South Heidelberg Township officials joined state and county leaders Wednesday, October 28, 2026, to break ground on the long-awaited Krick Lane Extension Project, marking the beginning of a major roadway improvement aimed at reducing traffic congestion, improving safety, and supporting future development in the township.
The ceremony took place near the intersection of Wernersville Road and Mountain Home Road, where officials gathered to celebrate a project that has been discussed for nearly three decades.
The project will extend Krick Lane to Wernersville Road, establish a new traffic pattern, and include the installation of turn lanes and a four-way traffic signal at the intersection of Krick Lane and Lincoln Drive. Construction is expected to begin within the next two to three weeks, with completion anticipated in 2027.
South Heidelberg Township Manager Sean McKee, who has worked with township officials and various agencies to advance the project, said the improvements will address longstanding transportation concerns in the area.
“Part of the issues we’re having relate to safety, congestion, and traffic flow. This project will remedy those issues moving forward,” McKee said during the ceremony.
According to the township, the need for the extension was first identified in the late 1990s as residential development expanded in the area. A transportation impact study in 2008 again identified the extension as a priority, but the project remained stalled for years due to funding and other challenges.
In 2018, the township’s Board of Supervisors renewed efforts to move the project forward, beginning the process of developing engineering plans, estimating costs, and identifying funding opportunities.
The current intersection of Krick Lane and Lincoln Drive has presented persistent traffic and safety challenges. Township records indicate that 54 crashes have been reported at the intersection since 2006, many resulting in injuries. During peak travel periods, traffic backups can extend as far as half a mile.
The extension is intended to provide an additional connection for motorists while accommodating existing and anticipated commercial and industrial activity along the Krick Lane and Lincoln Drive corridor.
State Sen. Chris Gebhard, who helped secure funding for the improvements, recalled being contacted by McKee shortly after legislative redistricting in 2022 placed the township within his district.
“When we went through the redistricting process in 2022, I think maybe the first phone call I got when it was evident that this part of Berks County would be in our district was Sean,” Gebhard said, explaining that funding for the project was among the township manager’s first priorities.
Gebhard said the project represented an opportunity to address a transportation problem that had existed since the 1990s.
State Rep. Eric Weaknecht also attended the ceremony and emphasized the cooperation between local and state government that helped bring the project to construction.
“This obviously is what can happen when local government and state government put their minds to getting something done,” Weaknecht said.
He added that the improvements are expected to benefit residents, emergency responders, and businesses in the area.
Funding for the project includes approximately $1.51 million in state multimodal grants supported by Gebhard and Weaknecht, along with a $1 million infrastructure loan through the Berks County Industrial Development Authority. The township has also collected traffic impact fees from development projects to support roadway improvements.
Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera explained that the county’s Infrastructure Investment Fund, established through a $5 million commitment by the commissioners in 2022 and administered by Berks IDA beginning in 2024, is intended to help municipalities finance infrastructure projects that support economic development.
Rivera said the Krick Lane Extension is the third project supported through the fund, which is structured so that loan repayments can be used to finance additional infrastructure improvements elsewhere in Berks County.
He also connected the project to the county’s Imagine Berks Economic Development Plan, which emphasizes business growth, infrastructure investment, and land use.
Jeremy Zaborowski, executive director of Berks IDA, said investments in infrastructure can help communities attract businesses, create jobs, and strengthen their tax bases.
“The Industrial Development Authority is about building business and building jobs, and it has been for decades,” Zaborowski said.
In addition to roadway improvements, township officials have worked to address concerns about the project’s impact on nearby agricultural land.
Before the ceremony, McKee explained that the extension will consist of a roadway section approximately 33 feet wide through property owned by Henry and Amy Noss, who worked with the township on the land acquisition necessary for construction.
McKee said the remaining surrounding property will continue to be used for farming. An existing section of Wernersville Road will also be vacated, restored to earth, and incorporated into the landowner’s property as part of the agreement.
Stormwater improvements and grading are also planned as part of the construction. McKee said some of that work could potentially improve drainage conditions on portions of the farm.
During the ceremony, McKee thanked the Noss family for their cooperation, noting that the project would not have been possible without their willingness to work with the township.
South Heidelberg Township Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Jon Gerhart reflected on the years of planning and coordination that led to the groundbreaking, thanking the state and county officials who helped secure the necessary funding.
“As Sean had mentioned, it started in the ’90s. It seemingly has taken forever to get to this point,” Gerhart said.
He noted that the grants and infrastructure loan helped the township move forward with a project that would otherwise have placed a substantial financial burden on local taxpayers.
McKee announced that CH+N Site Construction was selected as the contractor for the project. Work is expected to begin in November, with officials anticipating completion around the middle of 2027.
The ceremony concluded with officials and property owner Henry Noss gathering with ceremonial shovels to mark the beginning of construction, bringing a project that had remained on the township’s transportation plans for decades one step closer to completion.
