Dignitaries cut the ribbon on the new southbound
lanes for Route 15, formally opening the Steam Valley Mountain section in
northern Lycoming County to traffic late this morning.
“Today we
celebrate a significant step in the three-year construction project
between Trout Run and Buttonwood. This massive (undertaking), at $60
million the single largest contract bid in District 3-0’s history,
includes the reconstruction of more than five miles of the southbound
lanes and three miles of northbound lanes… to interstate standards,” said
Sandra Tosca, P.E., PennDOT District Executive.
While the work
will not be completed until fall 2010, “we’re holding the dedication today
because the opening of the southbound lanes on a new alignment is the most
significant step we’ll be taking between now and final completion,” she
added.
The new southbound lanes provide a safer, modernized
alignment, replacing the original construction that took place in 1923 and
an upgrade in 1951.
Work also includes a full interchange with
Route 184 at the summit of the mountain, a split-diamond interchange with
Steam Valley and Green Mountain Roads a few miles south, 3.5 million cubic
yards of earthwork, four new bridges, six box culverts, a retaining wall
and related construction.
Over the winter months, southbound
traffic will have two lanes to travel. Northbound will have two lanes,
except for a half-mile single-lane section around the southern end of
Steam Valley Road where a new bridge will be built as part of the
interchange there.
Final paving from Trout Run to the Route 184
Interchange will take place next summer.
Prime designer was Gannett
Fleming, Inc. Prime contractor is Trumbull Corp.
Dignitaries
cutting the ribbon included PA Senator Gene Yaw, Susan Mathias -aide to US
Congressman Chris Carney, Charley Hall – aide to PA Representative Garth
Everett, Route 15 Coalition President Mark Murawski, Lycoming County
Commissioners Jeff Wheeland and Ernie Larson, Cogan House Township
Supervisor Howard Fry, Rodney Wood – project engineer for Trumbull Corp.,
Dave Hamlet from Gannett Fleming, Appalachian Thruway Association Chairman
Ted Bennett and Tosca. Holding the ribbon for the dignitaries were John
Stetts – PennDOT project manager during design and Lance Ridall – PennDOT
project manager for construction. |