​The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that it expects to work on more than 100 projects in the northwest region this year, representing an estimated investment of more than $300 million in the state and local transportation systems. Governor Shapiro's commitment to delivering safe highways and bridges across the Commonwealth, remains a top priority. These investments support the Shapiro administration's vision of a safe and reliable transportation network that connects Pennsylvanians to greater opportunity.

Governor Shapiro's 2023-24 budget secured $125 million to fully leverage federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) investments and improve Pennsylvania's roads and bridges. The investment is made possible by decoupling Pennsylvania State Police funding from the Motor License Fund and is the first year of the Governor's four-year proposal to invest an additional $1.25 billion in the state's infrastructure. Statewide in 2023, 684 bridges went out for bid to be repaired, replaced, or preserved and 7,011 roadway miles were improved by department or partner crews.

Along with active work on contracts awarded prior to January 1, District 1, which covers Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties, expects to award 79 contracts this year for work to be done in 2024 and 2025. These include projects supported and accelerated by BIL, which is bringing approximately $25 million in additional funding to the region in 2024. The district anticipates receiving $16.3 million in additional funding in 2025.

“Funding from BIL, as well as discretionary and grant awards secured by the district and our transportation partners, has enabled us to take on a robust 2024 construction and design plan that includes improvements to 120 miles of roadway, as well as replacing, restoring, repairing, or awarding contracts for 49 bridges," said District 1 Executive Brian McNulty.

Among the notable projects slated for work in 2024 is replacement of the Route 318 bridge over Interstate 376, which was significantly damaged in a crash on December 7, 2023. Within 33 hours the damaged portion of the bridge was removed and the PennDOT team was working on plans for a replacement to reopen the roadway. Through an accelerated work schedule, a new structure was designed with a similar alignment of the current structure with an increased vertical clearance for traffic on the interstate. Work on the new bridge starts today.   

“The Route 318 bridge is a prime example of the high-level of dedication our PennDOT team has for customer service and partnerships. Our team, with the assistance of engineering firm Michael Baker International, worked diligently to meet rapid deadlines without sacrifices to the quality of the product," McNulty said. “We are proud to be standing here today, less than five months after the incident, to mark the start of construction of the new bridge and reaffirm our commitment to have the new bridge open this year."

Other notable projects that will see active work this year:

Crawford County

• Route 6 – Reconfiguring and reconstructing the roadway from Mead Avenue to Baldwin Street Extension in the City of Meadville and West Mead Township. Work will also include upgrades at three intersections, drainage upgrades, construction of a new multi-use trail, and right-of-way fence removal. Expected bid opening in June 2024.
• Route 6 – Reconstructing the roadway from Route 618 to Route 19 in Conneaut Lake Borough and Sadsbury and Vernon townships. Expected bid opening in July 2024.
• Interstate 79 – Restoring the highway from the Mercer County line to the Geneva Swamp Bridges near the Greenwood and Union township border; $8.9 million.
• Route 102 – Resurfacing from Route 6 to Route 98 in Vernon Township. Expected bid opening in May 2024.
• Route 8/77 – Intersection safety improvements including a slight intersection realignment. Work to be completed in 2025. Expected bid opening in June 2024.

Erie County

• Bayfront Parkway Project – Multifaceted project with pedestrian improvement, including a bridge, two roundabouts and a grade separated intersection, missing trail connections, improved lighting; $112 million. Started in 2023. Work to be completed in 2027.
• Cranberry Street Intersection – Pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection with the Bayfront Parkway (Route 4034) including a new traffic and pedestrian signals; $571,142. Work to be completed in 2025.
• Niemeyer Covered Bridge – Extensive rehabilitation of the locally owned, historic covered bridge in in LeBouef Township; $3.4 million. Work started in 2023.
• Route 531 – Reconstruction and improvements in the roadway in Harborcreek Township; Work to be completed in 2025. Expected bid opening on April 18, 2024.
• Jordan Road (Route 4108) Bridge – Replacement of the bridge over Interstate 90 in Harborcreek Township; Work to be completed in 2025. Expected bid opening in June 2024.
• Interstate 90 reconstruction (miles 3.5 to 10.5) – The fourth year of the project will include minor finishing work and median cable barrier installation. $66.1 million. Started in 2021. Major work completed in 2023.

Forest County

• Route 62 – Restoration from Little Hickory Road (Route 3004) to Route 127 (Main Street) in Hickory Township; $723,777.77.
• Route 666 – Restoration from Blue Jay Creek Road (Route 1003) to the Warren County line in Howe Township. Expect bid opening in May 2024.
• High Friction Surface Treatment – Safety improvements on various routes throughout the county; $567,477.

Mercer County

• Route 18 and Route 58 Improvements – Intersection improvements and paving near Thiel College in Greenville Borough. Expected bid opening July 2024. Work to be completed in 2025.
• Route 258 – Resurfacing from Route 208 and Route 58 in Springfield, Findley, and East Lackawannock townships and Mercer Borough; $2.1 million.
• Scrubgrass Road (Route 2014) Bridge – Replacement of the bridge over Cool Spring in Findley Township; $3.9 million.
• State Street Pedestrian Improvements – Pedestrian upgrades along State Street (Route 3008) between Boyd Drive to Route 18 as well as 300 feet of Buhl Farm Drive (Route 3025); $1.7 million.

Venango County

• State Street Bridge – Rehabilitation of the locally owned Veteran's Bridge over the Allegheny River in Oil City; $2.7 million.
• Route 322 – Resurfacing from the Clarion County line to Whippoorwill Road in Rockland and Cranberry townships. Apparent low bid of $2,950,195.96.
• Fisherman's Cove Bridge – Replacement of the locally owned bridge over Victory Run in Victory Township. A temporary bridge was built in late 2023; $1.9 million.
• Route 208 Bridge – Replacement of the bridge over Little Scrubgrass in Clintonville Borough; $2.1 million.
• President Road (Route 2023) Bridge – Replacement of the bridge in President Township. Expected bid opening in June 2024. Work to be completed in 2025.  
• Route 427 - Resurfacing from Academy Street to Deeter Road in Jackson and Plum townships, and the Cooperstown Borough. Expected bid opening in July 2024.

Warren County

• Route 6 – Pave from Yankee Bush Road to Main Avenue in Conewango and Pleasant townships and the City of Warren; $11 million. Work in 2024 on bridges over Allegheny River and Allegheny & Eastern Railroads in Conewango Township. Work on bridge over Matthew Run Sugar Grove Township completed in 2023.
• Route 59 Bridge – Rehabilitation of the Kinzua Road bridge over the Allegheny Reservoir in Mead Township; $6 million.
• Paving in City of Warren – Resurfacing local roads Madison Avenue, Lexington Avenue, and Crescent Park Road; $762,778. Funded through the Local Federal Aid Route Program.

A complete list of more than 100 District 1 projects is included in the 2024 Construction Program, is available online at www.penndot.pa.gov/District1.

Along with marking the start of the construction season, PennDOT District 1 is also observing National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 15 to 19, 2024.

“As construction season moves into full swing, it is good to pause and remember the part we all play in keeping our crews, contractors and consultants safe was they work along our roadways," said Dax Nulph, Assistant District Executive for Construction. “We remind motorists to slow down when approaching and traveling through a work zone, giving driving their full attention and obeying traffic signs and flaggers."

PennDOT urges motorists to be alert to changing conditions, avoid distractions, and drive responsibly in work zones. Other tips to stay safe in work zones include:

• Maintain a safe distance around vehicles and do not tailgate.
• Use four-way flashers when stopped or traveling slowly.
• Always wear a seat belt.
• Turn on your headlights.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District1.

Information about infrastructure in District 1, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D1Results. Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Follow local PennDOT news on X and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Jill Harry, 814-678-5035 or jharry@pa.gov