Work is expected to resume next week on Old Route 8 (Route 3013) as part of phase one of the reconstruction of Route 8 in Sandycreek, Irwin and Victory townships, in Venango County.
Work in phase one of the project will focus on Old Route 8. It is expected to start April 8, 2020, weather permitting, and to be completed by April 22, 2020. During this time, the roadway will be closed for slide repairs from the intersection with Poverty Valley Road to the intersection with Pecan Valley Road. Base repairs will also be made at various locations along the roadway. A detour will be posted using Route 8 and Route 308.
Work in the phases two, three, and four will include concrete patching and paving from Melvin Road (Route 3004) to Georgetown Road (Route 3003), milling and paving from Georgetown Road to the Dennison Run Road Overpass, and breaking the existing concrete to create a base for a new asphalt overlay from Dennison Run Road Overpass to Polk Cutoff Road, as well as repairs to Old Route 8 (Route 3013). Work will also include rehabilitation work to seven structures, drainage repairs, guiderail replacement and signing replacements.
The second phase of the project is expected to start April 23, 2020, weather permitting. All Route 8 southbound traffic will be detoured to Old Route 8 from the intersection of Route 8 and Polk Cutoff Road to the intersection of Route 8 and Old Route 8. The phase will start with temporary repairs to the southbound lanes of Route 8. Once those are complete, northbound traffic will be detoured to the southbound lanes; and reconstruction work will start on the northbound lanes. Traffic is expected to resume its regular patterns on Route 8 by late October 2020.
In the 2021 construction season, the southbound lanes will be reconstructed. All southbound traffic will be detoured to Old Route 8 from the intersection of Route 8 and Polk Cutoff Road to the intersection of Route 8 and Old Route 8.
In the final phase of the project, all northbound and southbound traffic will be detoured from Route 8 at the southern portion of the work area, and rehabilitation work will be done to the bridge over Georgetown Road, including roadway approaches, deck surfacing and barrier repairs.
The contractor is Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc, of State College, PA. The contract cost is $32,645,000, which will be paid with 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent state funds.
This project was made possible by Act 89, Pennsylvania’s transportation funding plan.
Information on the project is available online at www.penndot.gov/district1 by clicking on the Construction Projects/Roadway link under the Resources heading, picking the Venango County box then choosing the Route 8 Reconstruction Project tile.
Normal highway and bridge construction projects in Pennsylvania remain paused as part of the commonwealth’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This project is part of critical work that continues statewide addressing safety needs and work needed to eliminate roadway restrictions that could impede the ability for the movement of life sustaining goods and services.
PennDOT urges motorists to slow down when driving in work zones, and also to be alert to changing conditions, avoid distractions and to pay attention to signs and flaggers. Drive responsibly in work zones for your safety and the safety of the workers.
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