LAUREL VALLEY TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT SR 981, SECTION Q20 (ROUTE 819 TO NORVELT)

HOW WE HELPED

McCormick Taylor managed and led all aspects of the preliminary engineering and final design for the SR 981, Section Q20 project. As such, McCormick Taylor completed the environmental clearance; conducted traffic analyses; led the roadway, structural and stormwater engineering; managed utility coordination and right-of-way acquisition efforts; obtained multiple environmental permits; and facilitated public and agency coordination. Highlights associated with these activities included:

• Widened roadway from 10’ travel lanes and 2’ shoulders in the existing condition to 12’ travel lanes and 8’ shoulders accommodating bicycle and pedestrian movements with the proposed construction. 
• Design of three roundabouts to replace existing traditional intersections in order to improve safety, calm traffic, facilitate traffic flow and provide gateway opportunities. 
• Design of four structures including an off-alignment 98-foot long single-span bridge on integral abutments, two precast concrete box culvert replacements using staged construction and preservation of an existing structure.
• Coordination with the PA Turnpike Commission to address vertical clearance issues with the Turnpike Bridge over SR 981.
• Implemented a comprehensive public outreach program that included a project website, a KeyS Committee made up of local stakeholders, and in-person and virtual Public Meetings.
• Partnered with the Mount Pleasant School District to complete stormwater management (SWM) on the Senior High/ Middle School campus within the same watershed as the project area. These improvements will minimize the amount of SWM required along the project area and address stormwater management and erosion concerns on the school property.
• Partnered with the Mount Pleasant School District to add Landscape Architecture to the Hecla/ State/ SR 981 Roundabout providing native planting, decorative features, and an internally illuminated sign. This location serves as the main gateway entrance leading to the Mount Pleasant administration building, High School and Middle School.
• Partnered with Mount Pleasant Township on the design and construction of LED Highway Lighting at the three proposed roundabouts. Lighting the roundabout provides enhanced safety for motorists at night. Additional illumination was provided at pedestrian crossing locations near the football and baseball fields and the park within Norvelt. 
• Accommodated pedestrians and bicycles with the addition of eight-foot shoulders.
• Partnered with CalU and the Partners for Fish & Wildlife to mitigate wetland and stream impacts through on-site mitigation and coordinated with the property owner through the Right-of-Way Process to provide sufficient area to accommodate the mitigation site.
• Coordinated with the US Army Corps of Engineers to obtain authorization for stream and wetland impacts with an Individual Section 404 Permit and PA Department of Environmental Protection Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit.