PennDOT Begins Final Design and Right-of-Way Clearance

On December 8, 2009 PennDOT received approval from FHWA to move forward with final design on the preferred alternative described in the Environmental Assessment document.  Over the next few months, PennDOT will prepare construction drawings and specifications detailing all parts of the bridge and roadway construction.  This phase of design also includes in-depth utility coordination to determine locations for impacted utility poles and water and sewer lines.  PennDOT right-of-way coordinators will also begin contacting affected property owners to discuss the impacts of individual properties.  PennDOT anticipates that construction should begin in late spring 2011.

As part of the reconstruction, PennDOT is proposing a roundabout where relocated Route 35 connects to Old US Route 22 near the Tuscarora Junior High School.  This roundabout will have one lane and is designed to handle bus and truck traffic.  For more information on roundabouts, Motorists click here, or Bicyclists/Pedestrians click here. (These files may take a few minutes to download)

PennDOT Provides Update on Juniata River Water Trail

The Juniata River Water Trail will be temporarily affected during construction. Full width causeways for contractor access during construction are needed to construct both the new Juniata River roadway bridge and pedestrian bridge. The two full width causeways will not be in place at the same time during construction. However, partial width layouts at each location may occur. Expect some form of the temporary causeways to be in place for 2 1/2 construction seasons. With the PA Fish and Boat Commission's boating concerns in mind, the Department will provide a minimum 8 feet underclearance of the temporary bridge span for both causeways during normal flow conditions. This will ensure boating traffic will be able to pass through the project area during construction.

For photos depicting "Existing Conditions for River Passage" and "Construction Conditions for River Passage" at the location of the Existing SR 0035 River Bridge, Click on the given descriptions.

PennDOT Posts Determination of Effects Report for Consulting Parties

The Determination of Effects Report is a technical document that helps fulfill the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended). Section 106 requires PennDOT to assess the effects of the Juniata River Bridge Replacement Project on historic properties. Three historic properties, the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad (operated now by Norfolk Southern), the Juniata Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, and the Mifflintown Historic District, have been identified in the vicinity of the proposed replacement bridge.

PennDOT is also required to consult with the public and in some cases, specific agencies and individuals, during the development of the project studies. Individuals representing agencies, and interested and knowledgeable individuals, are termed Consulting Parties. This Effects Report is provided so that the public and the Consulting Parties may review and comment on it.

For more information about the Determination of Effects Report, Click here.

Please provide comments to:

Robert J. Jaconski , P.E. - Project Manager
Ph. (814) 765-0439
rjaconski@state.pa.us

PennDOT Engineering District 2-0
1924 Daisy Street Extension
Clearfield, Pennsylvania 16830

PennDOT Provides status update to Mifflin Borough Officials

PennDOT Project Manager Rob Jaconski presented an update on the Juniata River Bridge replacement project at the Mifflin Borough Council Meeting Monday April 7th. The project team has been working on the environmental clearance document and preliminary engineering plans and will be conducting detailed field investigations in the coming months. Mr. Jaconski displayed a plan showing the latest modifications to the alignment, including a revised connection to Juniata Street, an access culvert under the proposed roadway to the municipal park property, and a roundabout intersection located near the high school property on Main Street. Borough officials discussed the changes and generally support the modifications.

The most significant change discussed involves the replacement of the bridge over the Norfolk Southern rail lines just west of the Juniata Street intersection. Mr. Jaconski stated that the railroad bridge has been programmed for replacement in a similar timeframe as the river bridge project. Because the schedules are comparable, PennDOT is looking to coordinate the railroad bridge replacement with the river bridge work, to optimize construction efficiency and minimize impacts to the residents and traveling public. This change was also favorably received by borough officials.

For more information about the project status and to view a display of the revised alignment, Click here.

PennDOT Announces Selected Preferred Alternative

PennDOT invited the Juniata County Commissioners, members of the Citizens Advisory Committee, and the press to a meeting on October 6, 2006 to announce the selected preferred alternative for the SR 0035 bridge replacement project. Alternative 4, which includes a connection between Wilson Street in Mifflin and SR 3002 (Old Rte 22) in Fermanagh Township, was chosen to move forward with design development. A newsletter will be mailed shortly that describes the selected alternative as it was presented at the last public meeting, preliminary concepts for refinements, survey results from the last public meeting, and the project schedule. Click here to view a summary of the results from the last public meeting.

PennDOT Meets with EMS Providers

PennDOT met with Emergency and Medical Service (EMS) providers who serve the communities of Mifflin and Mifflintown and with Juniata County-wide EMS providers on August 28th, to further assess impacts on their operations associated with Alternative 4 or Alternative 5.

PennDOT Holds a Special Purpose Meeting with Juniata County School District

PennDOT met with Juniata County School District officials and bus drivers on September 19th, to identify potential issues associated with both Alternative 4 and Alternative 5 and to receive information on bus and general school traffic patterns.