OIL CITY, Pa. – A $1 million project that will give motorists a smoother ride on more than four miles of roads in Venango County is expected to begin soon.

Roads to be improved include:

• Route 227 – from the Forest County line to the intersection with Route 27 in Allegheny and Oil Creek townships and the Borough of Pleasantville. 3.86 miles.
• Route 1008 (Merrick Street) – from western intersection with Route 27 in Oil Creek Township to the eastern intersection with Route 27 in the Borough of Pleasantville. 0.65 miles.

Work will include milling and paving, along with curb ramps, drainage upgrades, guiderail, and pavement markings.

The contractor is IA Construction Corporation of Franklin, PA. The contract cost is $1,033,177.77, which is to be paid entirely with state funds.

This project is made possible by Act 89, Pennsylvania’s transportation funding plan.

Work is expected to start May 4, 2018, weather permitting. It is scheduled to be completed by June 29, 2018.

During construction on Merrick Street (SR 1008), the roadway will be closed to through traffic. The closure is expected to be in place from May 7 to 12, weather permitting. A detour will be posted using Route 27.

Work on Route 227 will include lane restrictions with flaggers.

PennDOT urges motorists to slow down when driving in work zones, and also to be alert to changing conditions, avoid distractions and to pay attention to signs and flaggers. Drive responsibly in work zones for your safety and the safety of the workers.

For more information on projects occurring or being bid this year, those made possible by or accelerated by the state transportation funding plan (Act 89), or those on the department’s Four and Twelve Year Plans, visit www.projects.penndot.gov.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 850 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAErie.