MARION TOWNSHIP – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Monday announced a change in traffic pattern on its Jacksonville Road betterment project that began on Tuesday.
This project to reconstruct and widen the roadway between the 161/Bellefonte and 163/Jacksonville interchanges of Interstate 80 is a companion project to the high-speed connector between I-80 and I-99 and will support the regional freight economy and improve the reliability of roadway travel through the region.
The contractor will reopen the northbound lane heading toward Howard/Jacksonville on Tuesday, September 9, and close the southbound lane heading toward Bellefonte/State College. The road will remain open to northbound traffic only. Southbound traffic will still be required to merge onto I-80 westbound using Walt Road at the 163/Jacksonville interchange and follow it to the 161/Bellefonte interchange to reconnect with Route 26.
Overall work on this project includes increasing the lane and shoulder width of Route 26, reconstruction of the existing roadway, drainage improvements, guide rail installation, and miscellaneous construction.
Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $8.6 million project. PennDOT anticipates project completion in the fall of 2026. All work is weather-dependent.
