Coming to a road or bridge near you: Major PennDOT construction projects in Erie region
It's road work season.
And expect a lot of it this year.
Construction has resumed on the central Bayfront Parkway and Interstate 90. Work is also in progress or will resume soon on other Pennsylvania Department of Transportation projects begun last year.
This construction season additionally will include 79 new road and bridge projects valued at $280 million in Erie, Crawford, Warren, Mercer, Venango and Forest counties. The projects include a multi-year reconstruction of Interstate 80 in Mercer County.
"To put that in perspective, I remember times in my career where our annual (bid) letting was around $90 million. We're more than three times that this year," said Brian McNulty, PennDOT district executive in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Funding from the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help pay for a number of the construction projects. The 2021 legislation provides more than $4 billion over five years in additional highway and bridge funds for PennDOT.
Low snowfall this winter allowed PennDOT to channel some additional money into construction.
"When winters are rough we sometimes have to defer construction projects," McNulty said. "When winter is more mild, as it was this year, we sometimes wind up with savings that allow us to do a little more."
Here's a look at some of PennDOT's major road and bridge projects this season:
Central Bayfront Parkway
Contractors are building a "hybrid" roundabout of single and dual lanes at the parkway intersection with Sassafras Street Extension.
Two lanes will go into the roundabout from the east and west. On the north side, one lane will enter the roundabout from Sassafras Extension at the Bayfront Convention Center.
The $111.7 million central Bayfront Parkway project will continue in subsequent years with the lowering of the highway beneath State Street; construction of a roundabout and overhead pedestrian bridge at Holland Street; construction of a multi-use trail connecting existing pathways; and new sidewalks and lighting.
What drivers can expect: Westbound traffic has been shifted into an unused lane to the south during roundabout construction. A temporary signal is helping to control traffic at the intersection.
Work should be completed: In fall.
Cranberry Street at Bayfront Parkway
A traffic signal will be installed on the Bayfront Parkway at the foot of Cranberry Street to help move traffic to and from homes, offices and other businesses in the area.
"Anybody who's tried to pull out from that intersection knows it can be difficult," McNulty said. "Especially while the Bayfront Parkway is under construction, this will be a benefit to drivers. But also in perpetuity it will be better to have redundancy in the system and another spot to easily access the parkway from the city."
Pedestrian improvements will include a piano-key crosswalk and countdown signals.
What drivers can expect: Flaggers will control traffic as necessary once work begins in August.
Work should be completed: By winter, with some finishing work in 2025.
Bayfront Parkway, East Sixth to Port Access
Lane widths on the parkway will be reduced between East Sixth Street and Port Access Road.
"We call it a road diet," McNulty said. "Shrinking lane widths by a foot each is one of the most effective ways to slow traffic. When drivers have a little bit of a tighter lane, they tend to drive slower."
Also to slow traffic, raised medians will be installed in the road. Traffic and crossing signal changes will improve pedestrian safety, McNulty said.
What drivers can expect: Flaggers will direct traffic as necessary once work begins later this month.
Work is expected to be completed: By November.
Interstate 90 in western Erie County
A multi-year project to reconstruct a portion of Interstate 90 in Springfield and Girard townships and Platea Borough concludes this year with drainage improvements, landscaping and the installation of a cable barrier in the highway median.
The $66.1 million project began in 2021 and included the emergency removal of the Route 18 bridge at the Girard/Platea interchange; construction of a new Route 215 bridge at the East Springfield/Albion interchange and a new Route 18 bridge with teardrop roundabout approaches; preservation work on the McKee Road bridge in Springfield; and replacement of the eastbound bridge over Neiger Road in Girard Township.
What drivers can expect: Periodic traffic delays as single eastbound and westbound lanes are closed.
Work should be completed: By August.
Route 20 bridge replacement, North East Township
The Route 20 bridge over Twenty Mile Creek was closed in February due to structural concerns.
"The bridge is what we term to be overstressed," McNulty said, "meaning it's not strong enough to hold the loads we're asking it to hold."
Bridge demolition and the construction of a pier support for a new bridge are expected to be completed this fall. Project plans are posted on the PennDOT District 1 website for public comment until April 21.
What drivers can expect: Traffic is detoured onto I-90 and Shortman Road in New York state. During construction, Gulf Road also will be closed, with traffic detoured onto Remington and Archer roads. Gay Road will be closed between Route 20 and Stinson Road.
Work should be completed: With new bridge construction in 2025.
Route 20 in Erie and Millcreek
Signal poles are replaced along Route 20 from Zuck Road in Millcreek to Chestnut Street in Erie.
The $2.9 million project also includes updates to traffic signals at Crescent Drive, Geist/Hudson roads, Greengarden Boulevard, Bauer Avenue, Brown Avenue, and Raspberry, Cascade, Liberty, Cherry and Chestnut streets, plus ADA curb ramp and sidewalk improvements.
What drivers can expect: Daytime lane closures and delays as flaggers direct traffic.
Work should be completed: By November.
Depot Road, Harborcreek
The road will be rebuilt from Interstate 90 to McGill Road.
"The project will include taking out some of the ups and downs and hills where trucks can be stuck in winter," McNulty said.
Included in the estimated $10 million to $15 million project will be the construction of a turn lane at Clark Elementary School.
What drivers can expect: Detours when work begins later this year.
Work should be completed: By October.
Route 6N/99 intersection, Edinboro
New concrete crosswalks are being added at the Route 6N and Route 99 intersection in Edinboro Borough, where traffic lanes were widened and turn lanes were realigned and widened last year.
Total project cost is $2.8 million.
What drivers can expect: Lane closings and delays as flaggers control traffic.
Work should be completed: By May.
In Waterford Township: Work to reopen Old Kissing Bridge resumes
More road and bridge projects
Additional PennDOT construction projects this season include resurfacing the deck of the Bargain Road bridge over I-90 in McKean Township; rehabilitation of the Evans Road bridge in Millcreek and Old Lake Road bridge in Springfield; and resurfacing portions of Route 19 in Summit Township, Route 20 in Girard borough and township, and Nagle Road in Harborcreek.
Project summaries can be found in the PennDOT District 1 2024 construction book for Erie County.
At Presque Isle State Park: North Pier is getting a $3.9 million makeover
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: PennDOT will be at work in Erie PA region this construction season
