Erie's lower State Street will close in August for Bayfront Parkway construction

There's a detour ahead for lower State Street.

The street will be closed north of the Bayfront Parkway, to Front Street, to accommodate parkway construction. Traffic to Dobbins Landing and other bayfront attractions will be detoured onto Holland and Sassafras streets to Front Street.

Utility lines at State Street will be moved underground to a depth of about 30 feet, said Justin Baker, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation project manager for construction on the central portion of the Bayfront Parkway. Baker discussed the project during a PennDOT "Let's Talk Bayfront" episode on Tuesday.

Digging deep

The parkway in time will be lowered beneath State Street. So utility lines need to be moved to a depth below that future road surface, Baker said.

"It will require substantial excavation," Baker said.

Lower State Street will close for several weeks beginning about Aug. 10. The exact date and duration of the closing are not yet known.

"Our goal will be to try to reopen (the road) within the month of August," Baker said.

Also ahead

New lane shifts will be needed at Sassafras Street, where a hybrid roundabout is under construction. The roundabout will accommodate dual lanes of parkway traffic and a single lane from the Bayfront Convention Center.

Future phases of the $111.7 million project to improve the central portion of the Bayfront Parkway will include construction of a pedestrian bridge at Holland Street, a multi-use trail connecting existing pathways, new sidewalks and lighting.

Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.