National research group says PA rural roads unsafe and among worst in nation
A national transportation research group, The Road Information Program (TRIP), released a report showing that Pennsylvania’s rural roadways are becoming increasingly unsafe. The report, “Rural Connections: Challenges and Opportunities in America’s Heartland,”states that Pennsylvania leads the nation in the percentage of rural bridges that are structurally deficient and sixth in the nation in the number of rural roadway fatalities. Read more
Say it ain’t so Irene!
Commentary by PHIA
What have we learned from the aftermath of Hurricane Irene? Answer: the safety and quality of life of Pennsylvanians center on transportation infrastructure.
In the days following Irene, we’ve read numerous news accounts of people without power, public transit systems offline due to flooded rail lines and stations, and inaccessible communities caused by road and bridge closures. The common thread connecting all these problems is the impact highways, bridges and public transit systems have on our daily lives. And we take it for granted until something like a natural disaster strikes.
PennDOT recently announced the closing of 38 bridges in the southeast due to hurricane impacts. Additionally, an entire community was cut off when a bridge on State Route 487 in Sullivan County was destroyed. Clearly those affected residents know how important infrastructure is to their lives. The safety and convenience infrastructure provides are now confronting them firsthand. Read more
TRIP and PHIA Announce PA Roads Report
A national research group, TRIP, released a new report on the state of our highways, bridges and mass transit systems in PA. Watch the report of the statewide press conferences.
Manongahela Bridge Project
Road and Bridges Magazine gives an overview of a major PA bridge project currently undertaken by the PA Turnpike Commission.
Where it all began
When it comes to understanding Pennsylvania’s highway funding woes, few editorial boards can claim to have a better grasp than that of the Washington Observer-Reporter.
It was in this newspaper’s circulation area that the state’s transportation funding crisis became “official.” In December 2005, a bridge carrying Lakeview Drive traffic collapsed onto Interstate 70 in Washington County, and the funding problem became much more than a few project engineers and construction executives wringing their hands over the shrinking resources of PennDOT. Read more
Cumberland County bridge project receives national award
The state Department of Transportation and North Middleton Township, Cumberland County received national recognition for its Spring Road Bridge Replacement Project. The award was presented as part of the America’s Transportation Awards program sponsored by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO). The project was recognized as the “Best Recovery Act Project” among the small project category. Read more
