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PennDOT: We're ready for stimulus
Staff writer
When the additional money for roads from the economic stimulus package is doled out by the federal government, the state Department of Transportation has projects ready to go.
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"We have to be ready to go because the money has to be spent so rapidly," Szczur said.
He expects the list of projects proposed to be finalized today, and a hearing will be held Monday before the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.
Repaving Interstate 70 from Kammerer to Speers also will be done, but it is not part of the stimulus work.
Another project slated for this summer is repaving West Chestnut Street.
The project will be bid on April 2 with work expected to begin in early June. The work includes widening the road to allow a center turn lane. The stretch between Franklin Farms Road and Hayes Avenue will be done this summer. Work will be done from Hayes to Jefferson Avenue in 2010.
Several bridges are slated for replacement this summer, said Scott Faieta, assistant construction manager.
Work will be completed on the Crookham Bridge near Mingo Park. Other bridges to be done are the Route 980 bridge in Canonsburg near Euclid Avenue; the I-70 bridge over Zediker Station Road in South Strabane Township; a bridge over Little Pigeon Creek in Cokeburg; a bridge on Route 519 between Westland and Hickory; Deemston Bridge; a bridge over Buffalo Creek on Route 40 near Route 221; and a bridge over Cross Creek.
One of the projects is the replacement of the Arden Bridge on North Main Street Extension near the Washington County Fairgrounds and Exposition Center in Chartiers Township. Faieta said that a new bridge will be built while the old structure remains open. He said there will be a detour during the eight-month project, but it will not take place during the county fair in August.
More secondary roads will be repaired this year using tar and chip.
"I know it won't make me popular, but it is the most cost-effective way to get more life out of the roads," said Jeff Breen, Washington County maintenance manager. "The main roads we had on a cycle of 9 to 10 years before repaving. We are going to try to extend that to 12 to 15 years."
Breen said the tar-and-chip method has been done on some higher traffic roads with good success.
PennDOT may move to its new home on Route 519 in Somerset Township in 2010. Work is expected to begin this year to remodel the former Consol Energy Inc. building for offices. A new garage will be built at the site. Eventually, a new state police headquarters for Troop B also will be constructed on the property.
penndot : 2/27/2009
and while there at it, they can spend 2 dollars on gas and inspect a railroad bridge that goes over a state owned road in marianna pa, that was hit by a truck and the beam has shifted and now has a medium to large sized crack in it
