Northwestern Pennsylvania's busy construction season has ended, and PennDOT is focusing on projects for 2025 after completing various road and bridge repairs in Erie, Crawford and other counties. Multimodal projects and bridge replacements are planned for next year to improve safety and accessibility.
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The 2024 road construction season in northwestern Pennsylvania is officially over as the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) turns its focus to snow and ice removal from roads.
The Erie Times-News on Dec. 13 took a look back at PennDOT's construction projects throughout the year, as well as plans so far for the region in 2025.
“The 2024 construction season included a variety of projects that, taken together, demonstrate PennDOT's commitment to a total transportation system that prioritizes safety and accessibility for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists,” noted Brian McNulty, a senior executive at the PennDOT District 1 Office.
The carrier paved 66 miles. Roads sealed for more than 400 miles. of roads and repaired or replaced 25 bridges in Erie, Crawford, Forest, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties.
Work completed by PennDOT in Erie County last year included the restoration and reopening of the Niemeyer Covered Bridge in Waterford Township and the repair and installation of new sidewalks in Union City, both in Erie County.
PennDOT's construction activities in Erie County included:
- The Central Bayfront Parkway project included work at the intersections with Sassafras Street Extension, State Street and Holland Street in Erie. The project will continue until 2027 and will cost $112 million.
- East Bayfront Parkway project with safety improvements from Port Access Road to East 12th Street in Erie. The original $4.5 million project was expanded to include improvements to East Sixth Street.
- Cranberry Street Safety Project, including the addition of a traffic signal at the intersection of Cranberry Street and Bayfront Parkway in Erie and pedestrian improvements, all at a cost of $571,000.
- Replacement of US Highway 20 bridge over Twenty Mile Creek in North East Township. The old structure was demolished when parts of the bridge collapsed unexpectedly in September. The new $9.6 million bridge is scheduled to be rebuilt in 2025.
- Repair and rehabilitation of the Waterford Covered Bridge, a township-owned structure carrying Niemeyer Road over LeBeouf Creek in Waterford Township. The cost is expected to be $3.5 million.
- Paving and safety improvements along Depot Road in Harborcreek Township, a project scheduled to be completed next year that will cost $13.5 million.
- Paving work of more than 1.6 km. of US 19 and upper Peach Street in Summit Township for $2.6 million.
In Crawford County, PennDOT oversaw 5 miles of reconstruction. from US 6 in Meadville and West Mead Township. The $16.6 million project will continue through 2025 and includes intersection improvements and the creation of a multi-use trail.
Other work in the county included $8.9 million to rehabilitate 5 miles. Interstate 79 in Greenwood and Union townships.
Construction plan for 2025 is taking shape
Heading into the new year, 61 new construction contracts worth more than $150 million have been awarded so far for work in 2025, the Times-News reported. This includes 21 road projects, the repair or replacement of 21 bridges, nine safety projects and an additional ten projects for locally owned roads, bridges and trails.
Five additional contracts worth about $9.5 million are expected to be awarded by the end of this year, McNulty said.
Major construction work includes replacement of the Jordan Road bridge over Interstate 90 in Harborcreek, replacement of the Old Route 99 bridge over Lamson Run in McKean Township and repairs to the East Main Street bridge over Twenty Mile Creek in North East Township .
Multimodal construction will install sidewalk along the south side of US 6N in Edinboro, from Ontario Street to the Scotland Road entrance to PennWest University, and build a new pedestrian bridge over Darrows Creek.