PennDOT plans $10M project for Route 356 corridor in Buffalo Township

PennDOT plans to make $10 million in upgrades along Route 356 in Buffalo Township to improve the flow of traffic through the township’s central business district.

The project will widen Route 356 to five lanes — consisting of four travel lanes and one center turning lane — from north of Harbison Road to a point about 1,800 feet north of the Buffalo Plaza intersection. The corridor currently has one lane in each direction with auxiliary turn lanes at various intersections.

Buffalo Plaza houses businesses including Buffalo Pizza, Giant Eagle and UPMC Centers for Rehab Services Sarver. Freeport Area Middle and High schools also are along the stretch of road.

“The purpose of the project is to upgrade and improve the flow of traffic along Route 356 through the central business district and the commercial corridor of Buffalo Township,” PennDOT wrote in a project overview. “This will include the installation of turning and through lanes, signal retiming and signal coordination.”

About 18,000 vehicles drive through the corridor daily, PennDOT spokeswoman Christina Gibbs said.

The project also will widen Monroe and Cole roads approaching Route 356. Monroe Road has two lanes and will gain an exclusive left-turn lane with this project.

The intersection of Bear Creek Road and Route 356 will be relocated, along with an associated realignment of Bear Creek Road and Locust Drive, PennDOT said.

Additional improvements include installing a sidewalk and ADA ramps along the corridor, replacing three traffic signals and replacing a stormwater drain.

The Route 9095 Park and Ride will be relocated to a spot between Route 356, Silverview Road, and the Route 28 Southbound on-ramp. The existing Park and Ride location will be closed and removed once the new spot is completed.

Construction is slated to begin in fall 2022 and last two years, PennDOT said. Throughout construction, traffic on Route 356 will be maintained with one lane in each direction.

Gibbs said preliminary estimates project the work to cost about $10 million. Preliminary designing for the project began in 2018.

Because of covid-19, the plans will be displayed online only. Comments and questions can be submitted online.

Questions and concerns also can be sent to PennDOT Project Manager Eric Buchan at ebuchan@pa.gov or 724-357-2971.

Additional information is available on the PennDOT website.