St. Marys receives funding for state Route 120 Connector Project
ST. MARYS - The City of St. Marys received $625,000 in much anticipated state funding for the construction of the new 120 Connector Project.
Senator Cris Dush (R-25) and state Representative Mike Armanini (R-75 Elk/Clearfield) announced the funding on Thursday afternoon.
Upon completion, the 120 Connector will allow tractor trailer traffic to access State Route 120 without going through “The Diamond,” which forms in the modern-day center of downtown St. Marys. The project will feature roadway reconstruction. The traffic would be diverted out Brusselles Street.
“I am fully supportive of this major connector project because it holds the potential to permanently divert 70% percent of truck traffic away from The Diamond,” Dush said. “Much more than roadway reconstruction to alleviate more than 40 years of traffic congestion, the 120 Connector project will also result in a safer downtown and greater possibilities for economic development and job creation throughout Elk County and surrounding areas.”
St. Marys City Manager Joe Fleming said they anticipate the project to be completed in 2025 or 2026.
“When working with the state it takes time especially to develop a new road and bypass,” Fleming noted.
The grant was awarded through the Multimodal Transportation Fund administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The fund was created to encourage economic development and ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available to the residents of the commonwealth.
The project is one of the solutions identified as part of a 2018 study that looked at traffic pattens and congestion.
“We are so thankful because that multimodal project funding is very competitive in the state, so anything that comes into our region is a great win for the community and our area,” Fleming said.
A public meeting hosted by PennDOT is expected to take place in May. Additional information will be released once final plans are in place for the meeting.
“Tax dollars are to be invested and not wasted…that’s the mark of
good stewardship,” Armanini added. “People can see their money at work when they drive downtown to shop, dine or go to work…that’s the definition of a true investment.”
In August 2023 St. Marys City Council approved a resolution to apply for a Multimodal Transportation Fund grant of $2.46 million to be used as part of the project.
In October 2021 PennDOT announced that archeologic staff and survey crews inspected the site to help plot the right-ofway, identify natural and historic resources
and fine tune potential roadway alignments. Fleming said the surveys are still ongoing as after one study the project was delayed then officials determined two additional studies were needed.
Previously PennDOT
stated they expected the project to be bid in late August 2023 at an estimated cost of $3 million and that funding for the project has come through the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund (TIFF).