The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of June 16. 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 546 at a bridge spanning Knapp Creek in Otto Township. Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact, however PennDOT still urges drivers to exercise caution when passing crews working along the shoulder.

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.

Mechanized Patching

• Route 1017 (RL Sweitzer Drive) between Route 246 and Route 346 in Otto Township. Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Mechanized patching is used to patch limited roadway areas that have extensive potholes, large areas of cracked pavement, and depressions. If mechanized patching was not performed, the damaged road surface would further deteriorate, resulting in PennDOT needing to completely rebuild the road or perform more costly corrective measures.

Pipe Replacing & Cleaning

• Route 321 between Route 346 and Route 59 in Corydon Township. Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 321 between Route 59 in Corydon and the Elk-McKean County line approximately 2.5 miles south of Kane Borough in Wetmore Township. Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 346 between the McKean-Warren County line approximately 15 miles east of the City of Bradford and Main Street in the City of Bradford. Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 246 between Route 46 in Foster Township and Route 346 in Otto Township. Friday, June 20. 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.

Shoulder Maintenance

• Route 646 starting at Route 346 in Foster Township continuing northbound approximately 3.25 miles to the New York-Pennsylvania State line. Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 646 between Route 59 in Keating Township and Route 346 in Foster Township. Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Shoulder cutting removes excess material and debris from unpaved shoulder areas. Shoulder grading involves the shaping and stabilizing of those same areas. Both operations improve drainage, allow water to leave the roadway, and eliminate shoulder drop-offs. These are crucial highway maintenance operations because when drainage systems do not function properly, water collects on the road, weakens pavement, accelerates the formation of potholes, and creates the potential for icing conditions in the winter months.

Vegetation Management

• Route 6 approximately 500 feet east of Lower Grimes Road in Liberty Township. Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact, however PennDOT still urges drivers to exercise caution when passing crews working along the shoulder.
• Route 219 near Lantz Corners in Hamlin Township. Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact, however PennDOT still urges drivers to exercise caution when passing crews working along the shoulder.

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.

Customers can report road concerns by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD. If calling after hours, please leave a name and phone number.