Theatre Road Traffic Restrictions Begin

by Jonathan Weaver

Single-lane traffic restrictions will be in place on Route 422 as part of the Theater Road Project for the next three days beginning at 6PM tonight.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the restrictions will be in place each evening between 6PM and 6AM to install a concrete barrier and close the westbound shoulder between PennDOT’s Armstrong County Stockpile and Graham Road along Route 422.

Theatre Road closed to Manor and Kittanning Township traffic Monday, July 15.

A detour is in place using Lasher Road to Rupp Church Road to Route 2012 (Silvis Hollow Road) to Route 2025 (Garrett’s Run Road) to Route 2011 (Hill Street) and then to Route 422.

This $9.15 million safety improvement project realigns over one mile of the existing roadway on Route 422. A center turn lane will be constructed east of Lasher Road (TR 850) and end near Rupp Church Road (TR 570). Theater Road, Graham Road, and Rupp Church Road intersections will be realigned and a left turn lane will be constructed.

Except for the next three evenings, normal traffic has been maintained during the construction project.
A. Liberoni, Inc. contractors of Plum will also add a center turn lane east of Lasher Road (TR 850) and end near Rupp Church Road (TR 570) during the next 20 months of construction. They will utilize 44,000 tons of asphalt and 27,000 tons of stone to complete, along with excavating 188,000 cubic yards.

Theater Road, Graham Road, and Rupp Church Road intersections will be realigned and a left turn lane will be constructed.

PennDOT, Armstrong County and Indiana County commissioners and surrounding elected officials Friday celebrated the beginning of a 1.3-mile realignment project of that area – between Wray Plan Road and Rupp Church Road with a ground-breaking ceremony in March.

PennDOT District Executive Joseph Dubovi said at the ceremony that the realignment should reduce accidents and save lives. Upwards of 11-13,000 vehicles travel the stretch of roadway per day. The speed limit posted is 55 miles per hour.

At that time, Kittanning Township Fire Chief Steve Baker estimated there are between four and five accidents just getting into the fire hall each year.

A minivan collision in November near Wray Plan Road caused one Leechburg woman to be flown to a Pittsburgh hospital and caused roadway delays for more than two hours.

Indiana County Commissioner Rod Ruddock said Indiana contributed $12 million toward the project. The funding was originally earmarked for use in Indiana County, but Ruddock spoke with Armstrong County Commissioners and decided it was most-needed in Armstrong.

“If we are believers in working as true government leaders, if we believe in getting things done, then we should put away the barriers of counties, the barriers of political sides and focus on what’s right for the people in the communities. And the people that drive from Indiana to Kittanning don’t care whether they’re on the Armstrong side or Indiana side – as long as they’re being safe and secure in their travel,” Ruddock said in March. “That’s how this all came about.”

The project has displaced six families.

The ultimate realignment is to be complete by late-Fall 2014.