The Mirror’s April 14 edition provided a detailed look at the 2026 schedule of highway work in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s District 9, which encompasses Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Somerset, Huntingdon and Fulton counties.

The work schedule will continue the record of progress that has evolved at PennDOT over the past 50 years.

Many older residents of this region can recall the 1970s, when large potholes were common on area roadways. One story emanating from that troubled highway era was that a northern Blair resident, apparently to call attention to a “crater” that had been ignored, actually planted a tree in it.

As the story went, a PennDOT crew removed the tree but initially allowed the pothole to remain.

Tires were broken and vehicle wheel rims were damaged in some of the encounters with the huge potholes. In one instance, tires on a Portage Borough police cruiser were flattened by potholes as the cruiser was leaving the borough to respond to a call for assistance in a neighboring municipality.

Thankfully, that pothole era is past, and the Mirror’s April 14 article “PennDOT infrastructure good, but concerns exist” provides a positive snapshot of how much the transportation agency has cast aside its former very negative image and is meeting most expectations of commonwealth residents and visitors who want commonwealth roadways to be well-maintained and safe.

However, it is no secret that PennDOT’s ability to “deliver” depends on the financial resources with which it is given. And, the limited money usually available, while enabling work such as what was outlined in the April 14 article for the 2026 construction season, generally prevents the kind of new-highway-building that is needed in this state, such as Route 22 east beyond Hollidaysburg, Route 220 south of Bedford and Route 219 in northern Cambria County and beyond.

And, it should not be forgotten that Route 219 south of Meyersdale in Somerset County remains a relic of the past, although hope on behalf of completed new construction continues.

According to the April 14 Mirror article, PennDOT this construction season will spend $403 million on roadway projects, a 2% increase over last year.

However, the increase poses a challenge for the Transportation Department because the rate of construction cost inflation is nearly double the percentage increase of available funding for this construction/maintenance season.

Nevertheless, a somewhat bright fact, although not great, is that “only” 17% of District 9 roads are rated in poor shape while, statewide, 22% are rated that way.

Regarding bridges, 5% in this district are rated poor while, statewide, the statistic is 8%.

While new-highway construction seems less possible with each passing year, perhaps some new thinking needs to be generated regarding existing highways — especially about facilitating better traffic movement over what already is in place.

One idea that comes to mind, where feasible, is imitating Maryland’s way of making possible smoother traffic flow on Route 220 between Interstate 68 and the Maryland-Pennsylvania border. The idea involves widening the existing roadway for short distances to allow for passing slow-moving vehicles and, in general, keep traffic moving, rather than forming frustrating “caravans.”

The theory and commitment must be that “if you cannot afford to build new, make the old as modern, in terms of need, as possible.”

The bottom line here, though, is that PennDOT is continuing to be a more expertly run and efficient transportation agency and for that Pennsylvania residents should be appreciative.