Westmoreland County project awarded $30M in state funding

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) recently awarded the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project (LTVIP) in Westmoreland County $30 million for the second phase of construction.

LVTIP connects the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township to the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity Township.

Phase one will end construction in Norvelt village in Mt. Pleasant Township. Phase two will continue the roadway approximately 3.5 miles north of the Norvelt intersection along SR 2023 to Bingham Road, just south of the intersection of SR 2023/SR 130 in Unity Township.

Officials held a ground-breaking ceremony for phase one on Nov.12.

Phase two is in the preliminary design stage and is expected to begin construction ahead of its projected timetable.

“Accelerating the completion of this project is paramount to the future economic growth of eastern Westmoreland County,” Pennsylvania state Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R- Westmoreland County) said. “The LTVIP will provide more direct access to the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport from the interstate transportation network provided by the Pennsylvania Turnpike and PennDOT. Tourism, commercial business expansion, and greater air freight opportunities are among the areas that stand to benefit greatly from this project.”

Ward also thanked PennDOT for advancing the project forward.