State College, PA – Motorists commuting to State College via Route 322 through Potters Mills Gap experienced significant delays during this morning’s commute because of drainage work and cross pipe installation operations the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Monday.
This work, which was originally scheduled to take place around the clock, caused significant delays to motorists last week. PennDOT deemed these delays unacceptable and announced a schedule change Friday, June 22, that restricts working hours to 6 p.m. through 7 a.m. daily beginning June 24.
Unfortunately, the contractor had not completed installing cross pipe in all the trenches dug prior to this morning’s commute, which again resulted in significant delays to the traveling public.
“We are readjusting our production expectations to ensure the roadway is opened in time in the future,” said Steven Fantechi, Assistant District Executive for Construction.
PennDOT appreciates the patience and understanding of motorists as work to complete the Potters Mills Gap project continues. Work has been taking place in this area since 2015, when Phase One of the project saw the construction of the new bridge at Sand Mountain Road. In 2016 and 2017, Phase Two created the new local interchange at Sand Mountain Road. The completed project, which PennDOT expects to be open to traffic in the Fall of 2020, will alleviate congestion and allow traffic to move more safely and efficiently from the Centre and Mifflin county lines to Potters Mills.
You can learn more about the entire project by visiting the “Construction Projects/Roadwork” section of www.penndot.gov/district2.