The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of September 23. 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

• Route 46 at a bridge spanning Tyler Brook between the intersections of Route 446 and Bordell Crossroads approximately five miles north of Smethport in Keating Township. Monday, September 23, through Friday, September 27. 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.

Crack Seal & Hot Pour Mastic

• Route 44 between the intersections of Kings Run Road near the Pennsylvania-New York State line in Ceres Township and the McKean-Potter County line at Shinglehouse Borough. Monday, September 23. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 546 between the Pennsylvania-New York State line and the intersection of Route 346 in Otto Township. Tuesday, September 24. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 1006 (McCrae Brook Road) between the intersections of Route 446 in Eldred Township and Kings Run Road in Ceres Township. Tuesday, September 24, and Wednesday, September 25. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 1011 (Barnum Road/Eldred Road) between the intersections of Route 346 and Pennsylvania-New York State line in Eldred Township. Friday, September 27. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Crack sealing and hot pour mastic operations prevent water intrusion from seeping through cracks or joints in an asphalt road, which can lead to potholes and pavement breakup. They are proactive preventive maintenance strategies to prevent water from entering the roadways and accelerating the formation of potholes and other failures.

Pipe Replacing & Cleaning

• Route 219 between the Elk-McKean County line in Sergeant Township and the Pennsylvania-New York State line in Foster Township. Monday, September 23, through Friday, September 27. 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

• Route 646 between the intersection of Route 59 in Keating Township and the Pennsylvania-New York State line in Otto Township. Monday, September 23, and Tuesday, September 24. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact.

·         Route 770 between the intersections of Route 59 in Lafayette Township and Route 646 in Keating Township. Tuesday, September 24, and Wednesday, September 25. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact.

·         Route 346 between the McKean-Warren County line in Corydon Township and the intersection of Route 446 in Eldred. Wednesday, September 25, and Thursday, September 26. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact.

• Route 219 near the intersection with Route 6 at Lantz Corners in Hamlin Township. Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact.

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.

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