Clinton Township Supervisor Kathy Allen delivered an update during a meeting Wednesday evening on the status of the planned expansion of the Route 228 corridor — also known as Ekastown Road — through the township. This comes on the heels of a discussion Allen recently had with PennDOT project manager Russ Rossi.

PennDOT now expects to start advertising for bids by “fall 2024” — mere months from now. The new schedule calls for the first phase of work to start in 2025, which will involve pipe relocations and utility replacement.

The next phase of work, which involves the widening of Route 228, is scheduled for 2026. This will not add more lanes to Route 228, but the existing lanes and shoulders will be wider.

“The first round of work will just be relocation of utility replacement, and the widening part of the road wouldn't actually take place till 2026,” said Clinton Township manager Ashley Kohley.

During the first phase, detours will take place on “elongated weekends” — Thursdays through Mondays.

So far, while there are some estimated milestone dates, there is no estimated time for completion.

The expansion will affect Route 228 as far west as the roundabout at Saxonburg Boulevard and as far east as the intersection with Sarver Road.