Ohiopyle construction work nears end of first phase

Construction work in Ohiopyle is right on schedule.

Crews are wrapping up to meet their Memorial Day deadline in the first phase of a $12.4 million multi-year project designed to enhance pedestrian safety. Work started in the fall to realign Sugarloaf Road’s intersection with Route 381 and build a paved parking lot close to the state park’s visitors center.

“The plan is that the parking lot … should be opened by close of business Thursday,” said Jay Ofsanik, PennDOT safety press officer.

As long as the weather cooperates this week, construction equipment should be out of town by the end of Friday and work will halt until Labor Day, Ofsanik said. If rain hampers progress, crews will be back out next week to finish up any remaining pieces of the project in the Fayette County town.

Regardless of the weather, work will not take place during Memorial Day weekend, he said.

Plum Contracting of Salem worked through the winter on the first phase and will resume the project in September with construction of a pedestrian tunnel connecting the new parking lot to the visitors center.

The project is aimed at improving pedestrian safety on the main thoroughfare through town while addressing parking and drainage issues near Sugarloaf Road and the park visitors center. Ohiopyle sees 1.3 million visitors annually to the state park there.

A bridge that carries Route 381 into town over the Youghiogheny River will be rehabilitated in the second phase, Ofsanik said. The parking lot will get more amenities added, including a new changing house and raft inflation stations.

The project is expected to be complete by Memorial Day 2020.