MARYSVILLE, Pa.–The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has launched a new construction project web page, www.511PA.com/marysville, to help drivers dealing with the upcoming closure of Route 11/15 for the rock slope safety improvement project just south of Marysville Borough in Perry County.
The new page, hosted through the department’s www.511PA.com traveler information website, is dedicated to monitoring traffic conditions related to the Route 11/15 construction project and the official detour and incident management routes established for the project, especially the heavily traveled Route 22/322 on the east side of the Susquehanna River in Dauphin County.
“We know that closing Route 11/15 for three months will be challenging for motorists,” said Mike Keiser, district executive for PennDOT Engineering District 8. “There will be increased traffic volumes on the detour routes; and any type of crash or other incident that occurs may have a major effect on traffic flow, especially during the commuting rush hours. This feature will help motorists monitor traffic flow, be alerted when an incident such as a crash restricts or stops traffic, and show detour options with estimated travel times if traffic is impacted on Route 22/322.”
The page features a map highlighting the Route 11/15 corridor where the rock slope safety improvement project is located as well as the Route 22/322 detour.
The current speed of traffic in both directions is indicated. If an incident such as a crash occurs, the location of the incident will be identified. If an incident occurs that substantially slows or stops traffic, a detour route for that incident will be displayed. The public can also sign up for email alerts or access links to more detailed information about the construction project.
“The Marysville Rock Slope Project Website on 511PA can be a helpful aid for local businesses, commuters and other motorists that will help us all better manage and deal with traffic while Route 11/15 is closed,” said Keiser. “It is information that should help all of us make better decisions.”
Starting the night of May 1, a roughly one-mile portion of Route 11/15 will be closed to all traffic between Interstate 81 in Cumberland County and Ridgeview Drive south of Marysville Borough in Perry County for 90 days for the rock slope safety improvement project. PennDOT has contracted with J.D. Eckman, Inc. of Atglen, Pennsylvania, to conduct the project at a cost of $18.9 million.
There is a financial incentive in the construction contract to encourage the contractor to reopen the highway sooner ($50,000 per day, to a maximum of $2 million).
The overall project is expected to end in November. The project includes removing vegetation from the slopes, rock scaling at slope heights varying from 140 to 250 feet, the installation of wire mesh protection systems placed against the rock face, the installation of rock fall fence and safety shape barriers in the shoulder area, shoulder reconstruction, milling and resurfacing along various sections of the roadway, drainage, guide rail, signing and pavement marking upgrades, and tree removal and trimming along the entire length of the project.
