Another long-term Route 356 closure to start March 20

A busy stretch of state Route 356 in Allegheny Township is closing for more construction — again.

The closing is scheduled to begin March 20 and last until the end of November.

“This will be the exact same closure as last year with the closure at the 356/56 split and at White Cloud Road,” said project manager Nate Dwyer of Ligonier Construction.

The project’s original completion date was extended into this year because of slides and utility delays, according to PennDOT spokesperson Toni Hartley.

The state road, built in 1928, serves as a key artery for more than 12,900 motorists daily.

The closure is part of the ongoing $15.9 million PennDOT project that began in 2020 to improve the highway’s connection to Route 28 near Freeport.

Detours will be posted throughout the project.

School buses, first responders and local traffic will have access to and from Route 356 on these roads: Piper, Pleasant Hill, Williams, Indian Hill and Armstrong.

Bagdad Road will remain open until the end of this school year, then it will close throughout the summer until school resumes in the fall, Dwyer said.

Route 356 will be completely closed at 1768 Route 356, north of Garvers Ferry Road/Bagdad Road, for a box culvert replacement.

Dwyer expects this work will start in the first half of April and last about five months.

There will be no access for school buses, first responders and local traffic, he said.

Additionally, Route 356 will be closed from 1883 Route 356 to White Cloud Road, but with access maintained for school buses, local traffic and first responders.

The sole turnaround offered will be in the parking lot at Chase Industries.

Because school buses are unable to navigate the turn from White Cloud Road to and from the temporary widening on Route 356, crews will leave Brown Road open until the end of this school year.

Brown Road is expected to close later this year when the traffic pattern changes at Route 356 and White Cloud Road, Dwyer said.

Township Manager Gregory Primm said Allegheny Township police will step up patrols along White Cloud Road with the expected volume of traffic on the detour.

One of the project improvements is lowering pavement on a stretch of White Cloud Road.

“One of the major improvements they’re making is greatly needed, so we’re glad to see that happening,” township Supervisor Mike Korns said. “That will make that intersection a much safer place.”

Supervisor James Morabito said he requested that PennDOT install a three-way stop at the Bonfire Shortcut intersection and White Cloud Road, but that request was denied.

Currently, there’s one stop sign at that location.

“This created miserable traffic congestion throughout the previous 356 closure,” Morabito said. “With the reclosing of 356, the traffic conditions are going to worsen.”

Morabito said PennDOT officials told him several weeks ago that two traffic studies were done at that intersection, and it was not feasible to install additional stop signs.

“They felt it (stop signs) would be unsafe to drivers,” Morabito said. “I’m definitely not happy with their decision, and I’m sure the residents that travel these roads are going to feel the same.”

Township Supervisor Ren Steele described the project as long but necessary.

“The project is about a year behind, but it has to be done. I know it’s inconvenient for the people, but it will be better and will be a lot safer from Freeport all the way up to Weinels Crossroads and beyond because of the roundabout going in,” Steele said. “It’s for a safer highway. It’s just a better all-around safer highway now, and it’s been a long time coming.”

Local residents shouldn’t have any issues driving to and from their homes, Primm said, adding White Cloud Road will receive attention after the project.

“PennDOT agreed to fix that road upon completion of their project,” he said.