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Increased travel in 2021 will be bringing more road and bridge work to Warren County during the upcoming construction season.
County Planner Dan Glotz said transportation officials were "so short on funding" in 2021 because of declines in the gas tax due to lack of driving in 2020. "Things kind of got cut back," he said. "We just didn't have much cash."
This year will be a different story.
"Things have changed a little bit now," Glotz said, highlighting an influx of funding" from federal stimulus efforts "which has allowed us to bump some projects ahead."
By far the most discussed project on the list is the roundabout in downtown Warren.
"It is out for bid now," Glotz said.
PennDOT officials previously told the Times Observer that the bid opening is set for next week.
The most sizable resurfacing of a state road that is planned for this year will occur on Matthews Run Road from Youngsville to the intersection with Jackson Run Road.
Nearly $1 million worth of work is slated for the retaining wall by the Glade Bridge, as well.
A "high friction surface treatment" aimed at improving safety will also be applied at several sharp curves on roads in the county including one on Jackson Run Road, another on Route 59 at Keenan Street and also at the Henrys Mills area of Route 666.
Other projects include bridge replacements in Bear Lake Borough over the Little Brokenstraw Creek, a bridge over Telic Run on Matthews Run Road (Route 27) between Youngsville and Sugar Grove.
Replacement of a bridge in Pleasant Township on Route 62 that has been restricted to one lane is also on tap. "They almost shut it down," Glotz said, but instead used a lane restriction. "That one has been fast tracked and will be replaced this year."
He said some of the projects are two-year projects and will stretch into 2023.
Increased funding, though, gives transportation officials further options to try to fit more work into the construction season.
Glotz said a resurfacing of Route 62 from near the country club to the state line is in the works as well as a bridge replacement in Pittsfield Township.
He said the bridge replacement timing depends on the bid results while they are "trying to move some money around" for the repaving.