Route 18 project in Mercer County finishes early, detour removed

 A major road project in Mercer County is wrapping up ahead of schedule, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced today.

The work at the intersection of Route 18 and Williamson Road, located where West Salem, Hempfield, and Sugar Grove townships meet, is mostly complete.

The project focused on making the intersection safer. Crews realigned Williamson Road so that both sides of the road line up directly. Before, one side was offset by 10 to 12 feet.

Other improvements included widening the turns at all corners, improving visibility on the southeast corner, updating drainage, repaving, and adding new signs and road markings.

Construction started with preliminary work in fall 2024. A detour was put in place on April 14, 2025, for major construction. That detour was removed on July 14, 2025, several weeks earlier than planned.

Some final touches, like landscaping, will be finished in the coming weeks.

Glenn O. Hawbaker of State College, Pa., was the contractor for the $932,932 project, which was paid for entirely with federal money.