The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's spending in Whitehall Township is estimated at over a quarter of a billion dollars, according to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.

The estimated cost includes pending and present projects provided to the township by the commission's Transportation Improvement Program.

Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. said the state's raising of the gasoline tax at the pumps may accelerate the timeline for some of the projects.

"I am pleased about the planned future, PennDOT's 12-year plan investment of over a quarter of a billion dollars in critical infrastructure in Whitehall Township," he said.

The projects included are:

· The Route 22 and MacArthur Road/Route 145 interchange ramp, which is now under construction and expected to be completed this summer.

· Cold Spring Bridge, the Second Street extension bridge north of Cementon, with work scheduled to take place in 2015-17, at a cost of $5.8 million.

· The redesign of the Route 22/Fullerton Avenue interchange and improvements to the Route 22 bridge over the Lehigh River, planned for 2015-18, with $37.5-million budget.

· Routes 145/329 and Chestnut Street improvements, to be completed at a cost of $1.4 million.

· The Cementon Bridge/Route 329, budgeted at $20 million.

· Widening of Route 22 from Airport Road to 15th Street to six lanes, estimated to cost $182.7 million.

· Rebuilding of the Route 22 Mickley Road Bridge, costing $5.6 million.

· MacArthur Road resurfacing, estimated at $6.2 million.

· Rebuilding the Route 22/Fifth Street Bridge in Fullerton, at $7.9 million.

The Hokendauqua Tri Bridge, spanning the Lehigh River from Whitehall to North Catasauqua, is now expected to be completed in early 2015, with $125,000 in additional funding. Demolition of the old bridge is complete and minimal work is taking place there during the winter months.

Route 145/MacArthur Road safety improvement project and Lehigh Street Bridge over the Coplay Creek, near Hokendauqua Park and Playground, was completed in 2013.