PUNXSUTAWNEY -- A PennDOT plan to tend to bridges along Route 119 is scheduled for next year, but the scope of work on replacing the bridge over Mahoning Creek may be pulled back.

During a meeting of the Route 119 Improvement Committee Thursday, Steve Williams, Jefferson County maintenance manager for PennDOT, said the Route 119 Punx-sutawney Bridges project is scheduled for construction in the federal fiscal years  2009 and 2010, and that the right-of-way plan is just about ready to go.

The construction funding is estimated to be $6.5 million for both structures, he said, but with increases in material costs, there may be a need to reduce the scope and focus on replacing the structure over Mahoning Creek.

Also Thursday, the commitee discussed the proposal of tolling Interstate 80, a decision of which is now resting with the federal government.

Deborah Pontzer, represeting U.S. Rep. John Peterson, said the I-80 toll road is “in limbo” because the state needs must apply to Mary E. Peters, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, to make I-80 into a toll road.

Williams also gave the following project updates:

• Big Run Arch Bridge Project -- Williams said a PennDOT consultant is currently working on a preliminary design, and an environmental clearance is expected soon.

• Bells Mills Intersection -- The District Design Unit is working on the preliminary design of an intersection improvement at the intersection of Route 119 and Township Road T-481 to  obtain the required sight distance at the intersection. 

The right-of-way plans will be completed by next month.

• Punxsutawney Traffic Study -- A consultant on board for the study is currently gathering background data and is expected to hold a public meeting in mid-July to explain the work and gather input.

• Drainage, culvert replacement, ditch cleaning and pipe flushing -- This work is scheduled in Reynoldsville, Brockway and the Falls Creak area.

• Shoulder-cutting in Punxsutawney, Big Run and Sykesville is 75 percent complete.

• The first phase of Clark Street Bridge Replacement on Route 219 in Brockway has been completed, and PennDOT will shift the traffic to the new side and will start work on the southbound lane.

• July 7, the county maintenance bridge crew will close Fire Tower Road between Route 310 and SR 2007 to start the bridge deck replacement project.

The crew has also completed some extensive sub-structure repairs on the Route 410 bridge and will begin replacing the concrete parapets on the deck next week.

• A contractor has been working on the Route 830 Bridge rehabilitation over Interstate 80. There is currently a one lane restriction at this location.

Committee members unanimously agreed to move its meetings from the third Thursday of every quarter to the first. 

The next meeting will be Sept. 4.