FRANKLIN, Pa. — The northwest region of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to attend a second open house meeting on the Route 8 Asset Management and Corridor Improvement Study.

During the meeting, representatives from PennDOT and Michael Baker International will provide an update on the study and review the recommendations for the corridor.

The meeting will be held:

DATE Tuesday June 26, 2018

TIME: 5:30 to 7:00 PM, presentation at 5:45 PM

LOCATION: Franklin Area Jr./Sr. High School auditorium, 246 Pone Lane, Franklin, Pa.

The public is welcome to attend at any time during the open house hours.

PennDOT has been studying options to best manage and improve Route 8 (Richard Frame Memorial Highway) in Venango County between Georgetown Road in Irwin Township and DeBence Drive in Sandy Creek Township, a distance of about 10.5 miles.

The purpose of the study is to identify issues related to existing Route 8, including existing and future traffic operations, safety, corridor deficiencies, roadway and bridge conditions, support of planning initiatives, and support of the regional economy. Maintenance of the roadway is becoming more costly and the existing concrete pavement and bridges are approaching the end of their design life.

The study has examined options for improvements or changes to the roadway configuration and determined a long-range strategy for maintaining and improving the corridor.

Based on earlier study results, PennDOT refined the study to focus on four-lane options only. An economic analysis has been done to determine the cost of maintaining the current four-lane roadway section for long-term asset management.

Information on the study’s purpose, status, schedule, existing and forecast roadway conditions, an evaluation of the ideas considered, and the recommended four-lane option will be available for review and comment. PennDOT representatives, along with our design consultants, will make a brief presentation and will be available to answer questions.

The meeting location is handicapped accessible. The project documents will be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation/interpretation services, we ask that you contact Tom McClelland, P.E., no later than June 19 at thmcclella@pa.gov, or 814-678-7081.