As part of county outreach sessions beginning today, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 9 officials will be highlighting more than 83 projects anticipated to be under construction in 2024 in the Laurel Highlands region, reflecting an estimated investment of $180 million. Governor Josh 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 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.
“Our 2024 construction season features key projects across our region that will improve critical features of our transportation system," said PennDOT District 9 Executive Vince Greenland. “These projects, and others across Pennsylvania, are an investment to not only improve travel across the state, but also benefit the communities that rely on these transportation links."
District 9 annual Transportation Outreach sessions began today in Bedford and Fulton counties, with meetings to be held in Huntingdon and Blair counties on Thursday, April 11, and on Thursday, April 18, in Somerset and Cambria counties. PennDOT representatives meet with area stakeholders during each presentation to discuss planned and future construction and maintenance projects currently in design.
“The financial support system built with federal and state dollars expands our ability to bid more jobs, keeping more Pennsylvanians employed and taking care of their families," added Greenland.
Overall highlights in the 2024 construction season for District 9 (Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset counties) include:
- Approximately 149 miles of paving;
- Approximately 79 bridges will be repaired or replaced;
- Approximately 375 miles of roadway will be seal coated.
Notable ongoing projects that will continue this year include:
- Interstate 70, Breezewood to Fulton County Line resurfacing, Bedford County, $23.5 million.
- Route 160 Tributary to Conemaugh River bridge replacement, Cambria County, $4.8 million.
- I-70, Maryland to Bedford County Line resurfacing, Fulton County, $43 million.
- Route 403, U.S. 219 to Route 985, resurfacing and slide repair, Somerset County, $15.7 million.
Notable projects that are expected to begin this year include:
- U.S. 220, Maryland Line to Narrow Lane (T-337) resurfacing, Bedford County, $4.5 million.
- I-99, Newry to 17th Street resurfacing and auxiliary lane, Blair County, $23.4 million.
- Route 4013 (Chestnut Avenue), Tenth Street to Greely Street resurfacing and safety upgrades, Blair County, $4.5 million.
- Route 1009 (Frankstown Road), Route 1021 to Route 36 safety improvements, Blair County, $7.5 million.
- U.S. 22 over Carson Valley Road superstructure replacement, Blair County, $4.6 million.
- Route 2019 (Level Road) over U.S. 22 Bridge superstructure replacement, Cambria County, $4 million.
- Route 56, Widman Street to Walters Avenue resurfacing, Cambria County, $14.7 million.
- Route 522, U.S. 30 to PA Turnpike resurfacing, Fulton County, $3.3 million.
- Route 994 Tatman Run Bridge replacement, Huntingdon County, $1.7 million.
- Route 31, Barn Swallow Road to Somerset Line resurfacing, Somerset County, $3.6 million.
Information from the District's Transportation Outreach sessions will be available after each session on the District 9 Transportation Outreach 2024.
As construction projects are underway in the region, the traveling public can anticipate seeing many work zones and are urged to keep in mind their safety and the safety of highway workers. When encountering a work zone, please drive the posted speed limit, turn on your headlights, pay close attention to signs and flaggers and avoid all distractions. In high traffic locations, motorists are encouraged to use both lanes of travel to the merge point and to take turns merging into the open lane.
Motorists are encouraged to “Know Before They Go" by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles 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 on X.
Follow PennDOT on X and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.
Subscribe to PennDOT news in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District9.
MEDIA CONTACT: Monica R. Owens, 814-696-7105, moowens@pa.gov
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