Route 68 in Connoquenessing Twp. to be widened
Motorists who dislike the congestion on Route 68 in Connoquenessing Township will be hung up even more this construction season, but the end result will be a wider highway with better traffic flow.
The state Department of Transportation confirmed that Route 68 between Meridian Road and Stevenson Road will be widened to include a turn lane.
PennDOT spokeswoman Christina Gibbs said bids for the project were advertised beginning Jan. 12.
The winning bidder was Glen O. Hawbaker Inc. of State College at a bid of $18.7 million.
The center left turn lane will be placed in the entire 2-mile length of the project, Gibbs said, and the existing traffic signals will be replaced.
A slight realignment of Route 68 and Stevenson Road is included in the project.
Work will start in the spring, with an anticipated completion in fall 2024.
Gibbs said one lane of traffic will be maintained during construction.
“The project will improve traffic flow through this congested area by adding the turn lane,” Gibbs said in a statement.
Terry Steinheiser, Connoquenessing Township supervisor, is glad the project will finally be completed, but he has been trying to get the road widened for 12 years.
“I’m very disappointed that it took this long to do it,” Steinheiser said.
He also laments that a new traffic signal at the intersection of Route 68, Stevenson and Double roads was not included in the project.
“We had a death there a few weeks ago,” Steinheiser said. “How many more casualties do we need at that intersection before they put a light in?”
He said the township a few years ago collaborated with other municipalities along Route 68 to coordinate traffic lights in an effort to improve traffic flow.
But he said the light at Route 68, Kreiss and Eagle Mill roads caused backups and danger to motorists due to the lack of a turn lane.
“When you get a person wanting to turn (left onto) Kreiss and Eagle Mill, it’s a hazard, because people just go around,” Steinheiser said. “It’s critical that this project is implemented ASAP.”
He hopes PennDOT officials see fit to lower the speed limit on the stretch to be improved, as it is 55 mph now with businesses on both sides of the highway.
“It needs to be 45, and maybe less,” Steinheiser said.
He said 22,000 vehicles per day travel that stretch of Route 68, as many commute from Butler and points east to Route 528 west of Evans City, which allows access to Interstate 79 or Cranberry Township.
“If we had a turn lane, it would keep traffic moving,” Steinheiser said.
He credited township office staff with helping him in his quest to have the road widened.
“They have been one of the greatest assets to me,” Steinheiser said.
