Obtain environmental approval

Complete preliminary engineering efforts and begin final design efforts

Complete selection of engineering consultant for final design

The initial project limits for SR 0021, Section J10 for preliminary engineering were from S&T Drive to SR 0040, a length of about four (4) miles. These limits fall within not only Menallen and South Union townships, but also the City of Uniontown. The intent in 2002 when the project was started was to complete preliminary engineering including environmental clearance, for the entire four (4)-mile corridor and then develop three separate projects for final design and construction at logical termini. In June of 2006, PennDOT determined, based on funding constraints, the preliminary engineering efforts should focus only on the 1.4-mile corridor from  just west of Thompson Crossroads to the bridge over  Route 119 near Uniontown Mall.  This segment is referred to as SR 0021, Section J10.  The area to the west of Thompson Crossroads has been deferred to a later date and more appropriate time when funding becomes available. The Department will pursue low cost improvements at areas as needed.   For the area east of the Route 119 structure (toward Uniontown), a separate project for only the Route 21 and Easy Street intersection is programmed and is currently under design.  This project, known as SR 0021 Section M10, will involve widening of Route 21 and the Easy Street approaches to add turning lanes, plus the installation of a traffic signal.  A date for construction has not been determined at this point but could begin in 2009 or 2010.

The smaller sized Section J10 project, which is about 1.4 miles in length, generally involves widening of Route 21 to two (2) through lanes in each direction with a center left turn lane from Thompson Crossroads to just east of Work Parkway/Harvest Lane (Gabriel's Plaza) entrance near the Fairfield Inn. East of this location, the roadway tapers to a single lane in each direction. In addition to the widening, the project will include the relocation of the existing Cherry Tree Lane intersection to the west to be aligned with the existing signalized Daniel Drive intersection.  This will eliminate the current situation, in which the Cherry Tree/Brewer Drive and 119/Matthew Drive intersections, both of which are signalized, are only about 250 feet apart.  At the SR 0021 and Matthew Drive/SR 0119 ramp intersection, significant widening will occur to improve traffic flow on all approaches to this intersection.  For example, the westbound approach (traveling toward McClellandtown) will reflect two left turn lanes for entering the Route 119 ramp, two through lanes, and right turn lane to Matthew Drive.  Eastbound Route 21 (traveling toward Uniontown) will reflect a left turn lane to Matthew Drive, two through lanes, and an exclusive right turn lane to the Route 119 ramps.  Allowing left turns from eastbound Route 21 to Matthew Drive will be a change as this movement is currently restricted. Widening will also occur on the Route 119 ramps to provide for traffic exiting from the ramp to Route 21 to provide two left turn lanes (for turns toward westbound Route 21), two through lanes (straight toward Matthew Drive), and one exclusive right turn lane (toward eastbound Route 21).  Minimal work will occur on the Matthew Drive approach as a separate project to provide two through lanes on Matthew Drive, which is being undertaken by South Union Township and is scheduled for construction in 2008. The Matthew Drive project also includes some initial widening on the ramps that will be expanded with the Route 21 project.   

The Department’s SR 0021, Section J10 project also involves horizontal and vertical alignment adjustments, pavement reconstruction, drainage work, guide rail updates, traffic signal updates, sign installation, and bridge deck replacement at the Route 21 bridge over Route 119. Two areas in which a significant adjustment in the alignment to flatten existing horizontal curves are in the area near Thompson’s Crossroads intersection and in the area from Calvary Baptist Church to Daniel Drive.

The preliminary environmental studies have progressed in conjunction with the preliminary design.  This has included locating environmental constraints in the project area  in order to develop feasible roadway improvements.  Environmental resource data collection has been conducted in the following areas:  natural resources, socioeconomic resources, historic resources, noise sensitive areas, and potential  hazardous waste sites.

Natural resource  data collection has included the identification of streams, floodplains, wetlands, land cover types, and threatened and endangered species.  Socioeconomic data collection has focused on the identification of  residences, businesses, medical facilities, recreational resources, and other community resources in the project area.  Historic survey of the project included the determination of resources that are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.  Noise studies involved monitoring the noise levels at over thirty (30) locations throughout the project corridor.  Potential hazardous waste sites have been identified through a combination of secondary source information (review of plans, database review, and web site information) and field reconnaissance.

Also has part of the preliminary design process, the Department conducted public meetings.  A total of four meetings were held at the South Union Township Municipal Building in the Fall 2006 over the course of two days to present the PennDOT preferred alternative to the public. Three back-to-back meetings were held on November 8, 2006, including a public officials meeting from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., a business owners meeting from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., and a property owners meeting from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  All property owners in the project area were invited and the meeting was also open to the public through advertisements placed in the Herald Standard.  In addition, a general public plans display was held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m on November 9, 2006.

The environmental clearance document, in the form of a Categorical Exclusion Evaluation, for the project is completed and is awaiting final approval from the FHWA.  The contract for the final engineering design of the project has been advertised and is currently in the final selection phase.