End in sight for construction on Atherton Street project
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STATE COLLEGE -- Over the past decade, there have been a number of construction projects along Atherton Street.
Currently, PennDOT is in the final stretch of the most recent project, which impacts construction between Curtin Road to just north of Westerly Parkway.
In spring 2022, the work to relocate underground utilities began, and then in July of the same year, physical construction started.
"In addition to the roadway reconstruction work, there is a significant amount of underground utility work, including water and sewer line replacement as well as improved storm water drainage," shared PennDOT Press Officer Tim Nebgen.
The contract amount of this project is $30.7 million and with the financial aid from federal, state, and municipal government sources as well as contributions from Penn State University, the project is nearing completion, said Nebgen.
Anyone who has traveled to State College in the last few years, is sure to have crossed the Atherton Street construction a handful of times, and while it may have been a disadvantage at the time due to lane restrictions, the finished product will be well worth it.
"Once complete, the project will improve ride quality of the roadway and allow for future development in the area," said Nebgen. "The new traffic signal and ITS upgrades are also expected to enhance safety for pedestrians in the area."
Throughout the duration of this two-year project, construction items included: resurfacing the roadway to improve the ride quality and extend the service life, as well as the installation of a new drainage system, underground gas, water, and sewer lines, and the relocation of some overhead power lines. Additionally, there were several upgrades to the traffic signals within the project limits that are expected to enhance safety for motorists and pedestrians.
The most recent updates included around-the-clock-work on Atherton Street, which began Sept. 30.
Nebgen said, "once paving between Curtin Road and Beaver Avenue wraps up in about two weeks, significant traffic impacts associated with this project will be over with all work expected to wrap before the end of October."
The final step in this project is the milling and paving of the road. Pavement milling, also referred to as asphalt milling or cold milling, is the process of removing part of a paved surface so that the top layer can be repaired or replaced without having to complete full depth roadway reconstruction, explained Nebgen.
This process began with crews milling the roadway surface between Curtin Road and Beaver Avenue. Overnight, crews paved the roadway surface within that same stretch.
Plans for milling are expected to continue the week of Oct. 7 under the same schedule, with milling during the day and paving through the night.
Once paving is complete, drivers may encounter short-term lane closures the week of Oct. 14, however significant traffic impacts associated with this project will have ended.
"This project represents a significant improvement to the quality of life of State College area residents that will benefit the community for years to come," said Nebgen.