OIL CITY, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is currently seeking volunteers to participate in Northwest PA's Adopt-a-Highway (AAH) program.

The program involves cleaning litter from state-owned roadsides. District 1 AAH Coordinator, Cheryl Wimer says with spring just around the corner, PennDOT is getting ready to start the annual campaign.

"Groups can adopt state-owned grassy areas or nearly of the nearly 3,000 miles currently unassigned. We are looking for members of the communities to partner with us to clean up debris and litter along the roadways to protect the beauty of Pennsylvania," Wimer said.

Volunteers collect litter on a two-mile section of a state highway at least two times a year. Typically in the spring and fall. The program had over 5,000 participating groups, nearly 108,000 registered volunteers and more thank 7,500 miles of adopted state-maintained roadways in 2021 alone.

In addition, there are other areas in each counted that can be adopted aside from any of the 2,995 miles of roadway. For Mercer County, interstate interchanges such as I-90 and Route 19 can be adopted.

Gloves, trash bags and safety vests are provided to volunteers by PennDOT, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Pick Up Pennsylvania.

Anyone interested in volunteering should apply for the program online by clicking here.