PennDOT secures $1.6 million to make emergency repairs to Route 40 landslide
Fayette County Maintenance Manager, Merle G. Bolen, announced that PennDOT approved $1.6 million in funding for emergency repairs along Route 40 near Summit Mountain. The money, which comes from PennDOT’s Highway Maintenance Emergency Fund, will be used to fix road problems in the eastbound lane that were caused June 6 by a landslide that closed a 1,000-foot portion of Route 40 eastbound.
Highway foreman Randy Hughes and the Summit Mountain maintenance team have been surveying the road 24 hours a day and have made temporary repairs to the deep, long cracks in the pavement and shoulder area.
According to PennDOT, the cracks were caused by shifts in the earth 45 feet beneath the road.
PennDOT said they sent out bid packages to prospective contractors June 13.
A notice to proceed will be given immediately after the bids are received.
The successful bidder will mobilize, install the erosion and sedimentation controls, remove the guide rail and clear the grub and slide area during the week of June 30, PennDOT said.
The work will be done in two phases and should be completed by Aug. 28.
PennDOT officials said they are confident traffic will not have to be detoured during excavation.
According to a PennDOT news release, the eastbound traffic will travel in a single lane around the work area, which is about 400 feet long by 17 feet wide and 45 feet deep, from a point near where the Hopwood on-ramp merges with Route 40, about 300 feet beyond the excavation area.
Plans call for both lanes of westbound traffic to be kept open. However, officials said contingency plans are in place to detour around the mountain if necessary.
Bolen asked all motorists to observe the posted work area speed limits.