Route 62/322 Improvement Project

County: Venango
Municipality: City of Franklin
State, US Routes: U.S. 62 & 322 from PA 8 to US 322
Local Name: 15th, 12th, 8th, and Liberty Streets
Project Type: Roadway Restoration and Safety Improvements
MPMS Number: 109153 and 118375
Proposed Construction Start: 2026
Proposed Construction End: 2027
Last Updated: 04/13/26

The purpose of the project is to provide reliable and efficient transportation facilities for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

The project includes resurfacing and intersection upgrades on Route 62/322 from the intersection of Liberty Street and Eighth Street in the City of Franklin to the intersection of Route 8 and Route 62 in Sandycreek Township. 

Work will include milling and paving, storm water drainage upgrades, tree trimming and removal, and roadway painting throughout the entire length of the corridor. The project also includes sidewalk and curb ramp updates as needed and improvements at eight intersection.

The project is expected to start on April 7, 2026, weather permitting. Construction this season will include paving, drainage improvements, sidewalks and curbs upgrades as needed, preliminary traffic signal work, and roadway painting, which should be completed by October 30, 2026. Traffic signal work and additional roadway painting are expected to take place next year with completion by July 2027. 

Following the completion of the project, the lanes for through traffic will be permanently modified to one in each direction between 11th Street and 13th Street to accommodate the creation of left turning lanes and bike lanes in connection with the city’s long-term plan. 

The contractor is Lindy Paving, Inc., of New Galilee, PA. The contract cost is $16,919,145 which is to be paid through a combination of state and federal funds, including a Transportation Alterative Set-Aside grant awarded to the City of Franklin. 

Preliminary work will start April 13, 2026. These activities include setting up signs and staging equipment and materials.

The construction schedule for the project has been updated.

Starting April 13, drivers should anticipate temporary lane restrictions with flaggers controlling traffic near the intersection of 15th Street and Liberty Street as tree trimming work requires. There will be a lane shift and limited on-street parking at the intersection of Garnett Wood Way and Liberty Street as drainage work starts. 

Throughout the project, drivers should be alert for temporary lane restrictions with traffic controlled by flaggers and anticipate travel delays. Some work will be completed during nighttime hours, which will be announced in advance. 

Work at the 12th Street intersection will require lane closures and will limit turning options between streets at times. 

To complete a full reconstruction of the roadway near the intersection of Liberty Street and 15th Street, the roadway will be closed from 14th Street to Chestnut Street for a five-day stretch. The date of the closure will be announced prior to implementation of the detour.  

A 42.9-mile truck detour will be posted using Route 62, Route 173, and Route 322 through Sandy Lake and Cochranton. The 4.6-mile car detour would be posted using Bully Hill Road (Route 3021), Congress Hill Road (Route 3021), Pone Lane (Route 3021), and Route 8 (15th Street).  

The project also includes sidewalk and curb ramp updates as needed and improvements at eight intersections, including the following:

• Eighth Street – Updated signals, intersection widening. 
• Ninth Street – Updated signals.
• Washington Crossing – Updated signals.
• 11th Street – Updated signals.
• 12th Street – Improvements to the roadway geometry, addition of left turning lanes on Liberty Street, updated traffic and pedestrian signals, shorter pedestrian crosswalks, pedestrian bump outs, and ADA compliant curb ramps. 
• 13th Street – Addition of left turning lanes on Liberty Street, updated traffic and pedestrian signals, and ADA compliant curb ramps.
• 14th Street – Updated signals.
• 15th Street – Minor roadway widening to accommodate truck turning radius and updated flashing signal.  

An in-person public meeting was held January  2020. A presentation was given of 12th Street improvement alternatives. Attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions. The presentation was boards that were on display are available below.

An update on the project was announced on August 2020. 

A second in-person meeting was held in November 2023.  A presentation of updates on the planned improvements was presented and the public was given a chance to provide feedback. 

Franklin City Council was provided an update on the project during their public meeting in December 2024. 

An online plans display focused on the possible closure of the 15th Street intersection was held in December 2025.