PennDOT is preparing to begin work on the southern section of the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project, between Mt. Pleasant and Norvelt.

Meanwhile, the public will have a chance to view and comment on plans for the next section of the project — extending from Norvelt north to a point south of Route 130, near the border between Mt. Pleasant and Unity townships. The plans for that section, which is advancing to preliminary design, will be displayed online at laurelvalleyproject.com from 6 p.m. Thursday until 6 p.m. Oct. 7.

PennDOT has awarded Walsh Construction Company II the general contract for construction of the southern segment of the project, at a bid price of about $55.2 million.

Pending construction of the first phase of the 11-mile, three-segment road improvement project is the result of “many years of hard work by our staff and consultant engineers,” said William Kovach, district executive for Uniontown-based PennDOT District 12. “It is great to see this important milestone of construction work beginning.”

PennDOT officials noted the contract came in between 10% and 15% above the estimated cost. The contractor is expected to begin work in the next several weeks, with construction slated to continue through 2023.

The overall Laurel Valley project is meant to improve safety, access and mobility along the Route 981 corridor — between Route 819, north of Mt. Pleasant Borough, and the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, in Unity. PennDOT proposes to achieve that goal by widening the road’s two lanes, improving some intersections and smoothing out curves — departing from the current road alignment at various points.

According to a map on the project website, the 4.5-mile southern segment (dubbed Section Q20) will veer west from the existing Route 981 alignment, beginning at a point north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike underpass, and will reunite with the existing road just south of the Waltons Lane intersection.

New roundabout configurations are planned at three intersections: routes 819 and 981; Hecla Road, State Street and 981; and Mt. Pleasant, Kecksburg and Hecla roads at 981. A segment of 981 in Norvelt will be realigned to follow a former trolley line. Access will be maintained to bypassed sections of 981.

The project’s central segment (Section V-20), which is being highlighted in the virtual display, extends for 3.5 miles from Norvelt to the intersection of Bingham Road. After passing out of Norvelt, proposed plans call for the alignment to shift from Route 981 and follow Route 2023 north to a new roundabout planned at the intersection of Route 130.

Visitors to the website will be able to view information about the central section of the project and share feedback related to the roadway and and environmentally sensitive features. To stay current as plans progress, they’ll also be able to update their information on a project contact list.

Those who lack internet access will be able to pick up an informational handout and comment form through Oct. 7 at five area sites:

• Adams Memorial Library, 1112 Ligonier St., Latrobe, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday; 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday

• Arnold Palmer Regional Airport concierge desk, 148 Aviation Lane, Latrobe, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

• Mt. Pleasant Township building, 208 Poker Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

• Unity Township building, 154 Beatty County Road, 8 am. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

• Westmoreland County Department of Planning and Development, 40 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Fifth Floor, Suite 520, Greensburg, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Construction of the central section isn’t expected to begin before 2026.

The northern section (Section Y10) of the project is proposed to continue along Route 2023 before veering northwest to rejoin Route 981 near the Westmoreland Airpark, at another potential roundabout. This section could be constructed before the central segment, as early as 2025.

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