Clearfield County

Betterment project resumes Monday

Work on PennDOT’s Jacksonville Road betterment project is set to resume on Monday, April 20. This project to reconstruct and widen the roadway between the 161/Bellefonte and 163/Jacksonville interchanges of I-80 is a companion project to the high-speed connector between I-80 and I-99 and will support the regional freight economy and improve the reliability of roadway travel through the region.

Starting Monday, the contractor intends to begin grading, paving side roads and tying in driveways. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control between the I-80 westbound interchange and Walt Road during daylight hours. Drivers should expect delays when turning onto side roads or driveways along Route 26 and vice versa.

Starting on Wednesday, April 23, paving on Route 26 will begin in the same area. Traffic control will again be provided by flaggers in the roadway during daylight hours.

Work to be completed under this contract includes increasing the lane and shoulder width of Route 26, reconstruction of the existing roadway, drainage improvements, guide rail installation and miscellaneous construction.

Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $8.6 million project. PennDOT anticipates project completion in the fall. All work is weather-dependent.

Clearfield County

Route 26 detour extended

The detour on Route 26 southbound between the I-80 westbound off-ramps and Forest Avenue will remain in place through July. This work is part of the High-Speed Interchange that will enhance traffic safety by providing a direct connection between I-80 and I-99, making it unnecessary to travel along Route 26 to access them, which will relieve traffic congestion and realign service for local traffic.

PennDOT anticipated lifting this detour in the spring, but severe winter weather conditions delayed work progress and made it necessary to extend the time the detour will remain in place.

I-80 westbound heading for I-99 southbound will not be permitted to use exit 161/Bellefonte. Instead, traffic will continue along I-80 westbound to exit 158/Milesburg and, after taking the Milesburg exit, merge back onto I-80 eastbound to access I-99 southbound at the Bellefonte exit.

Additionally, traffic heading southbound on Route 26 from Howard toward State College will also be directed onto I-80 westbound and will follow the same detour.

Traffic heading northbound on Route 26 toward Howard will not be impacted.

Huntingdon County

Bridge replacement work begins

Minor delays should be expected due a bridge replacement project beginning Monday, April 27. There will be a lane restriction and temporary signal-light on Big Valley Pike north of Mill Creek in Huntingdon County for the start of the project, PennDOT reported.

Quaker Sales Corporation of Johnstown is the lead contractor for the $1.43 million bridge rehabilitation project, which includes replacing the 118-year-old I-beam structure over the Flush Run-Mill Creek tributary near the intersection with Fireman’s Park Lane with a precast concrete box culvert. The project is scheduled for completion in October.

Drivers can expect minor delays of three to five minutes. Traffic will run on a temporary road built around the bridge. A temporary pedestrian crosswalk will also be used.

Huntingdon County

Route 2005 bridge plans on display

PennDOT is developing plans for the replacement of two bridges on Route 2005 over Elliots Run in Clay Township, Huntingdon County.

The first bridge is located on Elliots Run Road over Elliots Run near the intersection with Cherry Grove Church Road. The second bridge is located on Elliots Run Road over Elliots Run, approximately 1,200 feet north of the intersection with Owl Hollow Road.

Both projects include structure replacement, minor roadway approach paving and upgrading guide rail to meet current standards. A detour will be implemented during construction.

For those interested in learning more about this project, a public meeting and plans display will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. May 4 at the Clay Township Municipal Building, 11944 Old Plank Road, Three Springs.

The plans display will be conducted in an open house format. The purpose of this meeting is to provide the public an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed project.