Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Improvement Project
Creating a Stronger Connection between Downtown Erie and the Waterfront
February 2022
Public Audio Outreach Aims to Break Large Bayfront Project into Smaller Parts
Started in 2021, as part of the ongoing community engagement for the Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Improvement Project, “Let’s Talk Bayfront” gives listeners a chance to hear updates and details about the project.
“Let’s Talk Bayfront” is a monthly audio-based program held during the lunch hour. The topics focus on different aspects of the project and how it is part of the overall goal to increase accessibility between the downtown and the waterfront and safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists who travel along the roadway.
Members of the public are invited to listen to 22- to 25- minute live sessions starting at 12:05 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of every month. Questions about the day’s topic can be submitted during the program or in advance by sending an email to BayfrontProject@pa.gov.
All programs are recorded and posted on the webpage following the live sessions. A pre-recorded episode offering an introduction and overview of the entire Bayfront Parkway project is also included in the series.
The series kicked off in November with a program on the public involvement process used during earlier stages of the Bayfront Parkway Project. Guest Tom McClelland, P.E., gave listeners a summary of the meetings held and the public feedback received.
In December, PennDOT Construction Project Manager Justin Baker gave an update on the new bridge being built near the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home in Erie. The bridge is being done to accommodate additional railroad cars that will be moved to make way for the improvements on the Bayfront.
For the January episode, Jim O’Mara of ms consultants went through details on the bicycle and pedestrian features included in the project, such as the shorten and raised crosswalks, pedestrian bridge, and additional sidewalks.
For the February 22 episode Brenda Sandberg, executive director of the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority, will be the guest. She will give an update on her organization’s West Front Street project near the Bayfront Parkway as well as pedestrian updates to Sassafras Street above the bluff.
PennDOT representatives Ron Johnson and Jeff Bucher will be the guests for the March 22 episode and will discuss the roundabouts planned at the Holland Street and Sassafras Street intersections. They will give details about the roundabouts and talk about the criteria used to determine if a roundabout is a good fit for a particular intersection.
Links to all the episodes are available through Bayfront Parkway Project page and are shared on the project Facebook group.
Important Project Dates
- Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home multi-use bridge: Anticipated opening May 2022
- East Bayfront Project: Anticipated contract to be awarded summer 2022
- 12th Street Traffic Signal and East Bayfront Supplemental Projects: On site construction in spring 2022
- Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Project Phase 1: Anticipated start of construction in late 2022
The Purpose of the project is to improve the pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and passenger vehicle connection of the Erie Central Business District and adjacent neighborhoods to the waterfront property north of the Bayfront Parkway, reduce crashes as much as practical on the Bayfront Parkway, improve future congestion to an acceptable level of service or delay, and improve traffic operations and efficiency.
22 Intersections on the 12th Street Corridor Will Be Improved Through New Contract
In 2021, a $8.7 million contract was awarded to improve 22 intersections along 12th Street (Route 5) from the Interstate 79 Exit to Route 290 (Bayfront Connector).
“This investment along 12th Street will improve pedestrian and vehicle safety and congestion not only during the upcoming Bayfront Parkway Project, but for years to come. The project focuses on making 12th Street a preferred route for commuters and residents and bring more traffic to the business corridor,” said District 1 Executive Brian McNulty, P.E.
The project, which covers 6.5 miles of 12th Street, includes 120 new signal and sign poles, improved traffic detection systems and signal coordination, and upgraded pedestrian features and curb ramps throughout the corridor.
Complete signal replacements will be done at the following intersections:
- Weschler Avenue;
- Raspberry Street;
- Cascade Street;
- Plum Street;
- Liberty Street;
- Cherry Street;
- Chestnut Street;
- Myrtle Street;
- Sassafras Street;
- Peach Street;
- State Street;
- French Street;
- Holland Street;
- German Street;
- Parade Street;
- Wallace Street;
- Ash Street;
- Reed Street; and
- Wayne
Modifications, including retimings, will be done at the intersections of West 12th Street and I-79 northbound on- ramp, Lincoln Avenue, and Greengarden Road.
The project also includes the installation of two electronic message boards, one located on I-79 northbound and the other located on Route 290 northbound. The large signs, known as ITS boards, will be used to alert motorists of travel times to key destinations, as well as crash and weather-related incidents.
Onsite work is expected to start in April 2022 and to be completed in November 2022. Power Contracting Company of Carnegie, PA is the contractor. The contract cost is $8,749,999.
Information on the 12th Street Corridor Project is also available at www.penndot.gov/District1.
Work on the new bridge behind the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home is moving forward. This picture, taken before all the snow fell in January, shows the beams in place at the structure, which will connect the parking lot of the home to the cemetery and the historical Anthony Wayne Blockhouse. It will replace an at-grade crossing currently connecting the facilities and will give CSX additional space to store train cars.
This will make it possible to do improvements at the intersection on State Street and the Bayfront Parkway. The new bridge is expected to open in May 2022.
Tell us what you like about the project or about concerns you may have by going online to www.BayfrontParkwayProject.com or www.PennDOT.gov/District1 or contacting PennDOT Project Manager Tom McClelland, P.E., at 814-678-7081 or thmcclella@pa.gov.