OIL CITY, Pa. – An improvement project designed to make Route 38 in southern Venango County a wider, safer and more efficient highway is expected to begin in early March.

The Emlenton Hill Improvement Project will include a full-depth reconstruction of approximately 1.5 miles of Route 38 in Scrubgrass Township and Emlenton Borough. The project area on Route 38 extends from the intersection with Route
208 to the intersection with Route 268.

Improvement work will include bituminous paving, construction of six reinforced concrete retaining walls, construction of a pre-cast concrete culvert, drainage upgrades, paved shoulders, new signs and new pavement markings and guiderail.

The contract cost is $17,156,493.69. The contractor is Mekis Construction Corp. of Fenelton, Pa. The project is to be paid with 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent state funds.

Work is scheduled to begin March 4, weather permitting. Construction is scheduled through 2013 and 2014, with an anticipated completion date of May 1, 2015.

The work is to be done in three phases:

• The first phase will extend from the intersection of Route 208 to the intersection of Big Bend Road. This phase will last approximately three and a half months and will be restricted to local traffic only.
• The second phase will take approximately one month, and involve the replacement of a box culvert between Big Bend Road and Squaw Valley Road. There will be a limited five-day restriction when no traffic will be able to access the area.
• The third phase will involve the area from Squaw Valley Road to the intersection of Route 268.

Traffic Impact: During the period when Route 38 is closed, a detour will be posted using Interstate 80 between Exit 42 (Emlenton, Route 38) and Exit 45 (St. Petersburg/Emlenton, Route 478). Temporary access will be available to
Honeysuckle Road during the third phase of the project.

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