It’s back!

On Thursday, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Community
Relations Coordinator Marla Fannin said work should resume on the
U.S. Route 219 Bradford Bypass within the next few weeks.

Fannin also said a meeting is slated with local community,
emergency and business officials on Wednesday morning at the
American Refining Group to discuss the upcoming construction season
and plans for the bypass work.

“Typically, we see projects beginning in March,” Fannin said,
adding “if the weather had remained consistent, and had been nice
and warm, there probably would have been some activity over the
last couple of weeks.

“Now, we anticipate work to begin sometime in late March or
early April.”

The exact date the work will resume was not immediately
available Thursday afternoon.

The $55 million, 6.93-mile bypass project is being done by
Mascaro Construction Co. of Pittsburgh. Crews spent most of last
year working on the bypass’ southbound lanes of traffic; work was
suspended for the winter on Dec. 22. A skeleton crew remained in
place over the winter to do various smaller projects on the
bypass.

While the jersey barriers and other lane changes remained in
place on the highway over the winter, there was a relatively small
amount of serious accidents taking place in the construction zone,
a major concern for local officials.

Fannin said the Wednesday meeting at ARG will be similar to a
pre-construction meeting held in the same location last year.
During the session, those in attendance will be briefed on the
upcoming work schedule, where the project stands and what traffic
configurations will look like in the coming months.

Last year, Tuna Valley motorists faced major detours around the
bypass and clogged streets, particularly along East Main and High
streets and Jackson Avenue in the city. Crews are expected to
finish the work in the southbound lanes this year, likely leading
to additional detours and traffic delays.

The work also entails the replacement of a handful of bridges
along the span.

Last December, Fannin said Phase II of the bypass project will
be let out for bid in December 2008, with actual construction
taking place between 2009-2010. That phase, which will include work
on the northbound lanes, was pushed back a year due to funding
issues. Phase I, the current work, was slated for two years.