Funding outlined for bridge, road work
Funding of more than $106 million is earmarked for Fayette County transportation projects for the next four years, including cash for major bridge and road upgrades and construction. The four-year Transportation Improvement Plan for the years 2007 through 2010 was discussed Monday by the Fayette County Transportation Alliance. The TIP includes preparation work of $3.7 million toward a new Masontown Bridge that spans the Monongahela River between Fayette and Greene counties, but that funding stops short of construction of a new bridge, which is estimated to cost between $55 million and $60 million.
Money also is allocated for Matthew Drive upgrades in the amount of $3 million and construction of Matthew Drive through the Fayette County Business Park in the amount of $4.4 million. Stacy Ireland of the state Department of Transportation explained that for a time there was a shortfall of money toward construction of the Matthew Drive Extension. However, she said the more than $2 million shortfall was taken care of when additional money was found from another source.
The additional funds were found without anything being eliminated on the TIP, Ireland said. In addition to work toward a new Masontown Bridge and Matthew Drive projects, the 14-page list of projects includes intersection improvements in the city of Uniontown at Route 21 and Easy Street of $1.5 million; intersection improvements at the Torchlight Restaurant on Route 40 in Menallen Township for $2.55 million; bridge work on Memorial Bridge in Connellsville for $10.5 million; Route 119 reconstruction and restoration at $1.5 million; replacing two bridges in Springhill Township at $5.5 million; replacing the Pittsburgh Street Bridge in Connellsville for $1.4 million; replacing the Indian Creek Bridge in Dawson for $1.15 million; and the final phase of highway restoration in Luzerne Township relating to construction of SCI-Fayette for $2.65 million.
The TIP is a specific, four-year program of transportation projects in the various stages of development to receive state and federal funding in southwestern Pennsylvania. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission develops this program in collaboration with the state Department of Transportation, county and city planning departments, as well as transit authorities. It is updated every two years and amended as needed between cycles as projects are completed or moved up to the next phase of development.
In other discussion, Tammy Stenson of the Fayette County Office of Zoning, Planning and Community Development reported that work is continuing that will eventually lead to construction of the Sheepskin Trail. Stenson said the county is under negotiations with CSX for the purchase of property at the southern end of the trail and may bid the northern end of the trail near Dunbar in late winter or early spring. She said a little more than $1 million has been secured for construction and design has been completed from the beginning of the trail at the Youghiogheny River to Brushwood Road in North Union Township.
Stenson said properties that were owned by CSX were appraised in anticipation of their purchase, but it has since been determined that other properties may also be owned by CSX as well. If that is the case, which must be determined by CSX attorneys, new appraisals may be necessary, Stenson said, and the cost of the property will increase. State and federal money has been obtained for the project to date.