Roadwork right on time
Drivers who regularly travel the Route 19 corridor along Murtland, Ridge, Highland and Locust avenues will soon no longer see orange barrels or flaggers directing single-lane traffic.
The $22.7 million project that included reconstruction of the four streets between North College and the state police barracks along Murtland, as well as the realignment of the Locust and Lincoln Avenue intersection, will be ending next month as scheduled.
Work on the project by the general contractor, Zottola Construction of Valencia, Butler County, began in summer 2013. Work on the other part of the area known as the Route 19 corridor on Lincoln and College streets through the campus of Washington & Jefferson College wrapped up last year.
“We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Scott Faieta, assistant construction engineer for the state Department of Transportation. “The sidewalks are done, and the base is down. The wearing course still needs to be put down.”
Steve Zottola of the construction company said the paving work likely will be done between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. on the nights of Oct. 2 and 3.
Work is being done on traffic signals, including a new one at Locust and Lincoln.
“Once the signals are done, PennDOT will come out and try to coordinate with the other signals, including those on Lincoln and College, as well as on Highland,” Faieta said.
The new signals will be put on flash for about three days to allow drivers to become accustomed to them, he added.
Once the signals are fully operational and the paving is done, the block of Locust that had been closed for about a year between Hallam Avenue and Highland will reopen to traffic. Drivers also will now be allowed to make a left turn from Locust onto Ridge, a movement that had been prohibited under the former configuration of the intersection. “Do Not Enter” signs will be placed on Lincoln to remind drivers that street is one way north.
Faieta said the lines will be painted once the paving is completed. He also said the contractor will go through a “punch list” to make sure odds and ends are completed.
Both he and Roxanne Rossi, PennDOT project manager, complimented the company for keeping the area clean of debris and construction material as they worked on the project.
Faieta said the work is to be completed by Oct. 23.