JACKSON TWP — A controversial paving project in the township has a new addition to its plans.

The state Department of Transportation sent a letter to the township stating its intentions to widen curves on Route 528 — also known as Lindsay Road — near Ramsey Road and three other locations.

PennDOT is paving over Lindsay Road from Route 19 to Route 68. The $6 million-plus project is scheduled for a December completion, according to PennDOT’s website.

The department also is installing drainage ahead of paving work, which may cause some traffic disruptions.

Bridge work over Likens Run also is taking place and has alternating one-lane traffic going over it.

“The improvements to the curves are welcome in the sense that they do enhance safety, but they don’t fully address the township’s concerns,” township manager Chris Rearick said.

PennDOT does not have plans to reinstate the road’s current 10-ton weight limit for vehicles which will be automatically rescinded once paving is complete.

The weight limit prohibits triaxles, commercial trucks and combinations from traveling on the road.

PennDOT however is proposing reinstating a ban on trucks and trailers over 42.5 feet and 102 inches wide from traveling on the road based on a safety field study.

Township officials have expressed opposition to rescinding the current weight limit for safety.

“They (PennDOT) appear to think the length of the vehicles is the only problem that would be in existence once they make the minor improvements,” said township Police Chief Terry Seilhamer. “I’m not convinced that’s going to be the solution.”

Seilhamer said he believes a more comprehensive safety study needs to be conducted for the entire road.

“We feel the measures that PennDOT are proposing are more or less partial measures,” he said. “Unfortunately it’s a state road. It’s not like they haven’t been told it’s a tragedy waiting to happen.”

The original plan for the project did not include widening any part of the road.

Township supervisors last year sent a letter to PennDOT opposing the lifting of the weight limit.

Northbound tractor trailers exiting Interstate 79 can turn left to get to Route 19, but cannot turn right onto Route 528 under the current restrictions. Trucks coming from Route 19 also can use the road to get onto the interstate southbound.

“The township continues to have concerns, especially with respect to winter maintenance and other construction that may occur on the road,” Rearick said.

PennDOT spokeswoman Deborah Casadei said the current weight restriction is not safety related, but is “solely based on the existing pavement having inadequate structural capacity to support loads greater than 10 tons without sustaining damage.”

Casadei said the paving project is funded my multiple sources and that a condition of the use of these funds was that the 10-ton weight restriction would be lifted upon the project’s completion.

“A new weight restriction cannot be legally established because the new pavement will have sufficient structural capacity to support normal truck traffic loading,” she said.

Seneca Valley School District officials also shared concern over the project since school buses use the road to transport students.

Superintendent Tracy Vitale said the school district is planning a construction project in nearby Ehrman Farms that would make it necessary to use Lindsay Road on a more frequent basis.