Regional and transportation-industry leaders along with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll recently attended an event in Pittsburgh at the Route 3027 Smithfield Street bridge preservation project to discuss the importance of transportation investments.
The nearly $9.5 million project bridge is one of more than 1,500 projects totaling more than $9 billion currently underway this year or expected to soon begin on state-maintained roads.
The officials also provide an update on the progress PennDOT and its industry partners have made on roads and bridges statewide.
From January through June, PennDOT’s private-sector partners completed 126 construction contracts for highway, bridge, and other improvement projects, and PennDOT or industry forces put 403 bridges out for bid to be repaired, replaced, or preserved.
Nearly 1,200 roadway miles were improved, including 352 miles of paving.
Carroll spoke about the state budget which would provide funding for new equipment for the State Police and nearly 400 new state troopers and would make available $125 million in additional funding for infrastructure projects this year.
The budget passed in the state Senate and House but needs the Senate to reconvene to complete an administrative step before it can move to Gov. Josh Shapiro for his signature.