ADAMS TWP — Another section of Route 228 is slated to be widened in 2018 to four lanes.

Officials from the state Department of Transportation’s District 10 on Tuesday evening presented plans to widen the busy highway at the intersection of Pittsburgh Street and Warrendale Road.

Maps detailing the project were set up at the Adams Township municipal building for viewing by the people who came and went.

The $6.5 million project would connect to the widening project completed this year at the intersection of Route 228 and Mars-Valencia Road.

The proposed project would see Route 228 widened to four lanes 800 feet west of the intersection of Pittsburgh Street and Warrendale Road.

Middle lanes and right turning lanes would be added on Pittsburgh Street into Mars and on Warrendale Road to relieve backups caused at rush hour by vehicles turning from those roads onto Route 228.

On the Mars side, the widening would begin near the entrance to Penn-Mar Plaza.

District 10 civil engineer manager Mark Rozich said at peak traffic times, vehicles back up on Warrendale Road from Route 228 to the Treesdale housing development.

The addition of middle and turning lanes and a new traffic signal with turning arrows should eliminate the need for cars to sit through two or three red lights before accessing 228.

“We’re trying to get people through the corridor,” Rozich said.

The project will necessitate the taking of three residential properties on the east side of Warrendale Road, Rozich said.

PennDOT will pay the property owners fair market value. The residents’ moving expenses will be paid, and PennDOT must ensure they move to a similar or better location, Rozich said.

He said Tuesday night’s event was meant to announce the plans and to allow residents to share concerns they have with PennDOT officials.

“If there’s something we need to redesign, we can,” Rozich said.

Adams code enforcement officer Gary Peaco said the project will be good for the township and its commuters.

“The widening of Route 228 has always been the goal of the planning process to help develop the township,” Peaco said.

He said many national companies will not locate on a two-lane road so the widening projects should spur development on Route 228.

But mainly, moving vehicles more efficiently through the township on Route 228 is the goal.

“This is obviously an intersection that needs improvement because traffic there is horrible,” Peaco said.

Larry Lape, who owns Classic Automotive on Route 228 as well as two houses on Warrendale Road that will be taken in the project, agrees.

“It’s needed to be done,” Lape said.

Clayton Woodward, who owns a family farm on Warrendale Road, said his property would not be impacted if PennDOT sticks with the current plan.

“The time has come for Route 228 expansion,” Woodward said.