Reflecting a growing trend of soliciting public input early in road projects, Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation officials have adopted an alternative plan proposed by a retired electronics engineer and revamped the alignment of Pittsburgh’s Route 28 to save a historic century-old church—and about $60 million off the $200-million estimated cost.
PennDOT officials are gearing up for final design this fall, with construction slated for 2009. Plans for building a new four-lane segment of Rt. 28, which runs along the Allegheny River, initially included excavating part of a hillside and demolishing the first Croatian church in the U.S. But in 2003, retired engineer George R. White submitted a plan on behalf of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation board, says foundation President Arthur Zeigler. “The plan has been largely adopted,” he says.