PennDOT: $58M interstate project in York County is behind schedule
Crews have been working on the makeover of the I-83/Mount Rose interchange for about 2.5 years. Although the posted work zone speed limit on the interstate is 45 mph, many drivers exceed that. This is looking west on Mount Rose Avenue from the highway area. Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record
More work starts in the spring on I-83 between the Mount Rose and Loganville interchanges, PennDOT says.
(York) — As crews continue to work on the Interstate 83/Mount Rose Avenue interchange, which remains behind schedule, the parent company of the contractor has stepped in and is working with the state Department of Transportation to get the project done.
Tutor Perini, the parent company of Cherry Hill Construction Inc. of Jessup, Md., has become more involved in the project, bringing in a new project superintendent, said Michael Keiser, PennDOT’s district executive for south central Pennsylvania.
The new superintendent is a little more familiar with what PennDOT does and the level of cooperation has been better, Keiser said. There has been “a lot of turnover,” including superintendents, foremen and laborers on the Mount Rose project.
“Our hope is that with Tutor Perini stepping in here, that’s a good sign,” he said. “…PennDOT’s going to push to get this project done as soon as possible.”
Brian Moore, a senior construction engineer with Michael Baker International , talks about worker safety at the Mount Rose Interchange of Interstate 83 in York. Paul Kuehnel
The makeover was supposed to be done in June of 2018, but now it’s expected to be finished in early 2020. PennDOT plans to give the public and elected officials an update on the progress of the project this fall.
The cost of the project stands at $59.7 million. Cherry Hill submitted the lowest bid of $58.3 million.
Meanwhile, more work will be done next year on Interstate 83 between the Mount Rose and Loganville interchanges.
PennDOT recently opened bids for the repair and resurfacing job. J.D. Eckman Inc. of Atglen, Pa. submitted the apparent lowest bid of $13.6 million, a news release states.
Some preparation work could be done this fall, but the repair and repaving job will be done after winter. Crews will work at night, PennDOT said.
On the Mount Rose Avenue project, closing the overpass to speed up the project is “not a viable option” because it’s a major corridor, Keiser said. It would cause traffic problems on secondary roads.
“It’s just not the right thing for the community,” he said.
The contractor had suggested the idea, but it was never a formal proposal, PennDOT spokesman Greg Penny said.
A spokesman for Tutor Perini could not be reached for comment.
Utility relocation prevented the contractor from starting on the job right away, and a bridge foundation had to be redesigned, PennDOT officials have said. That led to construction sequencing issues and concerns from regulatory agencies so permits had to be modified and reissued.
PennDOT had given the contractor an extension until Nov. 12, 2018.
The contractor can be charged $5,765 for each day it goes beyond the completion date.
The parties remain in discussions about more time and money for the project. PennDOT hopes to be able to come to a solution without the matter going to the state Board of Claims to be resolved, Keiser said.
This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The York Daily Record.
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