Bellefonte, PA – As work on the local interchange/Route 26 project in Centre County continues, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is providing a start of October update on the project. The work zone is along I-80 near the Bellefonte/161 interchange and can affect traffic flow on Interstate 80 and Route 26. 

Motorists should anticipate the following the week of October 3: 

Interstate 80 eastbound: 

• From Monday, October 3, through Sunday, October 9, the through lane on I-80 eastbound will be closed around the clock. All traffic will use the crossover, with eastbound traffic proceeding in a single lane.

Interstate 80 westbound:

• All lanes on I-80 westbound are shifted right. In this configuration, the shoulder functions as the travel lane and the travel lane as the passing lane. Crews will be engaged in slow-moving operations Monday through Wednesday that will alternate between the travel and passing lane and could result in stopped and slowed traffic within the work zone. PennDOT advises motorists to stay alert for stopped and slowed traffic conditions and allow extra travel time.

Route 26:

• Route 26 is now in a long-term configuration with two 10-foot lanes open through the work zone. Work is occurring behind concrete barrier. PennDOT urges drivers to watch for temporary driveways and construction vehicles throughout the work zone.

All work is contingent on the weather. 

Work scheduled through this season includes three miles of reconstruction on I-80 eastbound, building new ramps and a connector road, completing a bridge structure, and reconstructing and improving a section of Route 26. 

The I-80/Route 26 local interchange project is east of Bellefonte and is part of a long-awaited safety improvement in Centre County. HRI, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $52 million project. Up-to-date information is available on the project page at www.penndot.pa.gov/jacksonvilleroad. 

The local interchange project is the first phase of a three-phase project to build local access, a high-speed interchange connection between I-99 and I-80 and improve Jacksonville Road. In July 2018, the project was awarded an initial $35 million federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant. Completing all three phases will support the regional freight economy and improve the reliability of roadway travel throughout the region. 

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Subscribe to PennDOT news in Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Juniata, McKean, Mifflin, and Potter counties at www.penndot.gov/District2. 

Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.
                                                                                                   

MEDIA CONTACT:  Marla Fannin (814) 765-0423

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