Route 41 (Gap Newport Pike) and Route 841 (London Grove Road) Intersection Improvements Project

County: Chester County
Municipality: London Grove Township
State Routes: Route 41, Route 841
Local Names: Gap Newport Pike, London Grove Road
Project Type: Intersection Improvements
MPMS Number: 102708
Proposed Construction Start: February 2029
Proposed Construction End: December 2029
Last Updated: September 2026

This project involves addressing the safety and operational needs at the Route 41 (Gap Newport Pike) intersection with Route 841 (London Grove Road) in the Village of Chatham in London Grove Township, Chester County. The intersection has been included in several studies and was recommended for further study in the conclusions of the Route 41 Planning Study completed in 2010. In July 2014, the project team completed a Traffic Study that evaluated capacity, summarized crash data, and presented the results of road safety audits (RSA) conducted for the intersection, as well as a couple of adjacent intersections in the Route 41 corridor.

The Purpose and Need statement is the foundation of all transportation improvement projects. The need identifies the key problems that are to be addressed by the project. The problems should be quantifiable, based on fact, and supported by data. The traffic study effort was used to develop the project’s Purpose and Need Statement. Alternatives for this intersection were initially developed as part of the 2015 Planning Study for the PA 41 & PA 841 Intersection.

The project’s Alternative Analysis Report (October 2023) has been approved by PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). A preferred alternative has been selected. After considering all of the alternatives, Alternative 5B was shown to meet all of the project needs and minimize impacts to the Chatham Historic District while receiving the most public support. Alternative 5B avoids any residential displacements. PennDOT has been coordinating with London Grove Township to develop recommendations for the roundabout pedestrian/bicycle accommodations. The Alternative Analysis Report can be found to the right.

Historic Properties

The Section 106 process is being followed for this project since there are historic properties in the project area. We accomplish Section 106 consultation with a combination of meetings, mailings, and postings on PennDOT Project PATH. PATH is a publicly accessible site and provides project documents that were sent to the consulting parties.

In February 2022, PennDOT held the first Section 106 Consulting Party meeting, where the project team described the project alternatives and discussed the historic properties in the project area with the Section 106 consulting parties. The historic properties are the Chatham Historic District, the Chatham Hotel, and the John I. Carter Farm. The Section 106 consulting parties received a copy of the Alternative Analysis Report. A second Consulting Party meeting will occur in the near future to discuss the project’s effects on the historic properties. 

A Structural Assessment report for the Chatham Hotel was completed and sent to the Section 106 Consulting Parties for review. The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) agreed with the report's recommendations. The report recommended performing monitoring of the building during construction by a licensed professional or experienced contractor. Monitoring will include a preconstruction detailed inspection, periodic inspections during construction, and a final inspection after construction is complete to check for newly formed cracking or movement of the foundation and the above structural elements.

Public Involvement

If you are interested, the following link provides a summary of the cultural and natural resource laws and regulations PennDOT must follow: Resource Laws and Regulations.

• PennDOT held a June 2019 Public Plans Display.
• The project’s Alternative Analysis Report (October 2023) has been approved by PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The Alternative Analysis Report can be found to the right.
• Comments throughout this process are welcome and encouraged. Please email the project manager.

Preliminary Design and Environmental Evaluation: Fall 2024 to Spring 2026

Preliminary Design includes developing and refining: geometric design, drainage & stormwater management design, conceptual maintenance and protection of traffic concepts; and preliminary plans for ROW acquisition.

Environmental evaluation includes: public outreach, regulatory agency coordination, refining design concepts to avoid/minimize impacts; agricultural land use coordination; completing hazardous/residual waste studies; Section 106 coordination (Consulting Party meeting(s) and coordination, Determination of Effect, and Archaeological studies), Section 4(f) evaluations, and preparing NEPA documentation.

Final Design Activities

Once preliminary engineering studies have been completed, the final design process will proceed. Final design activities include: development of construction plans, utility coordination and relocation design, acquisition of right-of-way, and environmental permitting.

Construction Activities

Construction activities will proceed upon completion of all final design activities.