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Police, School Officials Concerned Over Route 528 Construction In Butler County

JACKSON TOWNSHIP (KDKA)- Concerns have risen about a PennDOT construction project along a major route in Butler County.

PennDOT's $6 million project kicked off today and won't end until December. Crews will be repaving Route 528 - also known as Lindsay Road - from Route 19 to Route 68 along with replacing a bridge over Likens Run.

School and township officials are concerned about the project, because PennDOT plans on removing the 10-ton weight limit on the road, meaning big trucks can start using it once the construction is complete.

"Historically, there have been issues on that road just due to the narrowness of it. The lack of shoulders, the overall alignment," Jackson Township Manager Chris Rearick said.

Rearick said they found out about PennDOT's plans last year and saw the weight restriction lifted. Officials got together to prove to PennDOT that it shouldn't happen.

"Our engineers have done some work and looked at some of the alignment of the curves and have been able to demonstrate that it's really not possible within the travel lane," he said.

The Seneca Valley School District, Jackson Township Police Department and Jackson Township commissioners sent a joint letter to PennDOT opposing the lifting of the weight limit.

School buses use Route 528 and officials worry about buses and tractor-trailers trying to pass each other on the narrow, winding road. Under current restrictions, big rigs getting off of Interstate 79 are not allowed to turn right onto Route 528. They can only turn left off the exit and head toward Route 19.

"We aim to have additional conversation, dialogue with PennDOT on the matter and hopefully encourage an additional study that would restrict the weight limit on the road," Rearick said.

A detour around the construction along Route 528 will be posted.

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