'It's been a long road': Gov. Shapiro helps launch Erie Bayfront Parkway construction

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and other state and local officials announced the start of Bayfront Parkway construction Friday.

The four-year, $112 million project to improve traffic flow and safety between Sassafras Street Extension and Holland Street has been nine years in the making.

Construction "finally" will begin in October, officials said.

Another major focus of the project will be improving connections between Erie's downtown and waterfront, with pedestrian bridges and other accommodations for walkers and cyclists.

"From Philadelphia to Erie, waterfronts have been set apart from the rest of communities," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said. "Today we say, no longer. Even in this polarized political climate we can come together to get things done, and that is what today is all about. We're going to make this happen. We're going to reconnect Erie to its waterfront."

The parkway project has been the focus of more than 100 public, planning and stakeholder meetings and numerous design changes through nine years, said Brian McNulty, regional district executive for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

The process resulted in continued improvements and a final design that "is the most perfect balance we could possibly have for all modes of users," McNulty said.

"It's been a long road. But we're at a significant milestone where we're about to shift from the design portion of the project to construction," McNulty said.

It's been a long road, too, to fund the construction, said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. Additional federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 and $1.5 billion previously allocated to Pennsylvania State Police from the state's motor license fund will help pay for the project and others statewide over the next three to five years, Carroll said.

"It's going to have a tremendous positive impact," Carroll said.

The construction will have a positive impact on local workers, said T.J. Sandell, president of the Great Lakes Building and Construction Council.

"There will be millions of dollars in wages and benefits for local workers, wages that will feed our families and make our economy grow," Sandell said.

Erie Mayor Joe Schember praised the project and the collaboration of local leaders and legislators in moving it forward.

"The project is going to have at least three major impacts," Schember said. "It's going to calm traffic. It's going to increase pedestrian safety and access. And it's going to reconnect our world-class downtown and bayfront, finally."

Construction in October will include off-road work on the roundabout at Sassafras Street Extension. The project will also include the construction of another roundabout, at Holland Street, lowering the parkway beneath State Street and construction of an "iconic and beautiful" pedestrian bridge at Holland Street, McNulty said.

A second bridge, at Sassafras Street Extension, will be built as funding becomes available.

Also planned on parkway: A traffic light at Cranberry Street

America250PA: Three PA governors encourage Erie to celebrate history as nation's 250th birthday nears

Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Gov. Shapiro helps launch Erie parkway construction