Meadville Tribune
Weather permitting, the permanent on-ramp from Meadville to Interstate 79 north is scheduled to open to traffic today. According to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which announced the opening of the ramp Wednesday, motorists entering the newly-opened ramp are urged to slow down since work adjacent to the ramp will continue.
And a noted local streetscape artist is well on her way to making the I-79 interchange more eye-appealing.
Once the permanent northbound on-ramp is opened today, the contractor will start excavation, subbase and drainage operations in the passing lane. Excavation and subbase work also continues on the new ramp from Conneaut Lake to I-79 north.
All southbound on and off ramps will remain open as other work in the interchange continues.
The contractor is forming and placing concrete in the new bridge abutments on I-79 North. The existing concrete box culvert below Routes 6, 19 and 322 in the interchange area is being extended.
On the I-79 northbound lanes south of the interchange, the contractor is preparing to pave the passing lane.
Two northbound detours remain in effect. Detour for I-79 North to State Route 6 West: Take State Route 285 West at Exit 141 to State Route 19 North to Route 6 West.
Detour for State Route 6 East to I-79 North: Take State Route 98 North to State Route198 East to I-79 Exit 154.
For additional information, visit the Web site for the I-79 Meadville Interchange Projects: www.i79meadville.com/
Adding an artistic touch
PennDOT has partnered with Allegheny College to create an “Eco-Art” project that merges Earth art with Best Management Practices in the environmental mitigation of stormwater runoff in the ramp infield areas at the interchange.
Amara Geffen, an Allegheny College professor of art who also heads the college’s Center for Economic and Environmental Development, led the team in providing the designs. She is known for several local streetscape projects that include “flowers” and stylized scenes made from retired road signs, around at the PennDOT maintenance facility in Vernon Township (for which she won a state award); and large mural artwork placed in several sites in the City of Meadville.
Joseph B. Fay Co. from Russelton is the contractor constructing the environmental mitigation, which includes sculptural check dams, infiltration pools and earth mounds.
The check dams are being constructed of crushed concrete from the demolished bridges. The dams will reduce the concentrated stormwater flows and protect vegetation.
Additionally, portions of the old bridge decks were also, used and pieces can be seen stacked upon one another.
The pools of water are evidence of good mitigation already occurring. Additionally, the areas are seeded with wildflowers, warm season grasses, wetland seed mix and a variety of other native grasses.
This work can be seen in the ramp infield areas adjacent to the southbound interchange area. As construction continues on the new northbound bridge, stone abutments are being formed which will be stained with various colors to blend in with the overall bridge.
Local News
New I-79 on-ramps open Thursday
- Local News
-
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
During the past five years, Moody’s Investors Service has assigned three different ratings — all within the range of “upper medium grade” to the City of Meadville’s bonds. In 2007, the city was given a rating of A3, the lowest of the trio. In 2010, the city’s bond rating was raised to A1, the highest ranking in the “upper medium” category. Monday, Moody’s gave the city’s $10,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2012, which went on the market Monday, the middle rating of A2.
-
Elderly, disabled and their caregivers have tremendous new local resource
The new Crawford County Link isn’t a place, but an information network to help people age 60 and older or those between 18 and 59 with disabilities stay living independently.
-
County's median age rising as population still stable
Crawford Countians are growing older and aging in place.
-
Crawford Central yearlong pay freeze plan fails
Differences over details have derailed a contract featuring a one-year pay freeze for Crawford Central School district teachers, leaving district administrators looking for ways to close an unexpectedly large 2012-13 budget gap.
-
Saegertown singer has date with CMT
A Saegertown man will appear on the Country Music Television (CMT) show “Singing Bee” on June 1 at 8 and 11 p.m.
-
Court ruling means county politicking can continue
A proposed resolution to limit Crawford County employees from serving as a chair or vice chair of a political party can’t be enacted because of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in a Montgomery County case.
-
Officials: Rape suspect kills himself before trial
A Crawford County jail inmate died at an Erie hospital early Saturday morning in the wake of an apparent suicide attempt, according to county officials.
-
Cambridge radio station offers soundtrack of local music scene
Lately, “I’ve been having a heavy-duty highlight on local artists every other hour,” Sam Reese said as he sat at the controls of WXCS 92.9 recently, queuing up the current block of tunes lined up for play.
- NEW LOCAL: Crawford County jail inmate dies at Erie hospital
- NEW LOCAL: Fire destroys Cambridge Springs area barn and dairy herd
- More Local News Headlines
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Remains of Veterans Found in Basement Are Buried
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Serial Stabbings Suspect Guilty of Murder
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
A Few Odd Business Sparks but Europe Gloomy
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
Gerard Butler: the Good, the Bad and the Cannes
At Least 25 Dead in India Train Collision
Raw Video: Private Rocket Blasts Off
Boy to Rescuers: 'Do You Have a Plan?'
Doctors and Devotees Debate Barefoot Running
Blacks Seek to Find Their Own Missing
Houston Museum Unveils $85 Million Dinosaur Hall
