The published timeline for the construction of the Route 22 pedestrian and bicycle bridge in Burrell Township indicates that final design plans will soon be completed and construction could get underway shortly afterward. Indiana County Planning and Development Executive Director Byron Stauffer Jr. told the Chamber of Commerce board on Friday that the commissioners have taken action, with two conditions, on the Highway Occupancy Agreement with PennDOT. The conditions are: closing a funding gap of $140,000 and approving the township’s Subdivision & Land Ordinance, which is currently under review. Stauffer reported that PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have both signed off on the bridge design and placement.
The total project cost is $2,990,534. Almost $2.2 million of the cost will be covered by state grant funding, with the rest consisting of $290,000 in federal funds, $310,000 from a private foundation, $45,000 from local private funds, $15,000 in county Act 13 funds, and the $140,113 gap that still must be closed.
Stauffer also told the Chamber board that there will be a public participation panel meeting on June 4th at PA Careerlink related to the county’s long-range transportation plan.
Stauffer, incidentally, no longer works for the Indiana County Office of Planning and Development, but is now employed by the Indiana County Development Corporation, which is the new administrator of the Planning and Development office. The change took effect last week.
