In 1970, plans were made for a realignment of PA 501 in Schaefferstown to bypass the community. The route of PA 501 through Schaefferstown saw heavy traffic and noise from trucks, with frequent accidents. On July 1, 1970, a public meeting was held, with three proposed routes presented. At the time, construction was expected to begin in 1971 provided funding was available. Plans for the PA 501 realignment resurfaced in 2010. Prior to the realignment, the route entered the community from the south on Carpenter Street and turned west to run concurrent with PA 419/PA 897 on Main Street before heading north along its current routing. The PA 501 realignment project cost $10.4 million. On September 2, 2010, a court ruling was made overturning a decision that prevented farmland from being taken to construct the road. Construction on the bypass began in summer 2011. The realignment was originally expected to be completed in April 2013 but was pushed back due to utility relocation issues. The new alignment of PA 501 in Schaefferstown opened to traffic on September 9, 2013.