficient.

In its place will be a new, two-way access road and bridge that will allow for drivers going west on Route 422 to exit to North Shore Drive as well as allow drivers on North Shore Drive to enter the westbound lane on 422. A stop sign will control traffic entering the highway.

The ramp that allowed drivers to enter Route 422 east from West Park Road will remain. Right next to it, a ramp that will allow drivers going east on 422 to exit onto West Park Road will be built. Drivers going north on Interstate 79 who get off at the Route 422 exit will be able to merge directly onto the off ramp leading to West Park Road.

Temporary lane closures on Route 422 will take place during construction. During construction of the ramp leading from Route 422 east to West Park Road, a detour may be put in place taking drivers on Burnside Road and Route 19.

Buchan said most of the project takes place on land owned by the park. Only part of one parcel of private land is involved, and he said PennDOT is in talks with the owner.

Currently, only vehicles traveling west on Route 422 can access the North Shore and the North Shore on-ramp to Route 422 only gives access to the eastbound lanes.

People who want to get to the North Shore going east on Route 422 or who are on the North Shore and want to get on Route 422 going west have to use the South Shore exit and backtrack. The distance between the North Shore and South Shore exits is about 2 miles.

Assistant park manager Jake Weiland said the project was been talked about for years. He said it will make things more convenient and less frustrating for park visitors.

“That should eliminate some miles from their commute,” Weiland said.

State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st, said he hopes the ramps increase attendance to the park, which he called a “regional gem.”

“The safer and better to get to the park, the better it is for tourism,” Hutchinson said.

Fred Brezel, chairman of the Worth Township supervisors, said the project is good, and said the only issue may be increased traffic on township roads.

Royce Lorentz of Slippery Rock said it appeared that the project is efficient. He has been involved with the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, and said that the project has been needed for decades.

“A lot of people understood the need for this project,” Lorentz said.

Kelley McGowan of Worth Township, who lives near the project, said she had concerns about the project, primarily where drivers are entering Route 422 westbound. She noted that the entry point is close to the interchange with Interstate 79. She said that she is worried about possible bad accidents on that stretch.

“I think there’s going to be a death trap there,” McGowan said.