Route 19 paving work corridor begins
The best advice to drivers who normally travel Murtland, Ridge, Highland and Locust avenues in Washington is to stay away if possible.
Work to pave the streets in the Route 19 corridor project begins at 7 a.m. today and continues until work is completed.
The side streets will be paved during daylight hours while work on Highland will begin at 6 p.m., said Roxanne Rossi, project manager for the state Department of Transportation.
Line painting will be done Friday.
The work is part of a $22.7 million project that includes reconstruction of the four streets between North College Street and the state police barracks on Murtland as well as the realignment of the Locust and Lincoln Street intersection.
Work on the project is being done by Zottola Construction of Valencia, Butler County. Work began in summer 2013. The other portion of the project, known as the Route 19 corridor, on Lincoln and College streets was finished last year.
Rossi said the work is being done today because of expected rainy weather later in the week.
“If at all possible, avoid the area through about noon Friday,” Rossi recommended.
Rossi said the tie-ins on the side streets will be done first.
Locust, which is closed to vehicular traffic between Hallam and Highland, will not reopen until new traffic signals are connected and activated. Once the signals are activated, they will be set on flash for three days to allow motorists to become accustomed to them.
Once those lights are activated, signals in the entire project area will be coordinated, including those on Lincoln and College.