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Route 201 work to get under way

By Patty Shultz 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The turning of the calendar from winter to spring has also ushered in the beginning of the road reconstruction season and the city appears to be targeted for several projects. Signs warning of traffic delays at the intersection of Crawford Avenue and Route 201 began dotting the sidewalks in the downtown area and along the state highway on Monday as PennDOT readies the traveling public for the work.

“We want to prepare them in advance,” said Bill Kovach, assistant construction engineer with the state Department of Transportation.

According to Kovach, drainage improvements, concrete patching, repaving and the installation of a warning sign will be done along the 1.5-mile stretch from the intersection to Adelaide Road during the anticipated five-month project.

This week, said Kovach, work crews are slated to conduct surveys of the project area that will slow traffic traveling along the roadways.

Additional delays along Route 201 will take place next week as trees along the road are removed to allow for shoulder work to be completed by Donegal Construction Co., the project contractor.

“We’re trying to get some preliminary work done before the bulk of the project gets started,” said Kovach.

The second phase will be the installation of new inlets and pipe along with the extension of culverts to help with water drainage along the road and concrete patchwork in certain sections of the throughway.

A new sign to advise those approaching the busy city intersection will also be erected during the project.

Approximately 5,600 vehicles daily utilize the roadway.

The final phase will be the repaving of the road and shoulders.

“There are going to be some delays as you would normally encounter with any construction project,” said Kovach, noting there are no available detour routes to escape the stoppages. “Hopefully, it won’t be any more than five or 10 minutes.”

Kovach, meanwhile, said that the roadwork is not related to a second planned project along the north and southbound lanes of Route 119, where Route 201 ends.

PennDOT announced earlier that it plans to upgrade the Crawford Avenue intersection with the installation of new signing, signaling, drainage improvements and repaving of the roadway to the city limits.

A contractor for the project is expected to be named this week, according to Ron Murray, project design manager. Contractors, in most cases, have 60 days to begin the work.

The project also includes the removal of a train trestle that crosses over the southbound lanes of Route 119 and the construction of crossover lanes that would connect the northbound and southbound routes.

The new road and traffic signal would enable entrance to a mall complex being proposed by the Widewaters Group, a New York-based developer, and ease traffic backup at the main intersection.

The project on the 11-acre site that adjoins the southbound lanes of routes 119 and 201 has been delayed while developers and the Department of Transportation determine the effect of additional traffic in the area.

The proposed complex is anticipated to include a grocery store, restaurant and several smaller retail stores.

The road reconstruction will involve several detours while the work is being completed.

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