Project Status
Step 3 of 4
Construction
Next Step: Construction
Project Overview
County: Venango
Municipality: City of Franklin
State Routes: Route 8, 62 & 322
Local Name: 15th, 12th, 8th, and Liberty Streets
Project Type: Roadway Restoration and Safety Improvements
MPMS Number: 109153 and 118375
Construction Start: April 2026
Construction End: July 2027
Last Updated: 09/17/2026
The purpose of the project is to provide reliable and efficient transportation facilities for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
The project includes resurfacing and intersection upgrades on Route 62/322 from the intersection of Liberty Street and Eighth Street in the City of Franklin to the intersection of Route 8 and Route 62 in Sandycreek Township.
Work includes milling and paving, storm water drainage upgrades, tree trimming and removal, and roadway painting throughout the entire length of the corridor. The project also includes sidewalk and curb ramp updates as needed and improvements at eight intersections.
Following the completion of the project, the lanes for through traffic will be permanently modified to one in each direction between 11th Street and 13th Street to accommodate the creation of left turning lanes and bike lanes in connection with the city’s long-term plan.
The contractor is Lindy Paving, Inc., of New Galilee, PA. The contract cost is $16,919,145, which is to be paid through a combination of state and federal funds, including a Transportation Alterative Set-Aside grant awarded to the City of Franklin.
The project started in April 2026. and work will conclude for the winter by October 30, 2026. The entire project will be completed in 2027.
Work accomplished as of September 17, 2026 includes:
- Full-depth reconstruction on Route 8/62 from Chestnut Street to 14th Street
- Intersection widening at 8th Street, Garnett Wood Way, and 15th Street.
- Realignment of intersection of Liberty and 12th streets.
- Waterline replacement and various utility repairs.
- 80% of the curb and sidewalks.
- 85% of the drainage.
- 50% of signal foundations.
Work on the project will continue until November, as weather permits with the following activities expected to occur:
- Temporary asphalt paving at 8th and 12th streets.
- Complete drainage and guide rail on the 15th Street hill.
- Finish curb, sidewalk, and signal foundations throughout the corridor.
Construction will be completed in 2027 with the following work to be done throughout the project area:
- Milling and base repair.
- Manhole adjustments.
- Final asphalt paving.
- Truck ramp updates.
- Final line painting.
- Traffic signal installation.
Project Updates
Regular project updates are also posted on PennDOT's Northwest Region Facebook group.
The purpose of the project is to provide reliable and efficient transportation facilities for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
The project includes upgrades on Route 62/322 from the intersection of Liberty Street and Eighth Street in the City of Franklin to the intersection of Route 8 and Route 62 in Sandycreek Township.
“One of the challenges of working on projects like this in the heart of cities is the aging infrastructure and the accuracy of historical records. PennDOT and our contractors try to anticipate what is below the surface, but sometimes we find things aren’t quite where we expect or were not expected at all,” said PennDOT District 1 Executive Brian McNulty. “In the case of Franklin project, unforeseen work included an aged water line that warranted replacement, as well as a brick culvert that needed repairs. For the longevity of the new road and the safety of drivers, these things had to be dealt with despite not being part of the original construction timeline.”
The project started in April 2026 with an anticipated completion in 2027. The unexpected delays required revisions of the work schedule, which will move some construction initially intended to be done in this year to 2027.
“One question we have been receiving a lot is ‘what will the road and sidewalks look like for Applefest?’ Our team maintains an open conversation with the city and the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce about many topics, including the festival. We intend to have our project area safe, walkable and as open as possible by the start of October,” McNulty said.
Reconstruction work on Route 62/Route 8 in the City of Franklin, Venango County, is scheduled to start the evening of August 14, 2026.
In connection with the work, the road will be closed to through traffic from the intersection of Liberty Street and 14th Street to the split between Route 62 and Route 8 near the top of the 15th Street hill.
The closure is expected to be in place for five days from the start of work at 8:00PM on August 14 to 6:00 AM on August 20, 2026.
Separate detours will be posted for passenger vehicles and large trucks. The passenger vehicle detour will be posted using Bully Hill Road (Route 3021), Congress Hill Road (Route 3021), Pone Lane (Route 3021), and Route 8. A truck detour will be posted using Route 62, Route 173, and Route 322. Commercial vehicles are not permitted to use Bully Hill Road.
Drivers should be alert for changing traffic patterns on Liberty Street (Route 62/Route 322) in the City of Franklin, Venango County as work shifts to the courthouse side of the 12th Street intersection starting July 21, 2026.
Construction at the intersection includes new curbs and sidewalks, traffic signal foundations, and drainage updates.
With the switch, the intersection will continue to have one lane for Liberty Street traffic going straight or turning right at 12th Street and one lane for traffic turning left from Liberty onto 12th Street.
Drivers are not permitted to turn right on red for the duration of the work at that location.
Major work has started at Liberty and 12th streets in Franklin, Venango County. Drivers, pedestrians & cyclists should be alert for the new traffic pattern. Stop bars have been moved; left turn lanes and temporary signals added on Liberty; and some sidewalks and crosswalks temporarily closed. Please obey signs and signals to safely access shops and restaurants.
Drivers should be alert for changing traffic patterns on Liberty Street (Route 62/Route 322) in the City of Franklin, Venango County as temporary traffic lights will be turned on at two intersections next week.
The signals were installed at the Liberty Street intersections with Eighth and 12th streets earlier this month. Both sets of signals are expected to be turned on June 2, 2026, and remain in place throughout construction.
In connection with the temporary signals at Eighth Street, drivers will not be permitted to turn right on red for the duration of the work there.
Read the full announcement here.
Preliminary work will start April 13, 2026. These activities include setting up signs and staging equipment and materials.
The construction schedule for the project has been updated.
Starting April 13, drivers should anticipate temporary lane restrictions with flaggers controlling traffic near the intersection of 15th Street and Liberty Street as tree trimming work requires. There will be a lane shift and limited on-street parking at the intersection of Garnett Wood Way and Liberty Street as drainage work starts.
Traffic Impact
Throughout the project, drivers should be alert for traffic shifts and temporary lane restrictions with traffic controlled by flaggers and should anticipate travel delays. Some work will be completed during nighttime hours, which will be announced in advance.
Work at the 12th Street intersection will require lane closures and will limit turning options between streets at times.
To complete a full reconstruction of the road near the intersection of Liberty Street and 15th Street, Route 62/8 will be closed for 5 days from 14th Street to the split of Route 8 and Route 62 near the top of the 15th Street hill. The closure is expected to start at 8:00 PM on August 14 and continue until 6:00 AM on August 20. There will be nighttime work throughout the five-day stretch.
A 42.9-mile truck detour will be posted using Route 62, Route 173, and Route 322 through Sandy Lake and Cochranton.
The 4.6-mile car detour would be posted using Bully Hill Road (Route 3021), Congress Hill Road (Route 3021), Pone Lane (Route 3021), and Route 8 (15th Street). Commercial vehicles are not permitted to use Bully Hill Road.
Intersection Updates
The project also includes sidewalk and curb ramp updates as needed and improvements at eight intersections, including the following:
- Eighth Street – Updated signals, intersection widening.
- Ninth Street – Updated signals.
- Washington Crossing – Updated signals.
- 11th Street – Updated signals.
- 12th Street – Improvements to the roadway geometry, addition of left turning lanes on Liberty Street, updated traffic and pedestrian signals, shorter pedestrian crosswalks, pedestrian bump outs, and ADA compliant curb ramps.
- 13th Street – Addition of left turning lanes on Liberty Street, updated traffic and pedestrian signals, and ADA compliant curb ramps.
- 14th Street – Updated signals.
- 15th Street – Minor roadway widening to accommodate truck turning radius and updated flashing signal.
Past Public Outreach
An in-person public meeting was held January 2020. A presentation was given of 12th Street improvement alternatives. Attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions. The presentation was boards that were on display are available below.
An update on the project was announced in August 2020.
A second in-person meeting was held in November 2023. A presentation of updates was given and the public was given a chance to provide feedback.
Franklin City Council was provided an update on the project during their public meeting in December 2024.
An online plans display focused on the possible closure of the 15th Street intersection was held in December 2025.
Contact Information
Jacob Sothwick
Project Manager
jsouthwick@pa.gov
Jill Harry
Press Officer
814-678-5035
jharry@pa.gov
Accessibility
The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation or interpretation services, have special needs, or have concerns that require individual attention, please contact the Project Manager listed above.
Title VI
Pursuant to the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the PennDOT, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891.