ST. MARYS – Work to improve a northern section of Route 255 in the city of St. Marys began late last month. The project stretches from the Tractor Supply intersection to Route 120/State Street in St. Marys. Work this year will concentrate on the section between Wendy’s Burgers and Satterlee Fueling.
Once the project completes in late summer 2014, travel along this section of Route 255 will be smoother and more efficient. PennDOT will issue regular updates on this project as work schedules and traffic impacts require.
Activity the week of April 15 will include:
• The contractor will begin working 24 hours per day starting on Sunday at 6 p.m. and work will continue until 6 p.m. Thursday. The contractor anticipates working this schedule unless they are affected by the weather.
• During off peak hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Route 255 will be restricted to one lane northbound and one lane southbound from the intersection at Tractor Supply to the intersection of Iron Run Road. Drivers will not be able to use the left turn lanes. From 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., traffic will continue to be restricted to one lane northbound and one land southbound, however, the left turn lane for northbound traffic and the left turn for southbound traffic will be open to allow drivers to turn into businesses and residences. The left turn lanes are for making turning movements only.
• During the night, the contractor will continue to saw-cut the existing concrete pavement in the work area that will be located in the center of the roadway. This work will be performed on Route 255 between the intersection at Tractor Supply and the intersection at Iron Run Road.
• At night, the contractor will begin breaking up the existing concrete pavement in the center portion of the roadway. They will then excavate and remove the broken pavement. The contractor will then grade this area and place and compact sub-base material. The contractor will then fill in the center area to the top of the existing pavement at select locations to allow drivers to cross the roadway to turn into residences and businesses. Drivers are strongly advised to cross only at these locations.
• During the daytime, the contractor will be grinding tree stumps along Route 255 from approximately Iron Run Road to State Street. No lane closures will be required.
All work is weather and schedule dependent and will take place during daylight hours. Motorists are advised to watch for slow moving and stopped vehicles through the entire work zone. Motorists are advised to be cautious when traveling through the work zone and should obey the posted speed limit.
Overall work includes pavement repair, drainage improvements, addition of a right-turn lane for Route 255 northbound traffic at Vine Street, re-alignment of the Arch Street intersection, a right turn lane on Route 120 east for traffic heading south on Route 255, and other construction items. Dave Gutelius Excavating Inc. of Mifflinburg is the contractor on this $12.8 million project.
About a one-mile section of roadway separates this project from PennDOT’s other Route 255 project that stretches from north of Greenbriar Drive to just south of the Kersey/Route 948 intersection.
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