Two projects funded through the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) are on their way to beginning work in Sheffield Township.
According to Township Secretary Kristi Kulka, work on the Center Street bridge in Sheffield is slated to begin in August. E&M Engineering's Chris Ernst, who is working on the project, said the project has been in planning stages since 2008. He said the project should be completed by fall.
Ernst said planning for another bridge project on Henry's Mill Road has been ongoing since 2009. According to Ernst, the project is in the final design stages and slated to begin in 2013.
Ernst said the projects are designed to cause a minimum of traffic interference and detour routes have been planned.
"It'll be sequenced pretty well," Ernst said. "Center Street will be, hopefully, wrapped up in the fall and we can start on Henry's Mill in the spring."
Non-TIP funding for the Henry's Mill project is still being finalized.
Both projects are partially funded through TIP. The PennDOT program provides the majority of funding for transportation projects through distribution of federal funds at the state and local level.
As a result of those two projects, the Sheffield Township Supervisors on May 7 received notice from the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission that they had been identified as being required to display the 2013-2016 Draft TIP document. The TIP draft document provides information on all TIP funded projects in the county through 2016. The document will be on display for public comment from until June 8, at which time a public meeting on the 2013-2016 draft will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the planning and development commission offices at 395 Seneca St. in Oil City.