PennDOT's $154M Erie construction season ends. Here's what got done, plus 2023 preview

The orange cones are gone. Lanes that had been closed for construction are open.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has wrapped its $242 million construction season in northwestern Pennsylvania for 2022.

Work on Route 18 interchange: A new bridge and roundabouts were soon to be completed this summer

The lion's share of the work was in Erie County with 25 projects totaling $154 million.

Nearly $21 million in additional funding for northwestern Pennsylvania from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2022 is mainly funding design work and engineering for future construction projects.

"We usually begin planning construction projects a couple years in advance with design work and preliminary engineering," said Brian McNulty, PennDOT district executive in northwestern Pennsylvania. "We had already done that and programmed funding for projects in construction this year.

"The BIL money was new money this year that we know we will have for at least five years. We used it mainly to start the design phases and preliminary engineering for projects down the road. It really allowed us to advance projects that we will be seeing in 2023, 2024 and beyond," McNulty said.

Here's a look at the major construction projects completed in Erie County this year:

Interstate 90: Reconstruction, paving and interchange work

The biggest PennDOT investment was on Interstate 90.

Completed in western Erie County were the new Route 18 bridge and twin teardrop roundabouts at the Girard interchange; reconstruction of the highway's eastbound lanes from the West Springfield interchange to mile marker 10.5 in Girard Township; and resurfacing the road, including the Interstate 79 interchange, in McKean and Summit townships.

In eastern Erie County, the interstate was repaved from the New York state line to the Interstate 86 interchange in a project that had been expected to continue in 2023.

Taken down: Why I-90 bridges were getting hit in western Erie County

"We were able to complete the work on the east side of Interstate 90 this year. So that should be a relief to the traveling public," said Nate Nunez, PennDOT assistant district executive for construction in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Total cost of the Interstate 90 work this year: $87.9 million.

12th Street in Erie: New signals, timing and pedestrian features

Intersection improvements were completed this year from Interstate 79 to the Bayfront Connector.

Work included the installation of new traffic signals at 19 intersections; coordinating signal timing along the corridor; installing countdown crossing timers and audible push controls for pedestrians at some intersections; and the installation of electronic message boards on Interstate 79 and the Bayfront Connector.

Work in progress: Intersection improvements along Erie's 12th Street corridor

Total project cost: $8.7 million.

Five Points roundabout: New in Summit Township

Erie County's newest roundabout, at the Five Points intersection of Oliver, Hamot and Flowers roads, in front of the Erie County Technical School in Summit Township, opened early this fall.

The five-legged roundabout replaces a five-point intersection with difficult sight lines for drivers.

Opened this fall: Can you get in and out of the newly opened Five Points roundabout in Summit Township?

"We had heard from people with concerns about that intersection for a long time," said PennDOT's McNulty. "The intersection was almost like two separate T-intersections really close to each other. Reaction to the roundabout has been very positive. It makes the whole intersection flow more smoothly and we expect to see fewer accidents there."

Total project cost: $3.9 million.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Home: Pedestrian bridge over rail tracks

The new pedestrian bridge over the CSX railroad tracks at the Pennsylvania Soliders' and Sailors' Home at 560 E. Third St. was completed this past spring. The bridge replaces a grade-level crossing of the tracks and connects the property to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery and General Anthony Wayne Blockhouse.

Completed this spring: Bridge to Erie history at Soldiers' and Sailors' Home

Total project cost: $2.7 million.

Route 6 bridge: Emergency repairs near Corry

Not originally on PennDOT's to-do list this year were repairs to a bridge on Route 6 west of Corry.

The bridge over Baskin Run was damaged by heavy rain and high water in May, forcing the closing of Route 6 west of Route 89 until a temporary crossing was built.

An emergency contract allowed the bridge to be repaired and reopened in November. Repairs included barrier walls and a new concrete slab to replace damaged beams on the north side of the bridge, a concrete stream bed to protect against erosion and wingwalls to secure the bridge and bank.

Total cost: $2.3 million.

More: Temporary creek crossing will be built to reopen Route 6 near Corry

Down the road: 2023 construction

Road work ahead in 2023 will include the continued reconstruction of Interstate 90 in western Erie County and may include the reconstruction of the Sassafras Street Extension intersection with Erie's Bayfront Parkway.

Interstate 90 work will focus on the reconstruction of the westbound lanes between the West Springfield interchange and mile marker 10.5 in Girard Township. Traffic will be routed onto the eastbound lanes built this year.

Also planned in 2023 is the construction of a roundabout on the Bayfront Parkway at Sassafrass. But that could be halted by a federal lawsuit filed by the Erie Branch of the NAACP and Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, an environmental advocacy group better known as PennFuture, in December 2020.

Request to block construction dropped: Judge to rule on suit over Bayfront Parkway project

The suit claims that the opportunity for public input on the parkway project was insufficient and that PennDOT's environmental impact study for the planned changes to the parkway was inadequate and violated federal law.

PennDOT replied that there has been extensive opportunities for public comment and with the Federal Highway Administration replied that the environmental study was done in accordance with federal law.

A judge has not yet ruled on the lawsuit.

PennDOT's parkway plans also include lowering the parkway beneath State Street in 2024 and the construction of a roundabout and pedestrian bridge at the parkway's Holland Street intersection in 2025.

New traffic lights on 12th Street: Here's what turn arrows mean

Wondering what the different-colored left-turn arrows mean on new traffic signals installed at some intersections on 12th Street in Erie this year?

Here's what you need to know:

• Steady red arrow. Stop. No left turn.

• Steady yellow arrow. Stop. Signal is about to change to red.

• Steady green arrow. Left turn allowed; oncoming traffic is directed to stop.

• Flashing yellow arrow. Left turn allowed but must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: PennDOT's $154M Erie construction season ends. What got done?