KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette A crew from Glenn O. Hawbaker mills the intersection of Pine Street and Little League Boulevard as part of the ongoing Little League Boulevard project.

The acrid odor of freshly milled old pavement, being cut out by a huge machine skimming the top could be seen at the intersection of Little League Boulevard and Pine Street.

All along the corridor that has long been the bane of existence for many motorists, with bumps, humps, cracks and dips were large trucks on a project just shy of $1 million by general contractor Glenn O. Hawbaker.

Watching the process were Bill Scott, City of Williamsport engineer, and Scott Livermore, director of the city Department of Public Works, otherwise known as Streets and Parks and Flood Control.

The project, prepared by Mayor Derek Slaughter and his administration, and approved for spending by City Council, because of the use of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), which are federal funds distributed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is expected to run along the boulevard from Mulberry to Walnut streets, creating a need for motorists and pedestrians to be able to cross the boulevard in areas where there is no work zone activity.

The project began in earnest at the boulevard and Pine Street early last week. It is expected, weather depending, for three months.

This is the boulevard’s reconstruction, Scott said.

The milling operations were done by Hawbaker’s team. The work will begin by the crew milling the road surface from Mulberry to Walnut streets.

To accommodate the amount of traffic they are skipping over Market Street and Hepburn Street initially. At the intersections at Pine Street, the crews brought their milling machine a bit back on the approach to the intersection for continuity of the new surface.

There are a lot of signs up to prevent any mishaps.

“We do not want traffic and pedestrians going through the work zones,” Scott said. That is not only safer for those citizens but also the construction crews that the intersection be made closed.

There are plenty of detours and signage up.

There are turn offs and abilities to get through downtown and to all points in the city, Scott assured residents and visitors.

Currently, Fifth Street, North Street, Pine Street, and Edwin Street remain open and accessible means of getting around.

Scott wanted to stress that traffic is not shut off. Livermore noted, to a question, that a large shade tree at the corner of Pine and the boulevard will remain untouched.

“You can still get through,” Scott explained.

After the milling process is done, exposed areas of concrete deterioration will be ripped out. Reinforced dowed rebar and a paving fabric will be added. The fabric solidifies the subbase preventing what is known as mirror cracking from occurring.

The new asphalt will include a 2 /12 inch base and a 1/12 inch wearing course.

That will create a smooth and lasting surface for the drivers. There will be appropriately added sidewalk accessible curb ramps.

In 2026, the intersections of Market and Hepburn streets will see new traffic signalization, Scott said. This is part of a state Department of Transportation “Green Light Go” grant, he said.

That will improve traffic flow and make it far safer to walk across these busy intersections.

That was especially important to council when they discussed this project, as Market Street is currently a hassle and can be a challenge to go left, right, straight or for pedestrians to access areas of Old City, the central business district and the Lycoming College campus.

The work also fulfills a part of Slaughter’s mission to make the city streets and intersections safer and connected to neighborhoods, businesses and the college community.

The boulevard is in better condition west of Walnut Street to Campbell Street, as that was part of repairs done as part of the Pathway to Health, a means of improving access into UPMC campus, which goes west from Walnut to Campbell, Third and Maynard streets to Interstate 180, a major road improvement project done before Scott accepted the position of engineer.