Some Unity residents look forward to easier ride on proposed Route 981 realignment

Unity resident Tracy Lemmon is among those who are eagerly awaiting construction of a new alignment for Route 981 that PennDOT is planning south of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

“I’m actually very anxious for it,” she said during Thursday’s public display of plans for the second section of the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project. The two-hour session attracted more than 70 people to the Pleasant Unity fire hall.

Lemmon, who lives along Route 981 not far from the airport, said she’s found traveling south to church services in Mt. Pleasant easier going since the recent completion of the first section of the Laurel Valley project.

That 4.5-mile segment of Route 981, between Route 819 and the village of Norvelt in Mt. Pleasant Township, gained improved intersections, smoothing of some curves and widening of its two lanes.

“They got rid of some of the nasty curves,” Lemmon said.

She’s hoping officials can address speeding closer to her home along with construction of the second Laurel Valley project section.

“People hit the top of the (Route 981) hill from the airport and they just take off,” she said.

The project’s 3-mile second section will veer off the current Route 981 alignment from a point near the airport and will follow a new connecting road from the Westmoreland Airpark south to Bell Memorial Church Road/Hills Churches Road, extending to the intersection with Bingham Road.

A middle section that will connect the other two is under design.

Three intersections in the first project section were converted to roundabouts, and the second section will gain a similar number of conversions. They will be at Bell Memorial Church Road and Route 130; at Bell Memorial Church Road and a newly aligned portion of Route 981; and at Route 981 and Airport Road, which will be relocated.

The realignment “will keep the bigger trucks out of Pleasant Unity,” said Beth Bowe, who lives in that Unity Township village. “It will give them a better route around.”

While some motorists aren’t fond of roundabout intersections, Bowe said she has experienced improved traffic flow when driving through them.

“Once you get used to them, those roundabouts are great,” she said. “They’re way better than traffic lights stopping traffic.”

Patty Mangini, who lives on Bingham Road, isn’t convinced of the need for roundabouts or for the Laurel Valley project.

“They say they’re better, but sometimes I think they’re confusing for older folks,” she said.

She said she’s not anxious for the arrival large construction vehicles interrupting her rural neighborhood.

“I guess it’s all for the greater good,” she said. “We’ll see.”

PennDOT expects to open contract bids for the project section this summer.

3-year project

The construction schedule stretches over the following three years, potentially wrapping up in the fall of 2028.

A series of detours are anticipated, though PennDOT project manager Troy Pritts noted finding alternate routes won’t be difficult since the new alignment along Bell Memorial Church Road and existing Route 981 both run north-and-south and are connected by Route 130.

Jason Rigone, executive director of the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp., noted completion of the second Laurel Valley project section is a step toward area planners’ goal of having an improved access from area south to the airport and adjacent Route 30.

Ultimate goal: Turnpike interchange

An ultimate goal is to gain a new Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange at Route 981.

“There’s no guarantees there, we understand that,” Rigone said. “But we want to start opening the dialogue with the turnpike leadership to consider this location for an interchange.”

Todd Frescura’s Unity dairy farm won’t be directly affected by the Laurel Valley project construction. But, he said, if the turnpike interchange comes to pass, he expects it will increase the number of flights at the airport that pass directly over his property, negatively impacting his quality of life.

“Maybe 15 or 20 years down the road, it could have an impact,” he said.

The Laurel Valley project “really puts us in a good position to bring people up from the south,” said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority that operates the Palmer airport.

“If we’re going to compete in this day and age, it’s going to take this type of thing to keep us on top,” he said.

Planners estimate work on the road project’s second section could cost anywhere from $50 million to $60 million.

Those who were unable to attend the open house in person will be able to view project documents online and make comments through Feb. 6. The Laurel Valley project website is laurelvalleyproject.com.