Main Connellsville entrance will close during construction
CONNELLSVILLE – A main entranceway into the city will be closed to traffic next month. Drivers who are used to using East Crawford Avenue when traveling in the Connellsville area will need to find another route.
PennDOT spokesman Matthew Skovera said Tuesday that construction crews would be removing asphalt from where the avenue intersects with Breakneck Road during the project’s first phase that starts July 8.
“That’s the scheduled date that they can get started,” said Skovera.
The one-half mile project will extend along East Crawford Avenue from Breakneck Road to Snyder Street (Route 711). During the two-month anticipated construction period, the road will be closed to vehicular traffic, with the exception of emergency vehicles or residents who have made arrangements to reach their homes.
All others, will be rerouted from East Crawford to Breakneck Road onto Falcon Drive and Locust Street before entering onto Snyder Street to East Crawford when traveling west into the city. Those leaving Connellsville will follow the detour in reverse.
“I think the people that would normally use East Crawford will find another way to get around,” said Skovera. “The truck traffic will be the same because they can’t come through the city and those who aren’t familiar with the city will have to follow the detours.”
PennDOT has not awarded a construction contract yet as a final review of four bids in ongoing. Skovera said Donegal Construction Corp. is the apparent low bidder. He declined to divulge the amount submitted by the Greensburg-based firm until PennDOT takes formal action.
“It appears (Donegal) will be the project contractor,” said Skovera.
The project will entail the removal of all road materials and replacement of the surface.
At the Breakneck Road intersection, concrete will be used to replace the current bituminous material in order to provide a more substantial road surface for the heavy truck traffic that travels through the area.
While Columbia Gas and Pennsylvania-American Water Co. are scheduled to replace their respective utility lines in the area, the Connellsville Municipal Authority will not make any changes to its system.
There are no plans for overhead utility lines to be replaced, Skovera said.