PennDOT commemorates opening of beltway extension one year early
HAZLETON – Finally, after nearly 20 years, the Chamber of Commerce Beltway has been extended to the Humboldt Industrial Park.
PennDOT officials cut the ribbon on the four lane highway between I-81 and the industrial park Thursday.
The extension of the highway, PA Route 424, had been mulled over since the early 2000s and forally proposed by the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce in 2007.
Work began in 2020 and the highway formally opened to traffic a year ahead of schedule, PennDOT said.
“We are extremely proud to see the completion of the Route 424 Extension project here in southern Luzerne County,” said PennDOT Engineering District 4 Executive Richard N. Roman. “This vital link will serve the economic interests of this area and provide for safer traffic movement. We are grateful for all of our partners who helped to get us to today.”
Prior to the extension, traffic headed to the industrial park or to Eagle Rock from Hazleton had to use Route 924, creating a bottleneck.
The extension, PennDOT says, redistributes and diverts some of the traffic and improves traffic flow along the Route 924 corridor.
“This area is growing rapidly, and our infrastructure has to meet those needs,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “This project is a great example of partnership and collaboration, and PennDOT and the Shapiro Administration will continue delivering high-quality improvements for our communities.
Some work remains and will be completed in 2024, including bridge deck work, additional paving on the I-81 ramps and Route 424, signage and traffic signal installation, basin remediation and plantings.
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