Route 219 taking shape across Somerset County landscape

JOHNSTOWN There is an 11-mile path, cut through the woods between Meyersdale and Somerset, that is starting to look like a road.

Straightaways and turns are clearly discernible. A few bridge columns are in place.

More than 4 million cubic yards of earth have been moved.

Almost a year ago, in late August 2013, the area was mostly a forest when dignitaries gathered for a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on the new stretch of U.S. Route 219.

The limited-access, four-lane highway is not scheduled to be completed until the autumn of 2017, but the transformation from wilderness to transportation route is obviously underway.

Its really nice, Thomas Helsel, project construction manager from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said. Its an encouragement I think to everybody.

I have people tell me when they drive through this area and they see the progress that has been made, theyre starting to see how the highways taking shape and how theyre going to be able to drive on this highway someday.

Somerset County Commissioner John Vatavuk echoed those sentiments.

Im pleased with the progress, Vatavuk said.

People are really starting to see the progress now.

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Route 219 taking shape across Somerset County landscape