I-99 Road Work Begins Next Week; Atherton Street Traffic Delays to Continue

Road improvement work on a 13-mile stretch of Interstate 99 in Centre County will get started next week, while on North Atherton Street in State College, drivers can continue to expect long travel delays, according to PennDOT.

Work on I-99 will begin Monday and will take place from mile marker 56 at the Blair/Centre County line to mile marker 69 near State College, passing through Taylor, Worth, Huston, and Patton townships. The work zone will include the I-99/322 interchange near Port Matilda, the Gray’s Woods interchange and the Atherton Street interchange near State College.

The project is expected to be competed by the end of June and will include concrete patching, and longitudinal joint cleaning and sealing. Initial work will begin in the northbound lanes at mile 56.

Traffic control will mostly involve short-term lane closures during work hours. To minimize traffic impacts, lane closures will only be placed after 9 a.m. for northbound work and will be removed before 3 p.m. for southbound work, according to PennDOT. 

On North Atherton Street, ‘significant’ delays are anticipated again next week for motorists heading toward Park Avenue, as crews continue waterline connection work. Daylight lane closures will result in one lane open in each direction. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes. Waterline installation near Park Avenue has resulted in lengthy delays this week.

Because of the waterline work Arbor Way, Ridge Avenue and West Park Avenue will all be closed on the right side of Atherton Street heading toward the university during daylight hours. Arbor Way and Ridge Avenue are expected to be closed on Monday and Tuesday, with West Park Avenue closed on Thursday. 

New curbs and sidewalks will be installed from Cherry Lane to Hillcrest Avenue heading toward Park Avenue, causing daylight lane closures. Verizon will continue fiber optic cable splicing on the left side of Atherton heading toward Park Avenue, between Cherry Lane and Park Avenue, resulting in the closure of the far left lane.

The speed limit remains 25 miles per hour throughout the work zone from Aaron Drive to Park Avenue and a speed minder displaying motorists’ speeds and the posted limit has been placed between Cherry Lane and Hillcrest Avenue.

Drivers also are reminded to use caution and to use both lanes to merge points. Property owners are encouraged to approach workers if they need assistance entering or exiting their properties.

Work on the North Atherton Street project will continue through the fall and includes relocation of utility, water and sewer lines,  drainage improvements, curbing, sidewalks, ADA ramps, traffic signal upgrades, a new concrete median and paving.