Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll, along with regional PennDOT officials, announced the Department is working on more than 100 projects in the northwest region this year, costing more than $219 million to improve state and local roads and bridges.
“Every Pennsylvanian deserves a safe and reliable transportation network, no matter where they live,” said Carroll.
PennDOT will target the region spanning Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties. This includes rehabilitating, reconstructing, and resurfacing more than 100 miles of highways and working on 43 bridges.
Standing out among the projects starting this year is the reconstruction of the first five miles of Interstate 80 in Mercer County. Slated to start in early April, the $115.7 million project will rebuild both eastbound and westbound lanes, as well as replace a bridge and repair seven other structures.
“Interstate 80 in Mercer County is a gateway into Pennsylvania for thousands of travelers coming into the commonwealth from the west and, therefore, serves an important role in the economy for the entire state,” said PennDOT District 1 Executive Brian McNulty. “A project of this scale, one of the largest projects ever awarded in District 1, acknowledges the pivotal function I-80 plays in Pennsylvania and is just the start of our plans.”
This project will kick off a series of contracts to reconstruct the first 15 miles of I-80 over the next six years. Following this project, PennDOT anticipates awarding a contract for similar work on miles 11 to 15 and 6 to 10, which are currently in design. In the meantime, the department will make repairs to needed sections of the interstate in Mercer County.
It will also be a busy year for bridge work throughout the region with 33 bridges slated for repairs or replacements this year. Contracts for another 12 are scheduled to be awarded for work in 2026.
These figures include several locally owned structures including three bridges on Old Route 99 in McKean Township, Erie County and two on Gilmore Road in Wolf Creek Township, Mercer County.
“The local network of roads, bridges, and sidewalks is as vital to the quality of life of Pennsylvania residents as the large interstates and major bridges,” McNulty said. “That’s why PennDOT partners with county governments and local municipalities to identify funding opportunities, manage design consultants, and complete construction projects.”
