It has not been a fun spring and summer traveling state Route 220 between Jersey Shore and Linden in western Lycoming County.

Construction — that is, multiple safety improvements — have been taking place.

On any given day, traffic was (and is) limited to one lane.

The speed limit was (and continues to be) lowered to 45 mph.

Cross traffic was (and is) treacherous.

For those of you who are unaware, that section of state highway exceeds the “expected fatal crash rate” for similar corridors.

In other words, it has a long history of severe accidents.

This particular stretch of road — from the eastern end in Woodward Township to the western end in Piatt Township at Route 287 — is designated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as an “interstate look alike.”

Looks are deceiving.

There are multiple access roads along this stretch to homes, businesses, rural routes, parking … you name it.

When we think “interstate” we think of limited access highways — those typically with divided lanes.

This part of Route 220 has no resemblence to an interstate.

But PennDOT’s “comprehensive safety improvement plan’ — born, in part, from a focus group, are coming into view.

More on and off ramps approaching and leaving access roads.

Pine Run Road, for example, will be easier to access whether from Sheets, Dunkin Donut or Erie Materials or beyond.

Or Youngs Road.

Or a new crossover just west of the old Woodward Elementary School.

How about the new bridge coming out of the village of Linden just below Henry’s Bar-b-que? Looks like it’ll funnel traffic to Sawmill Road, just across from Quenashaque (Quenshuckney) Road.

One critique: The on-ramp from West Fourth Street heading west should be longer.

While adding on and off lanes for smoother access, PennDOT is removing several crossovers throughout the corridor to prevent left turns and cross traffic from side streets.

“This will minimize the opportunity for right angle crashes that are typically severe in nature. Going forward, drivers will be required to turn right in the direction of travel, drive less than a mile and turn into a left-hand jug handle to turn around and proceed in the opposite direction,” PennDOT District 3 Executive Sandra Tosca, P.E., said in a recent op-ed in this newspaper. “In the current situation, the driver must find a gap in three lanes of traffic if traveling in the opposite direction and four lanes of traffic if crossing over both directions. By separating left turns and cross over maneuvers, the number of vehicle conflict points are minimized. This results in allowing the driver more time to make less-complex decisions and avoid accidents.”

Makes great sense to us.

Indeed, the changes we see taking place make good sense and should have an impact.

We qualify the word “should” because none of the millions of dollars being spent will matter if motorists do not adhere to the speed limit and practice caution on this section of road.

According to PennDOT’s own traffic volume maps, between 21,000 and 22,000 vehicles travel this section of road each day.

That’s a lot of traffic — and congestion — for rural Northcentral Pennsylvania.

Use caution, please.

Practice safety, please.

Lives depend on it.