The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of June 24. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in McKean County for the coming week is as follows:

Bridge Maintenance & Cleaning

• A Route 46 (Emporium Road) bridge spanning Colegrove Brook in Norwich Township. Monday, June 24, and Tuesday, June 25. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact.
• A Route 4002 (Owens Way) bridge spanning the East Branch of Tunungwant Creek between Route 219 and High Street. Wednesday, June 26, through Friday, June 28. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact.

Pennsylvania has some of the oldest bridges in the country, with an age of more than 50 years on average. Preventive maintenance is vital in extending the life of the structures. As such, PennDOT maintenance crews perform some bridge deck patching and structural repairs.

Pipe Replacing & Cleaning

• Route 59 between the Warren-McKean County line and Bingham Road in Lafayette Township. Monday, June 24, through Friday, June 28. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Pipe replacement and cleaning are essential in maintaining water flow around state roadways. Controlling water flow is one of the most important aspects of maintaining pavements. Uncontrolled water flow will damage both the pavement surface and the area under the pavement, which causes deterioration across the length of the pipe.

Vegetation Management

• Various routes throughout the county. Monday, June 24, through Friday, June 28. This work takes place on the shoulder and has minimal, if any, traffic impact, however PennDOT urges drivers to exercise caution through the work zone.

Mowing, herbicide spraying, and selected tree thinning help maintain a safe roadway free of obstructing vegetation, improving visibility to spot signage, traffic control devices, and other motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and animals approaching the road. Additionally, a well-maintained roadside can improve drainage and prolong the life of the roadway.

Sweeping

• Various routes throughout the county. Monday, June 24, through Friday, June 28. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours. PennDOT vehicles will occupy a single lane while this work takes place. Where passing is not permitted for extended lengths, the vehicles will leave the roadway periodically to allow queued traffic to pass and resume normal speeds.

Sweeping utilizes a mechanical broom attachment on a piece of mobile highway equipment used to remove loose debris from the roadway, improving safety and surface traction for motorists.

This schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions, emergencies, or other unforeseen interruptions.