Youngwood Route 119 redesign plans unveiled

PennDOT has revealed its plans for a major road project that Youngwood residents hope will prevent accidents on the borough's dangerous main thoroughfare, Route 119.

“I think it will work,” Youngwood council President Lloyd Crago said. “I think it will calm and slow traffic down in Youngwood.”

The project is in its early engineering stages. Construction — once planned for 2019 — is set to begin in 2020, said Rachel Duda, assistant district executive for design for PennDOT District 12.

More than 100 borough residents attended a meeting last week where PennDOT officials discussed the plans.

Route 119 splits into two one-way roads as it passes through Youngwood — Third and Fourth streets. The speed limit is 35 mph northbound and 25 mph southbound, but many drivers go much faster, Crago said.

There were two fatal crashes on Route 119 in Youngwood last year, and one so far in 2018.

A combined total of about 27,200 vehicles drive through Youngwood each day on that roadway, PennDOT figures show.

PennDOT has a few proposals on how to fix the speed problem.

First, the roads will be narrowed slightly.

“People will feel a little pressured to go slower,” Duda said. The northbound speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph, matching southbound traffic.

The project will add chicanes — slight curves in the road — forcing motorists to gradually weave back and forth as they drive through town.

Other proposed changes are meant to improve the quality of life for residents and pedestrians, Duda said.

Sidewalks will be built along both sides of both roads, making it easier to walk around town.

Hillis and Depot streets, which intersect Route 119, will be repaved and sidewalks will be added, making it easier for pedestrians to reach the nearby Five Star walking and biking trail.

Water and sewer lines will be moved from the center of Third and Fourth streets to the sides, which will make future maintenance easier. It will reduce traffic noise because cars won't drive over manhole covers anymore, Duda said.

Crago said he still has some concerns about the project. He wants to move the entrances and exits from the busy Youngwood Commons shopping plaza to prevent accidents and hopes PennDOT will take that into account in its final designs.

Overall, he said he's optimistic about the project.

Duda said PennDOT has been getting local leaders and residents involved earlier in the planning stages of major projects.

“This is one of the prime examples of how we work hand-in-hand with them,” she said.

Although full-fledged construction won't start until 2020, some preliminary work will begin next year, according to Duda. The road reconstruction is projected to cost between $15 million and 20 million, she said.

Work is expected to wrap up by fall 2021.

Jacob Tierney is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6646, jtierney@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Soolseem.