Eastern Inner Loop Closure Project

Overview

The objective of this project was to develop a roadway alignment that best closes the Eastern Inner Loop in downtown State College.

Objectives

This project aimed to help mitigate downtown traffic by closing the Eastern Inner Loop with a newly developed roadway. By helping traffic circumvent the downtown network, overall congestion will be reduced.

Approach

Three alternatives were developed. All alternatives began at the intersection of University Dr and Park Ave, represented with a star symbol in the figure to the right. The first alternative ends at Clinton Ave/Blue Course Dr. The second alternative ends at Vario Blvd. The third connection ends on I-99. These preliminary lines were developed into alignments and evaluated in the following categories; environmental impact, crash safety, design consistency, and cost estimates. Once evaluated under these guidelines, the best option was chosen.

Outcomes

Alignment one, with a connection at Clinton Ave., was chosen due to having the lowest cost out of the three, reducing the overall number of crashes throughout the network, and creating a large reduction in travel time compared to the existing network.