Route 8 reconstruction enters final phase

From staff reports

The two-year, $32.6 million project to repair and reconstruct nearly 10 miles of Route 8 from Georgetown Road (Route 3004) in Irwin Township to Polk Cutoff Road (Route 3024) in Sandycreek Township is nearly complete.

The final detour for the project was lifted Friday. The project is expected to be completed early next month, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said in a news release.

Motorists should be alert for temporary lane restrictions and other traffic control as needed to finish the remainder of the project, PennDOT said. Work will include road and driveway tie-ins on the north end of the project area, rumble strips, and raised pavement markers at some of the off- and on-ramps.

“Throughout the Route 8 design and construction process, we heard from hundreds of residents about the significance of this roadway to the economy and quality of life in Venango County” PennDOT District 1 Executive Brian McNulty said. “With this investment into the pavement and bridges, we have ensured the continuation of that important link to Interstate 80 for years to come.”

During the first year of the project, work concentrated on the northbound lanes of Route 8 in Sandycreek, Irwin and Victory townships and included breaking the existing concrete to create a base for the new asphalt pavement, bridge rehabilitation, drainage upgrades, guiderail replacements, and sign updates.

Upgrades were also done to Old Route 8 (Route 3013), which was used as a detour for southbound traffic in both years of the contract.

This year, similar work was done on the southbound lanes as well as rehabilitation work to the bridge that carries southbound and northbound traffic over Georgetown Road, including roadway approaches, deck surfacing and barrier repairs.

That work was completed Friday, and the roadway was fully reopened to all traffic.

The contract cost is $32,645,000, which will be paid for with 80% federal funds and 20% state funds.

Additional information on the Route 8 Reconstruction Project is available at www.penndot.gov/district1.