Greencastle, Antrim Township wrapping up paving projects

October 02, 2009|By KATE S. ALEXANDER

GREENCASTLE, PA. -- Traffic should move smoothly through the Borough of Greencastle and Antrim Township this fall when more than eight miles of area paving projects come to a close.

As early as Oct. 15, PennDOT and Antrim Township will wrap up all 2009 paving projects on major thoroughfares, officials said. Some bridge paving and the Pa. 16 resurfacing project will continue in 2010, according to PennDOT.

For nearly a year, traffic has been bottlenecked on Pa. 16 and bypasses around the town.

The Borough of Greencastle began tearing up Baltimore Street in October 2008, replacing gas and water main lines to prepare the heavily traveled state road for a new surface from PennDOT. Antrim Township started paving 7.1 miles of its right-of-way in early Summer.

Now that most of the planned 2009 paving is done, business owners and officials are pleased with the outcome.

"It looks great," Borough Manager Ken Womack said of the new Baltimore Street. "All they have yet to do is paint the lines."

"It went real smoothly," Antrim Township Roadmaster Paul Minnich said of township projects. "It's a big improvement."

Traveling through the Greencastle-Antrim area this summer required patience, Womack has said.

Not having parking along Baltimore Street was frustrating for businesses, said Leisa McCracken, owner of Willowtree Gifts.

"I'm so glad they have finished for the season," she said.

Despite the inconvenience, Loren Martin, owner of E.L.M. Shoes said that once the road is finished, it will have been worth the wait.

The 7.1 miles of road paved by the township included major bypasses like Shinham Road, Marsh Road, North Rabbit Road and Grant Shook Road, Minnich said.

Even though he said the township did not significantly affect traffic with the projects, the estimated 300 daily vehicles, which travel each of the six roads, did experience some delays, he said.

Vehicles could still experience some delays while the township and PennDOT put the finishing touches on the roads, Minnich said, adding that 1.8 miles of township road will be paved this month and the finishing touches could take into early November.

On Wednesday, PennDOT said it closed Guitner Road in Antrim Township to repair the decking on the bridge over the interstate.

PennDOT and contractor Valley Quarries of Chambersburg, Pa., have completed the section of Pa. 16 between Interstate 81 and U.S. 11, Womack said.

The state's paving project for Pa. 16 between Upton and Waynesboro will not be completed until May 2010, PennDOT spokesman Mike Crochunis said.

An average of 13,090 vehicles travels the 5.72-mile stretch of Pa. 16 daily, according to a press release from PennDOT.

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