A fisherman tries his luck in Spring Creek as a new bridge to carry I-99 is erected in the background.

Continued growth in Centre County and the State College area has increased congestion along Route 26, especially during peak traffic periods. Frequent left turns by motorists into commercial developments and increased truck traffic resulting from the truck ban on Route 144 also have increased congestion as well as safety problems and concerns.

The Route 26/I-99 project involved construction of a new eight-mile, four-lane, limited access highway connecting the Route 26 Bellefonte Bypass and Route 322 (Mount Nittany Expressway). It included more than 22 miles of ramps for six interchanges -- Park Avenue, Innovation (formerly Research) Park, Shiloh Road, Route 150 (Benner Pike), Harrison Road and the Bellefonte Bypass.

The new, limited access highway, designated as U.S. 220 and eventually as I-99, is alleviating congestion by diverting through-traffic away from Route 26, which provides easy access to the business district and other points along that roadway for local traffic.

Maguire Group provided construction management for all four project sections.