A significant closure is coming to one of Erie’s most heavily traveled corridors. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced plans to close a section of the Bayfront Parkway between Sassafras Street Extension and Holland Street, including the State Street intersection, beginning in September 2025, shortly after Labor Day.

The closure is expected to last approximately 12 to 14 months and is part of the Central Bayfront Parkway Project, which aims to reconstruct intersections, improve pedestrian safety, and enhance traffic flow.

Detours & Access: 

   •Route 5 (12th Street) will serve as the primary detour for cross-city traffic.

   •Access to businesses along the waterfront will be maintained via East Front Street and West Front Street Extension throughout the duration of the closure.

   •State Street between Second Street and the Parkway will close starting July 21, 2025, and will remain closed during the Parkway project.

Key Project Elements:

   •Reconstruction of State Street and Bayfront Parkway into a grade-separated intersection, allowing through-traffic to pass beneath.

   •Installation of shorter crosswalks, new traffic signals, and enhanced pedestrian accommodations.

   •Preparatory work near Holland Street for a future roundabout and pedestrian bridge.

Public Input and Safety Measures:

   •PennDOT held public meetings in May and has worked with local stakeholders to address concerns related to:

   •Access for waterfront businesses, hospital staff, and service vehicles.

   •Traffic calming measures on East and West Front Streets, including temporary signals, stop signs, speed humps, and crosswalks.

   •Installation of temporary pedestrian signals at East Third & French Street and East Third & Holland Street.

   •Audible pedestrian signals will be added at Holland Street and Bayfront Parkway.

Event Planning & Timeline:

   •The closure will not impact the 2025 Tall Ships Erie Festival scheduled for August.

   •Temporary pedestrian access across the Parkway and along State Street will be in place August 21–24 during the festival.

Details on the project, including renderings, videos, and comment forms, are available at: penndot.pa.gov/bayfrontparkwayproject.

Questions or feedback can be submitted to: BayfrontProject@pa.gov.