Lehigh Times

As part of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a six-county area Pennsylvania will be benefiting from 32 major projects up for bid in 2022 that are devoted to fixing the state's roads and bridges.

Gov. Tom Wolf met with officials in Lackawanna County near Route 6, also known as the Robert P. Casey Highway, which will be the site of one of the projects, the governor's office said in a release today. The site will have a 15-mile, $30 million pavement- and bridge-preservation project starting in 2022.

"Thanks to the infrastructure law, we are beginning to rebuild our roads, bridges and more vital infrastructure right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania," Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) said at the meeting. "The Casey Highway project and others throughout our region will create good-paying jobs, make it safer and easier for people to get around and jumpstart the most significant improvements to our infrastructure in a generation."

This is just one project across the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Engineering District 4 region, which includes the counties of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming, Wolf's office said. There are plans for 88 bridges to be either replaced or repaired, as well as nearly 245 miles of paving.

This year, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide a minimum of $49.6 million in funding to be allocated by PennDOT and local metropolitan and rural planning organizations, Wolf's office said. The projects receiving additional funding include the Lackawanna Luzerne Transportation Study, with a minimum of $21.8 million; Northeastern Pennsylvania, with a minimum of $12.1 million; Northern Tier, with a minimum of $13.9 million; and Wayne County, with a minimum of $1.8 million.

"We are looking forward to beginning projects that would not have been possible this year without the additional funding," Richard Roman, PennDOT District 4 executive said at the meeting. "The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be integral to completing much needed projects over the next five years."

There are also seven major projects across the state that will continue over the year, which include resurfacing, improvements, preservations and replacements of bridges and roads, as well as 19 other projects that will start this year or have already started in 2022, Wolf's office reported. In total, there will be at least 55 projects in Northeastern Pennsylvania in 2022.

"We have no shortage of needs, and we have many meaningful projects that will modernize our infrastructure while creating sustainable, good-paying jobs that will be transformative for our transportation system and our local economies," Mike Keiser, PennDOT's acting deputy secretary for highway administration, said at the meeting.

While construction is ongoing, travelers should keep the safety of the public and highway workers in mind as they drive through work zones, Wolf's office said. Drivers are urged to mind the speed limit, turn on headlights, and watch for signs and flaggers, as well as use both lanes off travel in merging areas and take turns when leaving blocked lanes.

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is bringing benefits to every corner of Pennsylvania, and we are quickly delivering on its promises," Wolf said at the meeting. "While these improvements occur, I urge the public to drive safely in work zones so you and roadway workers can get home each day."

Those who would like to check road conditions can do so by going to 511PA.com, Wolf's office said. The site provides access to over 1,000 traffic cameras, traffic speed and delays, and weather. The information can also be accessed by calling 511 or following @511PANortheast on Twitter.