by KYW'S Lynne Adkins

The first phase of a $350 million dollar reconstruction project, along a ten mile stretch of Route 309 in Montgomery County, should be finished by the end of this year, according to Phil Cheney, consulting construction manager for Penndot.

The project started in 2001. Some 53,000 commuters have struggled with lane restrictions and ramp closures. Cheney says relief is in sight, at least for southbound commuters:

"The south sections of the roadway are nearing completion-- that would be from Highland Avenue south to Cheltenham Avenue. That work should be completed by the end of this year or, at the latest, some of the clean up work in the springtime."

Cheney says the northern portion-- from Highland Avenue to Route 63-- should be finished in 2010.

When complete, the old concrete road will be asphalt and there will be improvements made to accress ramps, bridges and certain interchanges.