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Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials said road and bridge improvement projects in the four-county area are moving forward with a sizable boost from newly secured state funding.  More than $2.1 billion in highway and bridge projects will begin this year under funding made possible by the passage of Act 89 - Pennsylvania’s Transportation Plan - signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett in November of 2013. 

In making the announcement, Corbett explaining the investment represents a $600 million increase over previous funding levels.  Statewide, this means more than 250 of roughly 900 projects are beginning this year due to Act 89. The initiative is part of PennDOT’s “Decade of Investment,” an ambitious overhaul of the state’s roads and bridges, ranked as among the worst in the nation. 

In PennDOT’s District 2, the region encompassing the four-county area of Elk, McKean, Cameron and Potter counties, Act 89 funding will help bankroll 26 of 80 projects.  This means funding for smoother roads, fewer weight restrictions on bridges and safer spans. 

Across District 2, Act 89 is expected to bankroll $60.8 million out of $151.8 million in construction lettings this year; the repaving of 152 miles out of a total 196 road miles; preservation of 43 state-locally owned bridge projects; the repeal of weight restrictions on nine locally-state owned bridges; and increased municipal liquid fuels allotments by $1.19 million. 

It is vital funding for the area’s aging, failing infrastructure, according to Marla Fannin, spokeswoman with PennDOT District 2. 

“There may have been other projects we haven’t gotten to simply because we didn’t have those dollars,” Fannin said. “With the extra transportation funding, we are able to add projects and it, in turn, allows us to stretch state money further.” 

In determining where the need for local road maintenance is most pressing, PennDOT has talked to planning partners. Among the local Act 89 funded projects is $1.7 million in roadway restoration and bridge work on Route 321 in Hamilton Township in McKean County. 

For his part, PennDOT District 9 executive Thomas A. Prestash said, “these resources were made possible by the comprehensive plan that impacts all modes of transportation that will serve us well into the future. The outcome has put PennDOT in a good position to repair the damage caused by severe winter weather. It will also allow us to resurface many more roads in our region.”

After an especially harsh winter, planning partners are also helping PennDOT identify where repaving efforts are most pressing. PennDOT is currently compiling a list of potential repaving projects. A total of $100 million has been allotted for this purpose statewide this year.  By its fifth year, Act 89 will generate an additional $2.3 billion to $2.4 billion a year in added statewide transportation investment across all modes.

So far, PennDOT projects in local counties for the 2014-15 construction season include the following: In Elk County, construction and concrete rehabilitation projects on the Million Dollar Highway (Route 255) in St. Marys worth a combined $18.6 million; in McKean County, approximately eight projects, including bridge replacement and road restoration worth $11.8 million; in Cameron County, one highway betterment road reconstruction project on Route 872/402 from the village of Sinnemahoning north to Grove Township; and in Potter County approximately seven bridge replacement and preservation projects worth $8.35 million.  Fannin said a final list of all area 2014-15 construction projects is still being compiled. 

Source-On Request