In an effort to better manage potential downpours, PennDOT is investing a substantial $14.9 million in stormwater upgrades for Chester and Bucks counties. This investment is part of a broader initiative to improve water management across over 90 state highways throughout the Philadelphia area.

But before we celebrate the prospect of improved drainage, commuters should prepare for the potential bumper car-like dance of traffic. Starting promptly at 9:00 AM on Monday, July 1, and continuing until 3:00 PM, drivers on Cedar Hollow Road will be restricted to a single lane of traffic—a necessary measure, according to PennDOT, to replace the stormwater systems located between Jacqueline Drive and West Central Avenue in Willistown Township, Chester County.

Highland Avenue isn't escaping the disruption either. For three consecutive days following July 1, the same daylight hours will see lanes on lock on this stretch of Bucks County tar—from Avenue F to Hulmeville Road, to put names to places. This is where the pavement gets its makeover, leaving no stone, or rather, no strip of asphalt, unturned.

In short, if you need to travel these routes, consider adding some extra time. You'll be sharing the road not only with other motorists but also with the orchestra of construction—backhoes beeping and jackhammers pounding—as Highway Materials, Inc., the conductors of this concrete symphony, compose the next movement of our infrastructure upgrade. State-funded, they're investing to ensure that when the skies open, the ground below is prepared to respond. Allow yourself that extra driving time through these areas, friends—it's not just courteous, it's practical.

As construction progresses, remember that weather can cause delays. Please be patient if you're driving through these work zones. The workers in safety vests are building defenses against storms under the sun or clouds. Let's give them space to work—for when the rain returns, we'll be grateful for these solid improvements.