Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Improvement Project
Creating a Stronger Connection between Downtown Erie and the Waterfront
September 2021
Meetings Offer Public Options to Get Updates on Plans, Give Feedback
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and its design partner ms consultants, inc. will offer a series of options for the public to get updates on the status of the Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Improvement Project and offer feedback on the plans.
An open house style public meeting will be held from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM Wednesday, September 14 at the Erie Port Authority Building, 1 Holland Street, Erie. Attendees will be welcome to peruse a series of boards throughout the large conference room, ask questions of the design team members on hand, and/or fill out a survey about the project.
While offering a general overview of the project, which includes the Holland, State and Sassafras street intersections, the boards will focus on the roundabout and pedestrian bridge peer reviews done earlier this year and the changes to design aspects of the project. Folks from the environmental team will also be on hand to answer questions and boards on the storm water plan will be available for review.
Those who prefer a virtual meeting instead can attend a live chat Microsoft Teams meeting from noon to 1:30 PM the same day. No preregistration for the meeting is necessary. Attendees can simply click on the link for the meeting and be redirected to the virtual experience.
The virtual meeting will include a presentation on the boards presented at the open house and participants will have a chance to ask questions through the programs chat feature. PennDOT team members will stay on the until 1:30 PM or as long as questions are being asked.
Following the virtual meeting, a recording of the session will be available for viewing until the presentation is downloaded on to the Bayfront Parkway project website.
Copies of the boards will also be placed on the website for the public to view during or after the meeting.
The website will also house a virtual version of the survey offered during the open house. Members of the public are invited to complete the online survey whether they attend the open house, the virtual meeting, or view the boards and information on the website.
“We are always looking for additional ways to connect with the public, inform them about our projects, and gather feedback,” said Tom McClelland, P.E., PennDOT District 1 ADE of Design. “The team came up with a combination of opportunities for residents, commuters, business owners and anyone with interest in seeing the updates. Hopefully everyone will take some time to check out the information and give us feedback.”
Important Project Dates
- Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Virtual Public Meetings: Sept. 14, 2021
- 12th Street Traffic Signal and East Bayfront Supplemental Projects: Preliminary work to start fall 2021
- Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home multi-use bridge: Anticipated opening May 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.
Update on Supplemental Projects
Plans are also progressing on the projects being done in coordination and preparation for the Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Improvement Project.
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Bridge
Work to construct a 123-foot multi-use bridge over the CSX tracks near the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home is well underway.
The project started in June and is slated for completion in May 2022. At that time, the current at-grade crossing behind the East Third Street facility will be closed.
As of late August, excavation has been done, rocks placed on the grounds, and piles were being driven.
Access to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery and the General Anthony Wayne Blockhouse will be maintained throughout the project.
The contractor is Chivers Construction Company of Fairview, PA. The contract cost is $2,701,947, which is to be paid entirely with federal funds.
12th Street
The contract for the 12th Street (Route 5) updates was awarded in August. The apparent low bidder is Power Contracting Company of Carnegie, PA at $8,749,999.25. Preliminary work will start late this fall and physical work is expected to start in spring 2022.
Work will include retiming and upgrading the traffic signals as needed for 22 intersections along 12th Street from the northbound off ramp of Interstate 79/Lincoln Street to Wayne Street.
The proposed work includes updates to the traffic control signals for vehicles and pedestrians including the possible installation of flashing yellow lights, new signs, ADA curb ramps, and improved signal coordination.
The contract also includes new electronic message boards on Interstate 79 and Interstate 90.
East Bayfront
As for the East Bayfront Project, plans are down to the final design details.
The project area includes the portion of the Bayfront Parkway between the intersection with Port Access Road/East Bay Drive and the intersection with East 12th Street (Route 5/Route 290).
Improvements are focused in upgrades to the pedestrian experience along the corridor as well as changes to the roadway, including lane narrowing with medians, and exclusive pedestrian phases for the traffic signals.
Plans call for the contract to be awarded in fall 2021 with work starting in the following construction season.
Erie-Western PA Port Authority
The Port Authority is working on two projects in conjunction with the other improvements planned on and near the Bayfront Parkway.
An access road and pathway geared at increasing connectivity to the waterfront for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, referred to as West Front Street, will be built to connect the parking lots and buildings on the waterfront side of the Bayfront Parkway between Sassafras and State streets. The Port Authority is anticipating the preliminary work underway before the end of the year with substantial completion anticipated in June 2022.
The Port Authority is also working to increase pedestrian access along Sassafras Street leading up to the bluff. A public meeting will be held later this year for the purpose of sharing the preliminary plans and gathering input from the public.
An announcement about the meeting will be made on the port’s website www.porterie.org.
For additional information on the Bayfront Parkway Central Corridor Improvement Project, including renderings, videos, FAQs, and other documents, go online to www.BayfrontParkwayProject.com or www.penndot.gov/District1, or follow the Bayfront Parkway Project group on Facebook.
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.