JACKSON TWP — Construction to create a four-way intersection connecting Jo Deener Road, Tomlinson Drive and Route 528 will close a section of Route 528 later this month.

The township project will eliminate the sharp curve at the intersection between Route 528 and Jo Deener Road by having a straight section of road installed and meet across from Tomlinson Drive.

To do that Route 528 will be closed to traffic on April 29. But township manager Chris Rearick said construction should be done overnight.

Exact hours of closure have not been determined.

Rearick said the township is doing the road work because of increased traffic, increased use of the Park and Ride on Route 528 and more residential use.

“The realignment helps by channeling all access to one signalized intersection and eliminating several curb cuts,” he said. “There have always been safety concerns over there.”

He said this township project will not conflict with the state Department of Transportation’s paving and bridge projects on Route 528. That work will take place throughout the construction season.

Township Police Chief Terry Seilhamer said while the police department has received inquiries about the intersection, no major accidents have occurred recently.

A Butler County woman last month crashed her car into a tree on Route 528 about 80 feet north of Jo Deener Road.

“We’ve had (officers) when they would be gassing up the police vehicles at convenience stores here in the township, and they have been getting questions about the project,” Seilhamer said.

He said while the project will address some safety concerns, more danger may be looming if PennDOT lifts the 10-ton weight limit for Route 528 after it completes its paving project.

“With the current restriction on large trucks, we haven’t had many issues,” Seilhamer said. “That road is just too narrow. PennDOT has the power to restrict that road based on safety considerations, which apparently they are unwilling to do.

“I guess until there is a tragedy out there, they’re not going to pay any attention,” he said.

Other road work is being done in that area, including paving by Lindy Paving.