BELLEFONTE – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is providing an update for its Local Interchange/Route 26 project in Centre County. The work zone is located along Interstate 80 near the Bellefonte/161 interchange and work to build the local interchange can affect traffic flow on I-80.
During the week of March 29, traffic control will feature the following:
- On Monday, there will be an eastbound, short-term, right lane closure with channelizers.
- Tuesday through Easter weekend, there will be a double-lane shift to the right with channelizers. Traffic will be shifted to the right lane and outside shoulder.
- Tuesday and Wednesday, there will be a westbound, short-term left-lane closure with channelizers.
This year, motorists will use a crossover taking one lane of traffic from I-80 westbound to I-80 eastbound. The lane configuration through the work zone will be three lanes on eastbound and one remaining on westbound. To prepare for opening of the crossovers there will be some preliminary work taking place.
Work this season will include completion of basin construction in the median, completion of norther ramps, full depth reconstruction of I-80 westbound bridge piers and northern abutment, and construction of the connector road between I-80 and Route 26.
Work on this project is in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan. The plan includes protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job site cleaning protocols, management of entries to the job site and relevant training.
The I-80/Route 26 local interchange project is east of Bellefonte and is part of a long-awaited safety-improvement in Centre County. HRI, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $52 million project. Up-to-date information can be found on the project page at www.penndot.gov/SR26Localinterchange.
The local interchange project is the first phase of a three-phase project to build local access, a high-speed interchange connection between I-99 and I-80 and to make improvements on Jacksonville Road.
An initial $35 million for the project was announced in July 2018, coming through a federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant. Completion of all three phases will support regional freight economy and improve the reliability of roadway travel throughout the region.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA Web site.
Subscribe to PennDOT news in Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Juniata, McKean, Mifflin and Potter counties at www.penndot.gov/District2.
For regional updates on Twitter, follow www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL.
