State College, PA -- With construction and utility work continuing, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is issuing an update for its North Atherton Street project in State College. The entire project will take place through 2019, with phased work zones stretching from Aaron Drive to Park Avenue. Work will include relocation of numerous utility lines, relocation of sewer and water lines, drainage improvements, curbing, sidewalks, ADA ramps, traffic signal upgrades, new concrete median and paving.
Through early May, motorists can expect to encounter the following:
- No work will be performed by the contractor from Friday, April 20, through Sunday, April 22, due to the Penn State Blue White weekend. Work will resume on Monday, April 23.
- From Tuesday, April 24, through Thursday, April 26, there will be a detour placed on Aaron Drive. This detour will direct traffic to Vairo Boulevard. The detour is needed for placement of sewer manholes and to tie the new sewer line into existing sewer line at the intersection of Aaron Drive and North Atherton Street.
- During the week of April 23, the contractor will continue with water line installation by transferring water services over to the new water main.
- During the week of April 30, the contractor will pave water and sewer line crossings on Atherton Street and install a waterline crossing at North Hills Plaza.
- No work will be performed by the contractor from Friday, May 4, through Sunday, May 6, due to Penn State commencement. Work will resume on Monday, May 7.
- Utility contractors will continue performing relocation work from Blue Course Drive to Park Avenue. Lane closures will be associated with these relocations. Utility work will continue through June.
- Flaggers will be present in the roadway directing traffic. Traffic may be stopped for short periods of time. Drivers are reminded to use caution when traveling through the work zone. Do not follow construction equipment into the closed lane.
- Travel delays could occur because of the lane closures — especially during high traffic volume times. Drivers should allow for extra travel time.
All work is weather and schedule dependent. PennDOT will issue project updates on a regular basis. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $12.8 million job. Drivers are reminded to move through work zones with caution, obey posted speed limits, and always buckle up.
To help make decisions about travel, motorists are encouraged to "Know Before You Go" by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles 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 850 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.
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