HARRISON -- Construction on the Route 28 expressway between the Natrona Heights and Freeport/Millerstown exits will have motorists seeing orange -- construction barrels, that is -- longer than PennDOT officials initially expected.
Work that's caused single-lane restrictions for about 3.5 miles was scheduled to be completed on Nov. 30.
However, it probably won't be finished until close to the end of the year, according to PennDOT Project Engineer Larry Cain.
The $4.56 million project involves new concrete pavement patching to the stretch between Exit 15 at Burtner Road and Exit 16 at Route 908.
The asphalt shoulders are being milled and resurfaced, and surface and painting work is being done on the decks of four overpass bridges in this area.
Crews also are removing fallen rock alongside the highway.
"We ran into quite a few additional patches," Cain said in explaining why the work is being extended.
He said crews should be able to get the project done this construction season as long as the weather holds out. Thesingle-lane restrictions have been in place since July 26 in the southbound lanes, and since Aug. 2 northbound.
Construction has also closed two of the four entrance and exit ramps at Exit 15 and Exit 16 on an alternating basis.
The southbound off ramp at the Millerstown interchange (Exit 16) was closed Monday and will remain closed until at least Nov. 22, Cain said.
PennDOT's recommended detour route sends motorists wanting to get off of that exit to Exit 15, where they'll get off at Burtner Road, and re-enter the expressway and get off at the northbound ramp of Exit 16.
Officials closed two ramps at a time when they did patching on the Harrison ramps, but he said crews are trying to concentrate their efforts to try to make sure the project gets done.
"At this point we're just trying to concentrate on getting the expressway done," Cain said.
The other three Millerstown ramps will be closed for at least a week sometime after Thanksgiving, with at least two ramps open at all times. The full schedule has not been completed, Cain said.
