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    Demolition Work Planned at PennDOT’s Northwest Region Office

    March 05, 2026

    Public Access to Building to be Temporarily Restricted Starting March 16, 2026

    The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that work to demolish a portion of the District 1 regional office on Elm Street in Oil City, Venango County is slated to start later this month.

    In 2024, it was observed that the concrete floor of a portion of the building had sunk approximately 6 inches. After assessing the ground conditions beneath that portion of the building and repair options, it was determined that removing the damaged portion was the best choice.

    Work also includes safety upgrades to the lobby and adjacent areas, in addition to repurposing the remaining space formerly occupied by Oil Region CareerLink offices. 

    In connection with the demolition and major renovations, the office will be closed starting March 16, 2026. Most District 1 office employees will be working remotely during this time, and public access to the building will not be available.

    The public is reminded that many PennDOT services are available online at www.pa.gov/penndot.

    Customers will continue to have access to the office by phone by calling 814-678-7085. Mail will continue to be accepted at the office throughout the project.

    Work on the project started in December 2025 with interior demolition and preparation for the demolition. The closure is expected to last approximately four months with additional work on the building to conclude by November 2026.

    The building was constructed in 1975 as the national headquarters of the Quaker State Corporation. Following the company’s relocation about 20 years later, the building was given to Oil City’s Community Development Group. PennDOT purchased the building in 1999 and moved its District 1 office from Franklin to Oil City later that year. 

    There are more than 250 PennDOT employees working from the office to serve Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.

    The contractor is Penn State Construction, J&D LLC, of Lewistown, PA.

    Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.pa.gov/DOTDistrict1. 

    Find PennDOT news for the northwest region on X or Facebook.   

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