PennDOT District 12 officials highlighted nine of the 103 projects anticipated to be in construction status this year in Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties, representing an investment of $528 million.
Gov. 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.
Shapiro’s 2023-24 budget secured $125 million to fully leverage federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) 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.
Just down the block from the historically significant Dunlap Creek (Cast Iron) Bridge in Brownsville, department officials were joined by a Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission representative who discussed funding for regional roads and bridges.
“I am eager to oversee my first construction season in the position of new District 12 Executive,” said Rachel Duda. “My top goal is to look for ways that improve safety and save people’s lives through advances in our transportation system.”
“We are excited for District 12’s upcoming construction season. This work is part of SPC’s four-year, $3.9 billion Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that we are continuously working on with our local, county, and state partners to prioritize our region’s infrastructure needs,” said SPC Director of Transportation Planning Domenic A. D’Andrea. “These critical infrastructure investments allow our transportation system to be more resilient and enhance our communities.”
Overall highlights in the 2024 construction season for the southwest region – including projects supported and accelerated by the BIL – include, approximately:
- 93.87 miles of paving.
- 500 miles of roadway sealcoating and crack sealing.
- 28 bridges will be preserved, 45 bridges rehabilitated or replaced.
- 20 slides will be repaired by department forces with an additional six slide locations in a construction status.
“As Assistant District Executive for Construction, I have the privilege of working with many talented professionals to deliver our construction projects in District 12. Soon we’ll break ground for a full rehabilitation of the Dunlap Creek Bridge,” said Bill Beaumariage. “This project has deeps roots in our western Pennsylvania history, and we are proud to be preserving the amazing work of our ancestors.”
Significant new projects beginning this season include:
Fayette County
- Dunlap Creek (Cast Iron) Bridge Restoration: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (National Register) and National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the superstructure was constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1839 as the first cast iron metal arch bridge in the United States.
Complete structural rehabilitation and repairing of the existing bridge, carrying Route 4003 (Market Street) over Dunlap Creek. Installing a new mid-block crossing and a pedestrian bridge for pedestrian safety and accessibility, in Brownsville Borough, $8.9 million.
Notable ongoing projects from 2023 include:
Fayette County
- Route 711 Crawford Avenue (McCray Robb) Bridge: Replacing the existing, six-span steel superstructure of the Route 711 Crawford Avenue Bridge with a new, wider superstructure consisting of continuous composite steel plate girders in the City of Connellsville, $11.5 million.
Westmoreland County
- Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project (LVTIP): Upgrading the Route 981 corridor from the intersection with Route 819 in Mt. Pleasant Township to the intersection with Route 30 in Unity Township. Phase 1 (the southernmost of the three-section project) is underway, reconstructing Route 981 from the intersection with Route 819 north to a point just south of the town of Calumet, $55.2 million.
Countywide 2024 construction maps, and a full project list, are attached. Dates are current as of the date of publication and are subject to change based on weather and operations.
View the full article at dailycourier.com.