From staff reports
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will display plans for a $30 million roadway project on Route 8 in Irwin, Victory and Sandycreek townships at various locations this month.
The project will include a portion of Route 8 (Richard C. Frame Highway) from just south of Melvin Road in Irwin Township to Polk Cutoff Road in Sandycreek Township.
Work is expected to take place during the 2020 and 2021 construction seasons.
Work will also include bridge rehabilitation, drainage repairs, guiderail replacement and signing replacements.
The estimated cost of the project is $30 to $35 million. On average, about 7,700 vehicles a day use the roadway.
Plans for the project, including information on possible detours, will be on display at the following locations:
– PennDOT building, 255 Elm St., Oil City – 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday through Oct. 17.
– Sandycreek Township building, 878 Pone Lane, Franklin – 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday through Oct. 17.
– Irwin Township building, 132 Irwin Road, Harrisville – 8 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15.
– Victory Township office, 2794 Old Route 8, Polk – 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, Oct. 9 and Oct. 16.
Construction will be completed in phases, which will require detours. The proposed detours include the following:
Phase 2 – All northbound and southbound traffic will be detoured from Route 8 at the southern portion of the work area. The proposed detour route, which is 1.7 miles long, will use Old Route 8 and Georgetown Road. It is expected to be in place for two weeks.
Phase 3 – Southbound traffic on Route 8 will be detoured to Old Route 8 from the intersection of Route 8 and Polk Cutoff Road to the intersection of Route 8 and Old Route 8. Northbound traffic will use the southbound lanes of Route 8. The detour length is 11.3 miles. It is expected to be in place for approximately six months during the 2020 construction season.
Phase 4 – Southbound traffic on Route 8 will be detoured to Old Route 8 from the intersection of Route 8 and Polk Cutoff Road to the intersection of Route 8 and Old Route 8. The detour length is 11.3 miles. It is expected to be in place for approximately six months during the 2021 construction season.
Information included in the plans display, including the comment form, is available online at www.penndot.gov/district1 by clicking on the Public Meetings link under the Resources heading and then choosing the Venango County Route 8 Project tile.
PennDOT conducted a study of the corridor in 2018 and looked at various aspects including existing and future traffic operations, safety, corridor deficiencies, roadway and bridge conditions, support of planning initiatives, and support of the regional economy. This project was developed from that study.
