Lawrence, Mercer Co. road projects receive millions grants

Mercer and Lawrence Counties, PA - Two projects in Northwest Pennsylvania will receive government funding through Community Project Funding (CPF) grants.
CPF grants were included in the FY23 spending package signed into law in late December.
Representative Mike Kelly announced that nine of his CPF requests were selected to be included in the House Appropriations bill which includes one each for Mercer and Lawrence Counties.
Lawrence County's East Washington Street Bridge project was awarded $3 million. That project will replace the bridge located on SR2006, East Washington Street over Neshannock Creek.
The bridge has a poor condition rating and its closure would impact freight deliveries and local travelers. The three-mile radius of the project found more than 4,300 businesses with nearly 25,000 employees.
In Mercer County, $3 million was allocated to the U.S. Route 62 Railroad Tunnel project. The project includes tunnel upgrades to meet current safety and design standards to solve the inadequate size and dangerous turns approaching the tunnel.
The tunnel's height at its center is 11 feet 7 inches, well below the required height of at least 14 feet for modern trucks.
Upgrades will also prevent loose concrete and winter ice from falling onto cars and allow for commercial traffic to be rerouted due to accidents on I-79 and I-80.