Work has started on a 15-month project to revamp the roads near the entrance to Moraine State Park in Prospect, Butler County.
The work will involve improvements to the Interstate 79/Route 422 interchange and add east and west ramps directly from Route 422 onto West Park Road, which will become the main entrance to the 16,521-acre park. Right now, there is only a westbound exit from Route 422 onto another park road.
Work also will include adding a traffic light at the intersection of Route 422 and the southbound ramps onto I-79.
“We’re real excited,” said Justin Drew, who manages the park for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “This will provide better access from Route 422 and I-79 that will ease traffic into the park.”
Mr. Drew and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which designed the project and is overseeing its construction, said the work is not expected to cause major problems for the 1.5 million people who visit the park annually. Gulisek Construction of Mount Pleasant Township received the $4.5 million contract.
“To my knowledge, there should be no long-term traffic problems,” Mr. Drew said. “The existing ramp [from Route 422] is to stay open while they build the new one right next to it.”
The new ramps will provide more direct access to the park’s North Shore area, which features a gift shop, boat tours and bike rentals along Lake Arthur. The existing road system provides good access to the park’s South Shore but has only a circuitous route to the North Shore.
The lake is popular during warm weather for fishing, boating and camping, and trails are available for hiking, biking and horseback riding. In the winter, the park offers ice skating, sledding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
The roadwork is park of a busy construction season at the park, Mr. Drew said. A contractor also is working to improve the park’s sewer system, which is near the road construction but out of public view.
Ed Blazina: eblazina@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1470.
First Published: July 10, 2017, 5:14 a.m.
