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    Shapiro Administration Highlights Nearly 77 Miles Paved, 30 Bridges Replaced or Repaired in Northwest PA in 2025

    October 30, 2025

    The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today marked the regional accomplishments of the 2025 summer maintenance and construction season, including the opening of the Route 20 Bridge in Erie County.

    Work this year in the northwest region – which covers Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties – included 87 projects, with nearly 77 miles of paving, 400 miles of seal coating, and 28 bridges replaced or repaired.

    “In 2025, our work included updating road designs and intersections, taking on the challenges of emergency projects, and providing safety improvements for our vulnerable roadway users,” said PennDOT District 1 Executive Brian McNulty. “Whether it is supporting the local system, such as the $177,393 paving project in Millcreek Township, Erie County, or extensive updates to our highway system like is being done with the $116 million Interstate 80 reconstruction in Mercer County, our team is dedicated to providing transportation solutions best suited for the communities we serve.”

    “Over the past few years, the staff at PennDOT’s northwest region has expanded our scope to look for ways to better leverage grants and other funding opportunities to improve pedestrian and multimodal amenities whether as independent projects or as part of a larger contract,” McNulty said. “This can be accomplished only through collaboration with local governments and our planning partners.”

    PennDOT has been hard at work improving Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges throughout the year, improving more than 3,600 miles of road, including over 1,100 miles of paving, and beginning work to repair, replace, or preserve more than 309 bridges from January through September of this year.

    As of October 29, District 1 has awarded contracts for 38 projects contracts for an estimated investment of more than $187 million, including 18 roadway projects, four for state-owned bridges, 11 safety projects, and five projects for work on locally owned roadways, bridges, and trails. Physical work on some contracts awarded in 2025 will begin in 2026.

    Before the end of the year, District 1 expects to open bids for an additional six contracts worth approximately $16.8 million, including a major paving project in the City of Corry. Of the 87 projects with active work this year, 49 were contracts started or awarded prior to 2025.

    Among the projects that started in 2024 is the replacement of the Route 20 Bridge over Twenty Mile Creek in North East Township, Erie County.

    “Early last year we started the preliminary design stages of a routine bridge project at which time we discovered issues with the structure, and it became a high priority project,” McNulty said. “Recognizing the important role the bridge plays for the farming and wine industry, as well as the greater community, we accelerated the process where we could while maintaining safety and quality. Twenty months later, faster than it typically takes to design a bridge, we opened the new bridge.”     

    The bridge was closed in February 2024 following a design analysis of the structure. The contract was awarded later that year with removal work starting in early September 2024. Construction continued through the winter as weather allowed and the bridge was reopened to traffic on October 17, 2025.

    The contractor is Mekis Construction of Fenelton, PA. The design consultant was WRA - Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP of Cranberry Township, PA.

    “This project stands as an example of the level of collaboration involved in the work PennDOT’s does every day for the residents, commuters, visitors, and property owners of northwest region and the entire commonwealth,” McNulty said.

    There were 15 active projects in Crawford County, including:

    • Route 6 Reconstruction – Reconfiguring and reconstructing the roadway from Mead Avenue to Baldwin Street Extension in the City of Meadville and West Mead Township. Work will also include upgrades at three intersections, drainage upgrades, construction of a new multi-use trail, and right-of-way fence removal; $16.7 million. Started in 2024.
    • Route 6 – Reconstructing the roadway from Route 618 to Route 19 in Conneaut Lake Borough and Sadsbury and Vernon townships; $5.2 million. Started in 2024.
    • Interstate 79 – Restoring the highway from the Mercer County line to the Geneva Swamp Bridges near the Greenwood and Union township border; $8.9 million. Started in 2024.
    • Route 8/77 – Intersection safety improvements including a slight intersection realignment; $3 million. Contract awarded in 2024.
    • Route 6 Bridge – Replacement of the bridge that carries Route 6 over French Creek in Hayfield and Woodcock townships; $6.8 million. Contract awarded in 2024. Will reopen October 31, 2025. A second contract for the second Route 6 bridge over French Creek in Hayfield and Woodcock townships was awarded this fall; $6.9 million. Work on that project is expected to start in spring 2026.
    • Route 285 – Paving 4.7 miles of Route 285 in North Shenango Township; $1.85 million.
    • Route 77 – Paving 3.27 miles of Route 77 in Sparta Township and Spartansburg Borough; $1.33 million.
    • Route 322 – Paving 2.68 miles of Route 322 in the City of Meadville and West Mead Township; $1.9 million.
    • Dunham Road Bridge – Replacement of the bridge that carries Dunham Road (Route 2039) bridge over Cussewago Creek in Vernon Township; $5.8 million. Work to be completed in 2026.

    There were 24 active projects in Erie County, including:

    • Bayfront Parkway Project – Multifaceted project with pedestrian improvements, including a bridge, two roundabouts and a grade separated intersection, missing trail connections, and improved lighting; $112 million. Started in 2023. Work to continue in 2026.
    • Route 531 – Reconstruction and improvements of Route 531 (Depot Road) in Harborcreek Township; $13.5 million. Started in 2024.
    • Route 20 Bridge – Replacement of the bridge that carries Route 20 over Twenty Mile Creek in North East Township; $9.6 million. Started in 2024. Opened on October 17, 2025.
    • Jordan Road Bridge – Replacement of the bridge that carries Jordan Road (Route 4108) over Interstate 90 in Harborcreek Township; $5.2 million. Opened on October 3, 2025.
    • Edinboro Pedestrian Project – Construction of a new sidewalk and pedestrian bridge on the southern side of Route 6 near entrance of the PennWest Edinboro campus in the Borough of Edinboro; $658,042.
    • Old Route 99 Bridges – Replacement of three locally-owned bridges on Old Route 99 (Township Road 480) in McKean Township; $3.5 million. All three bridges expected to be opened by late November 2025.
    • Route 20 – Paving 2.4 miles of Ridge Road and Route 20 in the Girard Borough and Girard Township; $3.7 million. Contract awarded in 2024.
    • Route 20 Intersections – Traffic signal improvements to 10 intersections and sidewalk improvements in the City of Erie and Millcreek Township; $2.9 million. Contract awarded in 2024.
    • Group Paving – Paving 5.62 miles of Route 699 (Main Street/Edinboro Road) in Summit, Millcreek, and McKean townships, and McKean Borough; and 2.15 miles of Lake Pleasant Road (Route 1001) in the City of Erie, and Greene and Millcreek townships; $2.6 million.
    • Route 832 – Paving 1.25 miles and traffic signal upgrades and permanent speed tables on Route 832 near Presque Isle State Park in Millcreek Township; $6.3 million. Work to continue in 2026.
    • Group Paving – Paving 4.22 miles of Route 699/99 and 4.09 miles of Route 6 in Washington Township and Edinboro Borough; $2.8 million.
    • Beckman Road Bridge – Removal of the damaged bridge in Girard Township; $391,409.
    • Highway Restoration – Overlay and patching as needed on 17 miles of I-90 in Erie County and 26 miles of I-79 in Erie and Crawford counties; $18.3 million. Work to continue in 2026.  
    • Interstate Ramp Gates – Installation of gates for traffic control as needed at various locations along I-90 and I-79 in Erie County; $580,652. Work to continue in 2026.

    There was one active project in Forest County:

    • German Hill Road – Paving 4.12 miles of German Hill Road (Route 4004) in Tionesta Borough, and Green and Tionesta townships; $1.3 million.

    There were 20 active projects in Mercer County, including:

    • Interstate 80 Reconstruction – Major construction of I-80 from the Ohio state line to mile marker 5; $116 million. Work to continue in 2026.
    • Route 18 and Route 58 Improvements – Intersection improvements and paving near Thiel College in Greenville Borough. Started in 2024. Work to be completed in 2026.
    • Route 19 (Springfield Township) – Replacement of the bridge that carries Route 19 over Johnston Run in Springfield Township. $2 million.
    • Scrubgrass Road Bridge – Replacement of the bridge that carries Scrubgrass Road (Route 2014) over Cool Spring Creek in Findley Township. $3.9 million. Opened on August 23, 2025.
    • Route 58 Bridge – Major repairs to the bridge that carries Route 58 over Wolf Creek in Grove City Borough. $1.9 million. Opened on August 23, 2025.
    • Route 18 – Paving 2.99 miles of Route 18 in Shenango Township, West Middlesex Borough, and the City of Hermitage; $1.8 million.
    • Gilmore Road Bridges – Replacement of the locally-owned bridges on Gilmore Road (Township Road 481) bridges in Wolf Creek Township; $2.4 million. Opened on October 17, 2025.
    • Route 518 – Paving 2.72 miles of Route 518 in the City of Sharon and Sharpsville Borough; $2.1 million.
    • Interstate Patching – Roadway repairs on I-79 in Mercer County and I-80 in Mercer and Venango counties. Started in 2024.
    • Route 718 – Paving 6.3 miles of Route 718 in the cities of Sharon and Hermitage and South Pymatuning Township; $4.2 million.
    • Lamor Road – Roadway and safety improvements on Lamor Road in the City of Hermitage; $1.9 million.

    There were four active projects in Venango County, including:

    • President Road Bridge – Replacing the bridge that carries President Road (Route 2023) over Porcupine Creek in President Township; $1.6 million Started in 2024. Expected to reopen in November 2025.
    • Route 427 – Paving 6.05 miles of Route 427 in Jackson and Plum townships, and the Cooperstown Borough, $3.3 million. Started in 2024.
    • Route 8 (North) – Paving 1.9 miles of Route 8 in Cherrytree Township; $859,649.
    • Route 8 (South) – Paving 1.99 miles of Route 8 in Barkeyville Borough and Irwin Township; $774,087.

    There were seven active projects in Warren County, including:

    • Route 6 – Multi-year paving and bridge project in Conewango and Pleasant townships and the City of Warren; $11 million. Work in 2025 includes the bridge over Allegheny & Eastern Railroads in Conewango Township. Started in 2023.
    • Route 59 Bridge – Rehabilitation of the Kinzua Road bridge over the Allegheny Reservoir in Mead Township; $6 million.
    • Route 27 Bridge – Replacement of the bridge that carries Route 27 over Matthews Run in Sugar Grove Township; $1.3 million. Opened on August 15, 2025.
    • Kane Road/Cole Hill Road Bridge – Replacement of the bridge that carries Kane Road/Cole Hill Road (Route 3014) over Brokenstraw Creek in Pittsfield Township; $2.1 million. Work to continue in 2026.
    • Warren County Bridges – Major repairs to the bridge that carries Cornish Hill Road (Route 4004) over Pine Valley Brook in Columbus Township, opened July 3, 2025, and the bridge that carries Lottsville Niobe Road (Route 4015) over Mill Brook in Freehold Township, opened September 30, 2025; $1.6 million.
    • Route 6 – Paving 4.73 miles of Route 6 in Freehold and Pittsfield townships; $1.8 million.

    There was also active work on seven districtwide or multi-county projects for items such as guiderail repairs and updates, highway patching, permanent message boards, highway lighting repairs and updates, reflective pavement marker installation, and durable pavement markings. 

    A complete list of the District 1 constructions projects is available in the 2025 Construction Book located online under the Partner Resources section at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict1.

    District 1 maintenance forces also had a busy season. Among their accomplishments were completing 400 miles of seal coating, which will preserve and prolong the service life of those roadways, 8,139 miles of lines painted, 905 miles of crack sealing, and 263 miles of ditching. The county bridge crews were also able to clean and flush drainage on 1,541 bridges and install 5,187 signs.

    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 1,200 traffic cameras.

    511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

    Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict1.

    Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.    

     

    EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is a picture of Brian McNulty speaking at Thursday’s event, and photos from 2025 construction season: Route 6 bridge in Crawford County; Route 20 bridge in Erie County; German Hill Road in Forest County; Route 58 bridge in Mercer County; Route 8 in Venango County; and Route 27 bridge in Warren County.

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    MEDIA CONTACT: Jill Harry, 814-678-5035 or jharry@pa.gov