PennDOT representatives will be in Somerset County this summer preparing property appraisals for right-of-way purchases needed to extend Route 219 from Somerset to Meyersdale.
Construction of the 12-mile section of highway had been in jeopardy last year after it was removed from PennDOT’s highway funding plan. A public campaign reversed that decision, and the state came up with $35 million needed to match the federal $350 million to get it ready for construction.
That’s the good news, members of the Greater Johnstown/ Cambria County Chamber of Commerce learned Friday.
The bad news is that another $35 million in state money is needed to match the estimated $350 million required for construction.
“We won’t be able to advance any construction until we have that money,” said Vince Greenland, PennDOT District 9 assistant executive for planning.
But officials hope the state will not bail out after half of the total project work is completed.
“We’re moving full steam ahead for a 2010 bid opening for 2011 construction,” Greenland said.
Completion of Route 219 continues to be a top priority for the chamber’s Regional Transportation Committee, Chairman Adam Henger said.
Along with 219 north and south, the committee continues to lobby for improvements to Route 56 in Bedford County and Johnstown’s West End.
“These continue to be our highest priorities,” Henger said.
Preliminary design and environmental reviews of the Route 219 project are complete, and final design is under way.
Right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation are part of this phase, Greenland said.
District 9 Executive Tom Prestash indicated Route 219 south of Somerset may be the last new highway in the area for a long time.
“You won’t be seeing Pennsylvania building new roads. We just don’t have the money,” he told chamber members.
What happens to Route 219 beyond Meyersdale remains in question, officials said.
The longtime plan was to extend the four-lane highway south to Interstate 68 in Maryland.
Pennsylvania’s eight-mile share of Route 219 to the state line carries a price tag nearly as large as the Somerset-to-Meyersdale link.
“We have the same issue as far as the state match. The project is on hold,” Greenland said.
Route 219 north likely will remain a two-lane highway to the Clearfield County line, but an improved alternate route is possible.
PennDOT officials said they continue to look at improving Route 36 north of Patton.
It would be posted as a Route 219 alternate route.
Sunset Road, a secondary highway linking routes 219 and 36, would be improved to handle increased traffic.
Improvements to Route 56 in the West End are scheduled to begin this year with the emphasis on curve reduction, intersection widening and signal light coordination, Greenland said.
Work also continues on a number of separate improvements on Route 56 from Cessna to Pleasantville, where the focus is on road widening, turning lanes and intersection improvements, Greenland said.
Local News
PennDOT looks to acquire land for Route 219 project
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
