Route 6 Reconstruction Project, Meadville
Project Overview
This multi-year project is to reconstruct a 2.5-mile section of Route 6 in the City of Meadville and West Mead Township in Crawford County.
The purpose of the project is to maintain traffic efficiency and community transportation needs while improving the geometry of the roadway.
To do so, the roadway will be reduced from four lanes to two lanes and a multi-use trail will be constructed between the intersection with Reynolds Avenue in the City of Meadville to the intersection with Baldwin Street Extension in West Mead Township.
Reconstruction work will include breaking the concrete to create a foundation for the new roadway, concrete patching, milling, asphalt paving, drainage, sidewalk, ADA ramps, guiderail, pavement markings and erosion control.
The project is expected to start August 12, 2024, weather permitting. It is expected to be completed in fall 2025. Work is expected to continue through the winter months, as weather permits.
The contractor is Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College, PA. The contract cost is $16,616,006, which is to be paid with a combination of federal and state funds.
This project is funded at least in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). In 2024 alone, the BIL is bringing approximately $25 million in additional funding to the northwest region to be allocated by the department and its local Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organization (MPO/RPO) partners. In the northwest region, the planning partners are the Erie Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Shenango Valley MPO, and the Northwest Rural Planning Organization (RPO) for projects in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.
Project Phases & Traffic Impacts
Phase 1 is expected to start in mid-August and will include constructing temporary crossovers and removal of some curbs. This will allow traffic to be shifted to the current westbound side of the roadway. During this portion of the project, drivers may encounter some lane restrictions.
Phase 2 is expected to start in late August. It will start with milling and paving portions of Route 6, Baldwin Street, Park Road, and Stan Road. Work will also start on the multi-use trail and drainage improvements. In mid-October, work is expected to include the construction of mountable curbs near the intersections with Bessmer Street and Reynolds Avenue. Work will start on the new roadway, which will be reconstructed in the location of the current westbound lanes.
As work is happening progresses to each intersection, the signals will be on flashing mode. Traffic will be controlled by flaggers as needed. Work at Stan Road will require a short-term detour. In late October, westbound traffic on Route 6 will shift and one lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained using the westbound side of the roadway.
Phase 3 is expected to start mid-June 2025. Work will include updates to the intersection with Bessmer Street and Reynolds Avenue. Additional drainage updates will be made and the existing pavement from the southern side of the road and the temporary crossover will be removed.
Once the new roadway is complete, traffic will be shifted to the permanent configuration on the northern side of the current roadway. As work is done at the intersection, some short-term detours will be needed at Stan Road and Reynolds Avenue.
Additional lane restrictions with traffic controlled by flaggers may be needed throughout the project. Drivers should be alert for traffic pattern shifts and anticipate travel delays during active work hours.
Project Updates
September 12, 2024 - The construction of temporary crossovers and removal of some curbs will require lanes restrictions for eastbound and westbound traffic. The temporary lane restrictions are expected to start September 20, 2024, weather permitting.
Once the crossovers are complete, westbound traffic will be restricted to one lane and eastbound traffic will be shifted the westbound side of the roadway. This will be a long-term traffic pattern as work focuses on reconstruction the new two-way configuration in the area currently designated for eastbound traffic.