Drivers who use several intersections on 12th St. in the City of Erie will see permanent traffic pattern changes starting next week, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Thursday.

The changes include:

  • Greengarden Boulevard and West 12th Street – The northbound and southbound lanes will be changed from two through lanes in each direction to one lane for through traffic and one dedicated to left turns.
  • Raspberry and West 12th Street – The northbound lane will be reduced to a single, shared lane for through traffic and left turns.
  • Liberty Street and West 12th Street – The southbound will be changed to one dedicated right turn, one straight lane and one dedicated left turn. The northbound will be changed to a single, shared through / right turn lane and a dedicated left turn lane.
  • State Street and West 12th Street – The northbound and southbound lanes will be changed from two travel lanes in each direction to one lane for through traffic and one dedicated to the left turn.

The changes are part of a project designed to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists and allow for safer and more efficient traffic flow along three miles of 12th Street from Interstate 79 to the Bayfront Connector, according to PennDOT.

The project includes new poles, improved traffic detection systems and signal coordination, and upgraded pedestrian features and ADA compliant curb ramps throughout the corridor, as well as modifications and retimings.

Traffic signal timing will also be completed.