ST. MARYS – Work to improve a northern section of Route 255 in the city of St. Marys is continuing.
The project stretches from the Tractor Supply Co. intersection to Route 120/State Street in St. Marys. Work this year will concentrate on the section between Wendy’s and Satterlee & Sons.
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.
Activity the week of July 29 will include:
• MOTORIST ALERT – CHANGING TRAFFIC PATTERN: Beginning Wednesday at 8 p.m., the contractor will begin to shift traffic into a new traffic pattern, which will be in place by Thursday morning. This work will take place between the intersection at Tractor Supply Co. and Iron Run Road.
The new traffic pattern will restrict traffic to one lane northbound and one lane southbound with a center turning lane. Southbound and northbound traffic will be shifted to the newly completed southbound side of the highway to allow for construction of the new northbound lanes.
Flaggers will be in place at the following intersections:
o Tractor Supply
o School Road
o Ford Road
o Plaza Drive
Flaggers will remain at these intersections until the temporary traffic signals are relocated and activated on Thursday.
• During dayshift on Thursday, the contractor will begin breaking up the existing northbound pavement.
• The contractor will begin excavating and removing the existing northbound pavement Thursday night.
• The contractor will continue to place sanitary sewer on Route 255 between Arch Street and State Street. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction. This work will be performed during daytime work hours.
• The contractor will be paving street and driveway tie-ins from the intersection at Tractor Supply Co. to Plaza Drive. Flaggers will be in place to direct traffic. This work will be performed during daytime work hours.
• The current traffic pattern, which will be in place until Wednesday night, restricts traffic to one lane northbound and one lane southbound with a center turning lane. This traffic pattern will remain in effect until Wednesday night. The center turn lane is for turning movements only.
• Access to businesses within the work zone will be maintained during normal business hours.
All work is weather and schedule dependent. 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.
Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL.