Drivers should be alert for a new traffic pattern on Interstate 80 in Mercer County starting next week as major reconstruction work continues.
Under the new traffic pattern, westbound traffic will shift slightly onto the shoulder of the highway, making room for one lane of eastbound traffic adjacent to the westbound lanes. A second lane for eastbound traffic will be maintained adjacent to the work zone.
The lane shifts will be in place from the Shenango River Bridge to the Route 318 Bridge, including the area around the Interstate 376 interchange.
The change is expected to start July 1, 2025, and remain in place for several months.
The Interstate 80 Reconstruction Project includes major improvements to the highway from the Ohio state line to mile marker 5, including milling, asphalt and concrete paving, concrete patching, drainage and guiderail upgrades, right-of-way fencing, concrete curbing, topsoil, seeding/mulching, highway lighting, signing, highway markers line painting, and permanent digital message boards.
Work also includes repairs to five bridges, including the replacement and widening of the bridges over Route 318 in Shenango Township.
Construction began in April 2025 and is being completed in phases through 2027.
As part of the traffic control safety efforts, PennDOT has installed temporary traffic cameras along the interstate, which can be viewed at www.511PA.com.
The contractor is Glen O. Hawbaker of State College, PA. The contract cost is $115,680,680, which is to be paid entirely with federal funds.
Information on the Interstate 80 Reconstruction Project is available online at www.penndot.pa.gov/District1 under the Projects Near You and the District 1 link.
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.
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 website.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District1.
Find PennDOT news for the northwest region on X or Facebook.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Jill Harry, 814-678-5035 or jharry@pa.gov