The actual work on the U.S. Route 219 bypass in Bradford will
likely start in April, but the worries about traffic delays have
already begun.

“We definitely need the road to be taken care of,” said Sara
Andrews, executive director of the Office of Economic and Community
Development. But she acknowledged that going through the
construction part of any road project creates a bit of a hardship
on a community.

“It needs addressed,” she said of the poor condition of the
bypass. “It doesn’t say a lot for the community when that bypass is
the first thing (visitors) see coming into the community.”

The end result – a brand new road – will certainly be worth the
wait, Andrews said.

As the project draws closer, several members of the business
community have expressed concerns to city officials about the
impact the project could have on their businesses.

“A lot of the companies that have a lot of truck traffic into
their facility daily … any delays that may occur could hurt their
businesses,” she said.

So city officials took their concerns to the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation, and the agency is working on setting
up a meeting to address perceived issues.

“Currently, the engineer in charge of the project is working on
organizing such a meeting later this month,” explained Marla
Fannin, community relations coordinator with PennDOT.

She said concerns of the business community will be taken into
consideration “up to a certain point. We do try to work with
businesses in regards to a certain concern.”

“There might be a wrinkle in a certain situation that we’re not
aware of,” she added.

Fannin said any business representative who has a concern about
the impact of the impending project can contact PennDOT to be
included in the meeting when it is scheduled.

Andrews said businesses could also contact her, City Clerk John
Peterson or Councilman Dan Costello. They will pass the concerns
along to PennDOT as well.

“I know the construction engineer has had contact with some
businesses,” Fannin said, explaining that communication lines are
already open.

PennDOT’s engineer for the project is Kent Renaud, an assistant
construction engineer with the agency, who is no stranger to the
area, she explained. “On a regular basis, he works on projects in
McKean, Potter and Cameron counties.”

The contractors for the project will be Mascaro Construction Co.
of Pittsburgh.

While the actual work is likely to begin next month, some
preparations are under way now. Some signs with covers over them
are already placed along the highway, to be unveiled when
needed.

“Those are all for the typical preliminary-type things the
contractors are able to do before the actual project begins,”
Fannin said. For example, when there are bridges involved in a
replacement project, the contractor will work on clearing the area
and other preparatory work in advance, she explained.

Andrews said it is still too early to know exactly when and
where traffic will be routed for detours during the $55 million,
two-year project.

“A lot of the downtown traffic is going to be much more
significant than we’re used to seeing by vehicles avoiding the
construction,” she said, referring specifically to High Street and
South Avenue. “We’ll have wear and tear on city streets.”

The southbound lanes of travel are expected to be completed
first, as will the on-ramps for the expressway. The northbound
lanes will be replaced after the southbound lanes are
completed.