May 2023

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PennDOT Invites Community to Help Eradicate Litter, Beautify Roadways       

Uniontown, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to join us and work together to be litter-free.

Litter in the Commonwealth continues to be a major problem and casts Pennsylvania in a poor light to residents, visitors, and businesses. PennDOT crews responsible for litter pickup throughout the year are also responsible for responding to winter weather emergencies, flooding, landslides, patching potholes, and other planned maintenance activities on state roadways.

“The true solution to the immense litter problem in Pennsylvania is simply for people to not litter.  We will continue with education efforts and media campaigns. We plead that people make an effort to not only clean up litter, but make a commitment to not litter, and to encourage others to do the same. Everyone can do their part to keep Pennsylvania beautiful by not littering,” said District 12 Executive Bill Kovach.

Annually, PennDOT spends upwards of $14 million per year on litter control, prevention, and remediation programs on the 40,000+ miles of state-maintained highways. PennDOT District 12, which includes Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties, spent over $760,000 last year on litter cleanup efforts. Unfortunately, this takes valuable resources away from other very important efforts related to maintaining our roads and bridges.

The most common items found are cigarette butts (37 percent) and plastics (30 percent), with plastic film and beverage containers most prevalent. There are an estimated 29.3 million beverage containers alone on the roads. Motorists and pedestrians are leading sources of litter, followed by improperly secured truck loads. Pennsylvania Litter Research Study

Prevention is the first step in being litter-free. Each of us can do our part in properly disposing of litter and unwanted items and encouraging others to do the same. Additionally, we invite individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses to participate in one of PennDOT’s beautification programs to reduce the cost of litter and enhance the beauty of state roadways.

  • Volunteer groups who adopt highways through the Adopt-A-Highway program are valuable partners when it comes to helping remove litter in Pennsylvania. Statewide, thousands of groups perform litter pickups twice every year. To learn more about this program, please contact District 12 Adopt-a-Highway Coordinator Cristy Kasovich at [email protected] or 724-439-7340. See attached brochure.
  • The Sponsor a Highway program works by having a sponsor contract with a vendor to provide advertising along roadways, and in return clean the sponsored roadway a minimum of six times per year.
  • Adopt and Beautify provides opportunities to local citizens and community organizations to beautify sites they select and design to enhance the beauty of the roadside, provide a positive impression, and exhibit community pride. For additional information, please contact District 12 Adopt and Beautify Roadside Specialist Michael Maurer at [email protected] or 724-223-4920.
  • Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful empowers Pennsylvanians to keep our communities clean and beautiful. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)  and PennDOT have partnered for 15 years on an annual Pick Up Pennsylvania campaign. The spring event in support of The Great American Cleanup runs through May 31 and participants are eligible for FREE work gloves, safety vests, and trash bags as supplies last. Visit Pick Up PA for more details and to register.

Thousands of Pennsylvanians volunteer in these local community projects, removing millions of pounds of trash. PennDOT greatly appreciates the help of these volunteers and organizations and the role they play in keeping Pennsylvania beautiful.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties at PennDOT District 12.

Information about infrastructure in District 12, including completed work and significant projects, is available at District 12 Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at PennDOT Projects.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.

 

September 2019

Route 31 Corridor Project

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The contractor is currently preparing grade for the new roadway from the west end of the project, thru the new intersection at the Turnpike, and up to the intersection with Route 711. Subbase and asphalt are being placed, and new 12-inch concrete pavement will be placed very soon for a portion of the new Turnpike entrance and exit lanes. Once grading is complete on the new alignment, subbase and asphalt will be placed as well. This is anticipated to be completed this summer, with traffic being switched onto the new alignment. Afterwards, construction of the remainder of the Turnpike lanes are anticipated to proceed thru August and September. Work will also progress to reconstruct the intersection at Route 711. From Route 711 to Route 381, work is anticipated in the next few months to finish this area with final milling, paving, and other miscellaneous work. At the Route 381 intersection, the lower concrete island is going to be removed to address safety concerns with traffic flowing thru this intersection.

All work is weather dependent and is subject to change.


November 2018

Route 31 Reconstruction Project Update – Donegal Township


The 2018 construction season went by fast and will be winding down soon. We have not progressed as far as we anticipated and the project will stretch into the 2019 construction season. Listed below are a few areas of interest along the project that many people have asked about.

We are continuing to place embankment material across from the Turnpike Entrance with material excavated on the project. This operation has been one of the biggest delays to the project to date because of a 72” culvert pipe that had to be relocated from the original designed location. A new alignment for the pipe was designed and when we started to excavate in the new location we found potentially contaminated material within the excavation. It is currently stockpiled and covered and awaiting permit approval to haul to a landfill. The proposed 72” pipe was needed to replace existing drainage that partially collapsed under Route 31.

The project has also been challenged with poor soil conditions and excessive soil moistures that have made it difficult to construct stable embankments. For this reason, a borrow site near SR 711 was approved to obtain rock and more stable material needed to construct the large fill across from the PA Turnpike entrance.

The new asphalt we have paved across Walnut Hill is partially permanent paving and partially temporary paving. The temporary paving was placed to maintain 2 lanes of traffic in either direction while we finish the newly constructed roadway across Walnut Hill. The new School House Lane and Mountain View Road intersection is nearly complete and will be functioning as intended at the end of this season.
The large excavation along the new School House Lane is a Storm water Management Pond and will ultimately be infiltrating Storm water back into the ground.

The new paving at the Route 31 and Routes 711/381 intersection at Jones Mills is nearly complete for this season. There will be a few modifications that will need to be made to better facilitate a right turn lane for those making the turn onto Route 711/381.

Later this month, hopefully before winter sets in, the project will be returned to normal width lanes and shoulders, to better accommodate safe travel and winter maintenance during inclement weather. The project team will continue to work through the challenges on the project so that ultimately this project will benefit this corridor to the Laurel Highlands.

Brian Miller
President, Plum Contracting


August 2018

PennDOT District 12 Construction Updates

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This project is for realignment of Route 31 at the Donegal Turnpike Interchange with the addition of a signalized continuous “T” intersection and installation of traffic signals and turning lanes at the Route 31/Route 711 intersection. Relocation of School House Road at Mountain View Road and Kings Way at Route 711 to create plus intersections will occur with the addition of signals and turning lanes. Other widening for center turning lanes and increasing sight distance will occur on Route 31, as well as waterline relocation, drainage and signing upgrades, and milling and paving from approximately 450 feet west of Hellen School Road to 525 feet east of the Route 31/Route 2031, Route 711/Route 381 intersection. Plum Contracting, Inc. is the prime contractor on this $19.8 million project. The project is anticipated to be completed by December 3, 2018.

Update: Paving for current phase should finish up in the next few weeks and traffic will be switched onto the new pavement. Drainage work will continue at the SR 31 & SR 381 Intersection. A 2-day closure of School House Lane is expected 8/23/18 and 8/24/18 to construct a tie-in to the new road. Various single lane closures will be ongoing for guiderail installations, painting lane shifts, and other miscellaneous work.

PENNDOT Representative Jay Ofsanik stated: “This project was a joint partnership between PENNDOT and the PA Turnpike Commission. Being able to move their shed to the turnpike’s property freed the area to do the project; allowing for better/safer traffic flow for everyone in the Laurel Highlands.”


May 2018

PennDOT District 12 Construction Updates

Crews continued to work through the winter on miscellaneous work including Sedimentation Basins, preparing for excavation at the west end of the project and finishing up the drainage installation between PNC Bank and the Holiday Inn.

April 16th marked the date on PennDOT message boards as the day Plum Contracting would be resetting concrete barriers in multiple locations where lanes will be shifted and uncovered construction signs restricting the speed limit to 35MPH.

More specifically, the project includes:

  • Shifting traffic at the West end of the project to replace pavement and install temporary widening on the Westbound side.
  • Shifting traffic and installing temporary concrete barriers at Diary Queen for roadway reconstruction and temporary pavement on the Dairy Queen side.
  • Shifting traffic to complete temporary widening at the East end of the project on the Eastbound side going down the hill to the intersection at Highlands Hall.
  • Removing and repainting traffic lines where necessary for traffic shifts.

The work for the next few months at the Turnpike will occur off the roadway for installation of a new 72″ pipe, and construction of the embankment that will eventually carry relocated SR 31.

The work mentioned above should be completed in under 2 months, but that is temporary widening to accommodate traffic. Once in place, additional traffic shifts will occur for relocation of SR 31 and construction of the new intersection of the Turnpike Interchange and widening and pavement reconstruction from the Interchange to PNC Bank, including the new signal at SR 711/Kings Way. Roadway reconstruction occurs from Holiday Inn to the new signal at Mountain View Road/School House Lane, and at the East end of the project for the Intersection with SR 711/SR 381. Areas in between will be milled and paved with pavement/shoulder repairs where necessary.

VIEW CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS


January 2018

PennDOT District 12 Construction Updates

Winter is just around the corner, but work is continuing in Donegal on State Route 31. Plum Contracting has completed temporary widening work, removed temporary concrete barriers, installed guiderail, and returned the lanes back to the original configuration. Construction signs and barricades have also been removed as planned in order to allow for winter maintenance activities.

But, don’t be fooled with less orange barricades, work will continue throughout the winter as long as weather conditions permit. Motorists will notice crews continuing to install new drainage systems, which will result in daytime single lane closures as needed. Service lines for the new waterline will be connected and coordinated with local property owners. Work will also continue off the roadway to excavate and place embankment for the new roadway alignment near the Turnpike interchange. Please drive slowly through the area, use caution, and watch for workers and stopped vehicles.

VIEW CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS


August 2017

PennDOT District 12 Construction Updates

Route 31 Donegal Interchange – SR 31-10X
This project is for realignment of SR 31 at the Donegal Turnpike Interchange with the addition of a signalized continuous “T” intersection and installation of traffic signals and turning lanes at the SR 31/SR 711 intersection. Relocation of School House Road at Mountain View Road and Kings Way at SR 711 to create plus intersections will occur with the addition of signals and turning lanes. Other widening for center turning lanes and increasing sight distance will occur on SR 31, as well as waterline relocation, drainage and signing upgrades, and milling and paving from approximately 450 feet west of Hellen School Road to 525 feet east of the SR 31/SR 2031/SR 711/SR 381 intersection. Plum Contracting, Inc. is the prime contractor on this $19.8 million project. The project is anticipated to be completed by December 3, 2018.

Update: Single lane closures will continue for water line relocation, drainage and miscellaneous work. Motorists should be alert and reduce speed through the work zone.

Route 381 Falling Water to Route 711 – SR 281 04R
This is a resurfacing project for Route 381 from Falling Water to Route 711 in Springfield and Steward Townships. The contractor on this $2.6 million project is Golden Eagle Construction Co. It will tentatively complete in early 2018.

Update: In the next few weeks the contractor will be placing leveling and then the final wearing course. In additional to that, driveway tie-ins, new guiderail and new line painting will follow. Please be alert for single lane traffic patterns.

Route 119 from County Line Road to the Crossover – 119 A03
This is a highway reconstruction project on Route 119 between the Westmoreland/Fayette County Line to just past the Westec Drive Exit in East Huntingdon Twp. This project will allow crews to begin to reconstruct the northbound and southbound lanes of Route 119 and replace the existing grass median with a concrete barrier and pave the inside shoulders from the southern limits of work to the Route 119/Route 31 Interchange. The southern entrance and exit ramps at the Route 119/Route 31will be lengthen along with the reconstruction of the roadway surface of all ramps. The Route 119 roadway profile will be lowered approaching and under the Route 31 and Route 981 bridges that span over Route 119. The project will also include upgrades to drainage, guiderail, signing, and pavement markings. Bridge preservation work will also occur on the Route 31 and Route 981 bridges that span Route 119. The contractor on this $37.8 million project is Golden Triangle located in Imperial, Pa. The project completion date is November 1, 2017.

Update: Cement treated permeable base course on mainline will be completed in a couple of days. SR 31 and 981 bridge repairs with be starting soon. Ramp M is closed for approximately 43 days. Work in the median at the southern end of the project is ongoing. Currently traffic is restricted to one lane northbound and one lane southbound operating in the southbound travel lanes during this Phase 2 and Phase 3 work.

VIEW CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS


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Click here to download PENNDOT’s preliminary map for the proposed Route 31 construction

February 2017

Rapid Bridge Replacement Project in Fayette County

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

The Rapid Bridge Replacement Project is an $899 million public-private partnership (P3) between the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners (PWKP).
Through this initiative, 558 structurally deficient bridges will be replaced with newly designed structures, designed to last over 100 years.

Plenary Walsh + PennDot partnership for bridge work in Fayette county

With the P3 approach, the bridges can be replaced more quickly, reduce costs for taxpayers and minimize the impact on the traveling public. The bridges being replaced will be constructed quickly because of standardized designs and the ability to prefabricate many of the bridge components off site, which reduces construction time in the field.

Under the contract, PWKP is responsible for the finance, design, construction and maintenance of the bridges for a 28-year term. PennDOT retains ownership of all of the structures.

2017 CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES IN FAYETTE COUNTY:

Crews are gearing up to replace six of Fayette County’s structurally deficient bridges in 2017. Outlined below are details of those replacement projects.

  • Kooser Road (SR 1001) bridge, spanning Mill Run in Springfield Township (JV-485)
    The project consists of the replacement of the existing structurally deficient bridge built in 1937 carrying SR 1001 over Mill Run. Approximately 184 vehicles travel across the bridge daily. The proposed curb to curb bridge width will increase from the existing 15 feet to 22 feet to accommodate two lanes of traffic. Minor approach roadway work and drainage work will take place to tie the new structure into the existing approach roadway. Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-June 2017 and be complete in mid-August 2017 with traffic being detoured during construction.
  • Pritts Road (SR 1003) bridge, spanning Laurel Run in Springfield Township (JV-486)
    The project consists of the replacement of the existing structurally deficient bridge built in 1937 carrying SR 1003 over Laurel Run. Approximately 237 vehicles travel across the bridge daily.  The proposed curb to curb bridge width will increase from the existing 14 feet to 22 feet to accommodate two lanes of traffic. Minor approach roadway work and drainage work will take place to tie the new structure into the existing approach roadway. Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-June 2017 and be complete in mid-August 2017 with traffic being detoured during construction.Pritts Road (SR 1003) bridge spanning Laurel Run in Springfield Township (JV-486)
  • Melcroft Road (SR 1007) bridge, spanning Champion Creek in Saltlick Township (JV-487)
    The project consists of the replacement of the existing structurally deficient bridge built in 1956 carrying SR 1007 over Champion Creek. Approximately 918 vehicles travel across the bridge daily. Minor approach roadway work and drainage work will take place to tie the new structure into the existing approach roadway. Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-July 2017 and be complete in late September 2017 with traffic being detoured during construction.
  • Melcroft Road (SR 1050) bridge, spanning Champion Creek in Saltlick Township (JV-494)
    The project consists of the replacement of the existing structurally deficient bridge built in 1941 carrying SR 1050 over Champion Creek. Approximately 1,059 vehicles travel across the bridge daily. Minor approach roadway work and drainage work will take place to tie the new structure into the existing approach roadway. Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-May 2017 and be complete in mid-June 2017 with traffic being detoured during construction.Melcroft Road (SR 1050) bridge, spanning Champion Creek in Saltlick Township (JV-494)
  • County Line Road (SR 1058) bridge, spanning Indian Creek in Saltlick and Donegal Townships (JV-497)
    The project consists of the replacement of the existing structurally deficient bridge built in 1938 carrying SR 1058 over Indian Creek. Approximately 1,738 vehicles travel across the bridge daily. The proposed curb to curb bridge width will increase from the existing 23 feet to 34 feet to address current design standards. Minor approach roadway work and drainage work will take place to tie the new structure into the existing approach roadway. Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-June 2017 and be complete in late October 2017. During this time, one lane of traffic will be maintained with temporary traffic signals.County Line Road (SR 1058) bridge, spanning Indian Creek in Saltlick and Donegal Townships (JV-497)
  • County Line Road (SR 1058) bridge, spanning Roaring Run in Saltlick and Donegal Townships (JV-498)
    The project consists of the replacement of the existing structurally deficient bridge built in 1936 carrying SR 1058 over Roaring Run. Approximately 1,738 vehicles travel across the bridge daily. The proposed curb to curb bridge width will increase from the existing 24 feet to 32 feet to address current design standards. Minor approach roadway work and drainage work will take place to tie the new structure into the existing approach roadway. Construction is anticipated to begin mid-June 2018 and complete late October 2018. During this time, one lane of traffic will be maintained with temporary traffic signals.

Approximately two weeks prior to the start of construction for each bridge, a press release will be issued, along with signage near the bridge approaches to warn motorists of the planned construction.

All bridges under this program are assigned a JV number. JV references the joint-venture partnership between Walsh/Granite, which is leading construction for the entire project. You can find bridges and their JV numbers on the project website here: http://parapidbridges.com/bridgesbycounty.html.

For information on these bridge projects, visit www.parapidbridges.com. You can also call or email the project hotline at 877-444-9990 or [email protected].


November 2016

Donegal SR Routes 31/711 Expansion Project

The project is progressing well and we are on schedule for our March 2017 let with construction NTP beginning in May 2017. We are hoping to complete in two construction seasons and finish late in 2018.

Based on our current CPM the following activities are scheduled for the 2017 construction season:

Entire project – early activities are: demolish structures, clear and grub, and install erosion and sedimentation control features.

Turnpike area – install 72” culvert, build large embankment and excavate large cut on south side of SR 0031, install drainage along SR 0031.

SR 711/SR 31 intersection to School House Lane – install drainage and storm water basin, close Mountain View Road to install drainage and pave roadway, excavate cut on north side of SR 0031 where alignment is being shifted.

School House Lane to just west of SR 381/SR 711 intersection – install drainage.

SR 381/SR 711 intersection to eastern limit of project – Close SR 2031, construction storm water basin and drainage. Note: If this work is started in 2017, SR 2031 will be opened back up to traffic over the winter until the spring of 2018, when it will be closed again to complete intersection work.

The majority of the waterline relocation work to will occur during 2017. Single closures on SR 31 will occur at various locations throughout 2017.

Note: The successful contractor has the option to change the sequence of operations, provided PennDOT concurs.

Nancy M. Kolenc P.E., Project Manager
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Engineering District 12-0
825 North Gallatin Avenue Ext. P.O. Box 459
Uniontown PA 15401


April 2016

A Message from MLCC Board Member Abe Wagner,

Your Mountain Laurel Chamber Board of Directors have been considering what first and lasting impressions people will have when entering or leaving the Laurel Highlands ONCE the Route 31 road work is completed. In his TED TALK (go to www.scenic.org to listen) former Scenic America President, Ed McMahon provides insight into “how the image of a community is fundamentally important to its economic wellbeing”.

The BHHS office that I work out of in Donegal faces Route 31. Every day I see and hear the vehicles that pass by my window. I am constantly reminded that this may be a home to these travelers, a getaway, a onetime visit, a repeat visitor or someone passing by for work. What do they think of when they pass through? How do we get them to stop at our businesses? What can we do to entice them to come back, AND, hopefully tell their family and friends of the wonderful experiences that await them in the Laurel Highlands?

We’d like to get together with you and hear your thoughts and ideas on how we, as a community, can help create a lasting first impression of the Route 31 corridor or as we like to call it, The Gateway to the Laurel Highlands. Join us on Wednesday, April 13th from 6-8 pm at the Donegal Area Community Center for an open discussion on our future. Let’s begin a conversation about what we can do to make this 3.5 mile stretch of highway people will want to return too. If you have a topic that you would like to have on the agenda please give Kris a call at 724-593-8900 of via email [email protected]

Be a part of the change you want to see.

Sincerely,

Abe Wagner

MLCC Board of Directors
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
The Preferred Realty
Donegal Office


 

New Plates Let Motorcyclists Show Pride In, Support Of Veterans

Honoring Our Veterans Plates Now Available for Motorcycles

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania motorcyclists can now show their support for veterans by purchasing newly authorized “Honoring Our Veterans” special fund registration plates for motorcycles.

The plate, authorized by Act 17 of 2015, features the standard registration plate design in blue, white and yellow with an image of the American Flag and a Bald Eagle with the words “Honoring Our Veterans” at the bottom of the plate.

“By adding these new motorcycle plates to our extensive registration-plate options, we now give motorcycle enthusiasts the opportunity to support Pennsylvania’s veterans and donate to a worthy cause,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. “You don’t need to be a veteran to get one of these plates.”

The plate is available at a cost of $35. Fifteen dollars from the sale of each license plate goes to the Veterans’ Trust Fund administered by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The fund supports and assists Pennsylvania veterans and their families through grants to veterans service organizations and other charitable organizations.

“The Honoring Our Veterans license plate for passenger cars and light trucks has been around since 2012, but it is only now that patriotic-minded motorcyclists have the opportunity to pay tribute to veterans as well,” said Brig. Gen. Jerry Beck, deputy adjutant general for veterans affairs with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “The money that we receive from each plate allows us to fund improved assistance and support for Pennsylvania’s nearly one million veterans and their families.”

Motorcycle owners can apply for a plate by completing and submitting Form MV-914, “Application for Honoring Our Veterans Special Fund Registration Plate,” found on the PennDOT website at www.dmv.pa.gov by choosing “Registration Plates” in the “Vehicle Services” section, and then clicking on the “Special Fund” tab.

MEDIA CONTACT:    Craig Yetter, PennDOT, 717-705-1092

Joan Nissley, DMVA, 717-861-8720

SR 0031, Section X10, Donegal Interchange to the SR 0031/SR 0381 Intersection

Plan Presentation

The project is located in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and includes safety and capacity improvements along the SR 0031 corridor. The SR 0031 Section X10 project includes; realignment of SR 0031 to the south at the intersection of the PA turnpike interchange to provide auxiliary turn lanes for PA turnpike bound traffic as well as more capacity for the exiting PA turnpike traffic merging onto SR 0031, two new traffic signals; one at the intersection of SR 0031 and the PA turnpike interchange and the other at the intersection of SR 0031 and SR 0711, and improving the existing horizontal geometry adjacent to the SR 0031 and SR 0381/0711 intersection to increase sight distance as well as a right-turn lane for SR 0031 eastbound traffic turning onto SR 0381/0711. Additionally, the project scope includes relocating King’s Way to form a “plus” intersection with SR 0031 and SR 0711, and the relocation of School House Lane to form a “plus” intersection with SR 0031 and Mountain View Road. This project is presently scheduled to let in the summer of 2016.

Plans Display – Route 31 and Route 381 – Donegal Interchange

Donegal Township, Westmoreland County

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Engineering District 12-0, invites you to attend a public display of plans for the reconstruction of SR 0031, Section X10, Donegal Interchange to the SR 0031/SR 0381 Intersection. The project is located in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and includes safety and capacity improvements along the SR 0031 corridor.  The SR 0031 Section X10 project includes; realignment of SR 0031 to the south at the intersection of the PA turnpike interchange to provide auxiliary turn lanes for PA turnpike bound traffic as well as more capacity for the exiting PA turnpike traffic merging onto SR 0031, two new traffic signals; one at the intersection of SR 0031 and the PA turnpike interchange and the other at the intersection of SR 0031 and SR 0711, and improving the existing horizontal geometry adjacent to the SR 0031 and SR 0381/0711 intersection to increase sight distance as well as a right-turn lane for SR 0031 eastbound traffic turning onto SR 0381/0711. Additionally, the project scope includes relocating King’s Way to form a “plus” intersection with SR 0031 and SR 0711, and the relocation of School House Lane to form a “plus” intersection with SR 0031 and Mountain View Road.

The purpose of the meeting is to present the preliminary roadway plans and to obtain public input prior to completing the design process.

In keeping with Federal, State, and local policies concerning public participation in planning and developing transportation projects, the public is encouraged to attend this public meeting.

LOCATION:  DAYS INN DONEGAL
3620 ROUTE 31
DONEGAL, PA  15628

DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

TIME: 5:00 P.M. TO 7:00 P.M.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the meeting has been scheduled at a facility that is accessible to individuals who have disabilities.  Any person having special needs or requiring special aids is requested to contact Ms. Nancy Kolenc, Project Manager at (724) 439-7377 prior to the meeting so that special accommodations can be made.

Anyone with knowledge of historic resources in the project area or with comments on potential impacts to historic resources should attend this meeting.

The meeting will be conducted in an open house format.  PennDOT and their representatives will be available for discussion and to answer questions.  Everyone who is interested in the project is invited to attend anytime during the meeting hours.

Media contact: Valerie Petersen, (724) 439-7375

New PennDOT Website Shows Customers Active, Planned Projects

Site Features Construction, Act 89 and Future Improvements

Pennsylvanians looking for information on construction projects, improvements underway because of Act 89, the state’s transportation funding plan, as well as projects scheduled through 2026 have a new resource – www.Projects.PennDOT.gov.

The new Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) website includes maps and explanations of:

  • construction projects that are underway or will be bid or begin this year;
  • projects that are completed, underway, planned or in development because of Act 89’s historic investment; and
  • projects included in the department’s Four and Twelve Year Plans.

“Part of ensuring that PennDOT works for our customers is making sure they can find information on our investments in their communities,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. “This website shows the magnitude of the amount and value of current work and well into the future.”

In addition to demonstrating the breadth of improvements being made across the state, the Transportation Projects site allows users to view projects according to categories such as county, statewide, PennDOT district and more. The construction section also allows users view projects on Pennsylvania Interstate corridors.

The website and mapping tools are also compatible with mobile devices.

For the latest information on current travel conditions, motorists can check information on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com before they leave home. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides information on current traffic impacts from construction, traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 770 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

MEDIA CONTACT: Erin Waters-Trasatt, 717-783-8800

Notice of Public Plans Display

PennDOT and Consultants Gibson-Thomas Engineering Company extends and invitation to attend a Public Meeting & Plans Display to anyone who is interested in the Route 31 Corridor Project extending from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Interchange 91 to the 31/381 Intersection at Sarnelli’s Corner.  The meeting is Tuesday, March 24th, from 5-7 pm at the Days Inn in Donegal.

Exit 91 & State Route 31 Preliminary Plans

As a chamber of commerce, our duty is to represent the interests of our area’s businesses including the community in which they operate.  When it comes to our highways infrastructure it is our duty to build awareness and educate.

Kevin Bittner, P.E. Highways Division Manger, of Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co., Inc. concluded a series of thee public display meetings for the reconstruction of SR 0031, Section X10 Donegal Interchange to SR 0381 Interchange Sarnelli’s Corner.

The purpose of the meetings were to present the preliminary roadways and to obtain public input prior to completing the design project.   Safety and capacity are equal issues for improving the existing corridor.

Representation from nearly 30 businesses attend the June 17th, 2014, 1:00 p.m. chamber member meeting where they had the opportunity the hear presentation directly from the engineers along with having an opportunity for input.

Special thanks to PennDOT District Plans Engineer Liberty Hill, PennDOT Project Manager Brian Svesnick and Kevin Bittner Gibson-Thomas Engineering  and to everyone at PennDOT & Gibson-Thomas for spending the day with MLCC members, presenting  preliminary plans, answering questions and for taking back valuable input .

We look forward to working with you.

Attention members:  Please look for additional meeting notices  pertaining to all interests of the organization as we strive to build awareness directly from the source.

PennDOT planning $20M project on Route 31 in Donegal

Published on Friday, 17 January 2014 11:43
Written by Jose Vargas

Ninety percent of the motorists who come off the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange in Donegal are coming from Pittsburgh and turning left to take Route 31 to Seven Springs and Hidden Valley resorts. “We were surprised by those statistics,” said Liberty Hall, district plans engineer for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s District 12 Uniontown office. PennDOT on Wednesday unveiled plans for a more than $20 million improvement project on a 3-mile stretch of Route 31 between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Interchange in Donegal and Route 381 at Sarnelli’s Corner. Hall said that this was a preliminary meeting held Wednesday at the Celebration Place in Donegal as requested by the Mountain Laurel Chamber of Commerce.A public meeting will be held in March or April. A second public meeting will be held in the final design phase. Construction could begin in 2016 and will take about two years. It will be done in phases so no detours will be needed.“This will help with congestion through the corridor and with safety improvements,” Hall said. He is proud of the common-sense solutions that the engineers are using. An example is that construction would have been constrained because of the former location of the PennDOT winter road materials storage area near the turnpike.Engineers approached turnpike officials because the turnpike has a storage area near Brady’s Restaurant along Route 31. PennDOT and the turnpike combined stockpiles at the turnpike’s storage area. Route 31 will be moved over by about 100 feet in the area where the stockpile had been.A barrier will be installed so traffic coming from the Mount Pleasant area won’t hit a stop light; it will keep going. A left-hand turning lane will be installed. People coming off the turnpike and turning left will have a third lane with a merger area. People leaving the turnpike and turning right will have a free-flowing right turn. Eastbound the corridor will be widened to three lanes.There will be several strip takes of properties and possibly one or two total properties taken, but that has not been finalized. One building may have a historical designation, which would impact the project. There is a wetlands that would be the only environmental impact. Various mitigation solutions are being discussed. One curve will be lowered slightly, but there are no other changes in elevation.Kevin Bittner, an engineer with the Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co., Latrobe, said by traffic volume the Route 381 intersection area warrants a traffic signal, but the highway grades exceed what is recommended for a signal because of safety concerns.“If we were to force trucks to stop while coming down the hill, it would be less safe,” Bittner said. “Safety is priority No. 1. Congestion is a close second or 1A.”Some of the people attending the meeting said that they were glad to hear what is going to be done.“This is something that has been on the 13-year project list for years,” said Kris Enberg, executive director of the Mountain Laurel Chamber of Commerce. “The business community welcomes improvements. We understand this is in the preliminary stages.”Champion Christian School is at the intersection of routes 31 and 711 in the project area.“We are very supportive of the project because of safety concerns with the school buses,” said school director Merle Skinner. “I’m very excited for the potential impact on the community.”