Progress continues with the design for the reconstruction and widening of Route 22, Section B10 in Westmoreland County.

The Project Team held a Design Field View on October 28, 2004, in which, representatives from DOT Central Office, DOT District 12 and the Federal Highway Administration reviewed plans for roadway alignment and profile, signal plans, signing and pavement marking plans, structure plans and erosion control plans. The comments received during this Design Field View will not affect the line and grade for Rt. 22 or any of the impacted side roads. All comments received will however, be incorporated into the Final Design of the roadway.

During Final Design the team prepares the plans, specifications and cost estimates for construction. Included in this information are the specifications prescribing materials, dimensions, standards, methods of payment and workmanship for items to be built, installed or manufactured.

Upon completion of the final design of the highway drainage and erosion control measures, the final required right-of-way line will be established. The final right-of-way plans will then be prepared to allow right-of-way negotiation and acquisition to begin. This is expected to occur no sooner than Spring, 2006.

Right-of Way for this project includes the land and property necessary for the construction, maintenance, operations and protection of Section of B10. It is anticipated that right-of-way for this project will involve approximately 55 properties (including some displacements).

A drilling contract, to gather subsurface soil information for roadway and structure design, was completed in early Fall 2004.

Letters of Intent-to-Enter were recently resent to property owners located in the project area. These letters are being sent to remind property owners that environmental studies continue and that members of the project team will be entering their property to conduct various studies. Intent-to-Enter letters do not mean that a property will be acquired.

In 2002, a public plans display and an emergency service coordinators meeting were held to inform the community about important design elements of this project, including the placement of median barrier and the location of turn lanes, signalized intersections and jughandles to enhance safety and mobility, and to provide an opportunity for community input. Please click here for more information about the public plans display and the emergency service coordinators meeting.

Because this project affects local wetlands, mitigation measures will be taken. These measures will be coordinated with the Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers throughout final design.

Wetland mitigation for this project was completed through the construction of a wetland replacement site at the Loyalhanna Creek property owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The wetland mitigation site  includes approximately 2.75 acres of wetlands. However, additional mitigation work has been done near the existing site and the plans for this additional work are available for review at PennDOT District 12-0.

Construction should be completed in 2011. Construction activities are expected to slow traffic in the project area, especially during peak traffic times. No detours are planned, and access to local businesses and residences will be maintained during construction.