FHWA APPROVES CSVT ALIGNMENT CHANGE

       PennDOT has received federal approval to use an alignment for the proposed Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) project that would connect directly to the northern end of the Selinsgrove Bypass.  

SEDA-COG RIVER BRIDGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FORMED The CSVT Bridge: What will it look like?

This is the question that a 22-member task force, comprised of area residents, has wrestled with. With the encouragement and involvement of PennDOT, the group was assembled through SEDA-COG’s Community Resource Center, and transportation planning programs. The group’s members include architects, engineers, municipal officials, landscape architects, tourism representatives, and individuals with experience in bridge design.

SELINSGROVE CENTER MITIGATION SITE UPDATE

The Selinsgrove Center Mitigation Site project is the proposed natural resource mitigation replacement area for the CSVT Project. The site is located 1.5 miles northwest of Selinsgrove Borough in Penn Township, Snyder County. It consists of approximately 344 acres of land situated between two ridges. It’s on a portion of a larger area previously known as the Selinsgrove Center, which used to serve as a state-run hospital/ residential facility. The property is currently owned by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services.

PARK & RIDE LOTS PROPOSED

PennDOT is currently considering incorporating two Park & Ride lots into the CSVT project. One lot is being considered east of the proposed river crossing along existing Route 147 near relocated Ridge Road. Another lot is being considered west of the proposed river crossing within the proposed Route 15 Interchange near Winfield. As the design progresses, additional information will be provided.

CSVT PROPOSED ROUTE DESIGNATIONS

The proposed route designations for CSVT and the adjoining roadway network have been determined. Existing US 11/15 will be designated Business US 15 from the Selinsgrove Bypass Interchange through Hummels Warf and Shamokin Dam Borough to the Winfield Interchange. US 15 will remain the route designation north of the Winfield interchange through Lewisburg. The new four-lane highway will be designated US 15 from the Selinsgrove Interchange to the Winfield Interchange. The new four-lane highway will be designated Route 147 from the northern tie-in with the already upgraded section of Route 147 south of I-80, through the Winfield Interchange to the Route 61 Connector and across the Susquehanna River into Sunbury. Route 147 will be designated Route 405 from the Route 405 intersection south into the Borough of Northumberland and through the City of Sunbury where it terminates at Route 147 ( Market Street Bridge). Please refer to the route designation map.

Agricultural Land Condemnation Approval Board (ALCAB) Approves CSVT

On March 31, 2005, the Agricultural Land Condemnation Approval Board (ALCAB) rendered a decision in favor of the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation Project (CSVT). The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) presented testimony detailing the project history and needs, engineering and environmental constraints affecting the highway alignment, the alternatives development and evaluation process, as well as the farmland assessment. In addition to PennDOT’s testimony, several landowners, as well as a representative from the Snyder County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau presented testimony regarding the impacts that the project would have on their farms. After a lengthy executive session, ALCAB voted in favor of the project and agreed that PennDOT presented the only prudent and reasonable alternative. The board also asked that PennDOT continue to examine measures to minimize the impacts to the most severely affected farm operations. PennDOT is committed to re-examine the alignment through Final Design, and have committed to re-evaluate the alignment if conditions change anytime prior to construction

Under Pennsylvania law, when productive agricultural land is required to be condemned for a highway project such as the CSVT, PennDOT must secure approval from ALCAB prior to proceeding with condemnation. The recommended preferred alternative (DAMA/RC5) directly impacts approximately 237 acres of productive farmland; therefore approval is required by ALCAB, which has jurisdiction over the condemnation of land used for production commercial agricultural purposes, including the production of crops, livestock and livestock products. The Board reviews proposals and presentations made by PennDOT and determine whether there is a "feasible and prudent alternative" to the condemnation of farmland for transportation use. The six-member ALCAB board is comprised of representatives from the Governor’s Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation and two appointed farm members, chaired by an appointee of the Secretary of Agriculture.

CSVT Archaeological Fieldwork Continues

Phase I archaeological fieldwork related to the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) Project began in August 2004. This work was initially concentrated on the floodplain of the West Branch Susquehanna River near Winfield, and has since expanded to include upland areas to the north and south. Long before a shovel was put into the ground, a predictive model for the area was created using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. The aim of the GIS study was to determine the most likely locations of archaeological sites, based upon the known location of previously recorded sites, together with the consideration of a variety of environmental factors. The information generated by this study was used to aid in choosing a Preferred Alternative for the project. Soils and landform studies were also begun at an early date, in order to determine whether deeply buried archaeological sites are present and to assess factors such as modern disturbances. Archaeological sites buried by sediments left by floodwaters are often better preserved and thus may provide more information than sites that have been exposed on the surface, since the latter have often been impacted be weather, plowed and/or searched by artifact collectors. The Phase I archaeological study has verified the location of one previously recorded site on the Susquehanna River floodplain. In addition, two new sites have been found, one on a terrace adjacent to the river and one in an upland setting far from the river. No deeply buried sites have been located, and all three sites appear to be largely confined to the plowzone. The Phase I fieldwork will continue through Fall 2005, and additional Phase II studies are planned for the floodplain site at a later date.

STATUS OF THE "2-ON-4" PROJECT

The upgrade of PA Rt. 147 from a two-lane to a four-lane limited access facility - the "2-on-4" Project - has been advanced as a separate project under two construction contracts. Susquehanna Supply Construction Company, Williamsport completed the first contract, the construction of the structures for the future northbound lanes, in July 2001. The second contract, started in July 2002, covers construction of the northbound lanes from just north of the PA Route 405 intersection to Interstate 80.