09/05/2026
Leechburg officials inform residents of impending traffic delays
Leechburg officials make preparations for large transports set to travel through the town
FOR THE LEADER TIMES 3 hrs ago
Leechburg officials are advising residents of repeated and disruptive traffic delays which will occur numerous times between September and January, 2027, according to a press release.
Approximately 50 shipments of large cargo from Schenley Terminals in Gilpin to Homer City related to the construction of a natural gas power plant and hyperscale data center there will take place beginning on Sept. 14 and continue through January of next year.
During September and October there are expected to be approximately 11 trips of the loaded vehicle through town, with an equal number of return trips, according to a tentative schedule released by Edwards Moving and Rigging of Shelbyville, Kentucky, which is managing the project.
The schedules for the remaining months have not been released.
While oversize loads are common, these are larger than is common on local roads, and involves a truck and trailer which is 17 feet wide, 206 feet long and which weighs 760,000 pounds, and will travel at approximately 3 miles per hour which has the potential to snarl traffic in and around Leechburg and the Kiski Valley as it travels from Schenley to Route 66 south through Leechburg, along River Road and across the Apollo bridge.
The convoy will include several vehicles including bucket trucks and several Pennsylvania State Police es**rt vehicles.
Leechburg Mayor Doreen Smeal, Council Vice President Chuck Pascal, and Police Chief Jason Schaeffer met with a representative of Edwards Moving and Rigging to get information about how the vehicle will maneuver through Leechburg and the impacts on traffic and businesses.
When coming through Gilpin and into Leechburg on Route 66, the vehicle will be traveling at 3 mph, and in Leechburg will make the 90 degree turn from Third Street onto Market Street.
As a result, the intersection and bridge will be closed for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
The turn itself is expected to take 15 minutes.
Market Street will be subject to rolling closures to traffic in both directions until the truck leaves the borough.
Mayor Smeal advised that on days that the loads would be coming through town that it should arrive in Leechburg around 9:30-10 a.m., after leaving Schenley at 8 am.
“If you have plans to come into or leave town for work or for an appointment, please plan accordingly — leave earlier or later to avoid any delay or inconvenience,” Smeal advised.
“We will also be monitoring traffic on the streets surrounding the route to make sure frustrated motorists are obeying traffic laws as they try to get around the delays so that pedestrians and our residents are safe,” Pascal added.
Parking will be prohibited on both sides of Market Street from the corner of Third Street to the municipal parking lot next to National Public House — a total of four metered parking spots, Smeal said.
She added that borough officials will be individually speaking with business owners about any questions or concerns that they have.
“Our main concerns are the safety of the public and making sure that our business community isn’t adversely effected by these disruptions more than absolutely necessary,” Pascal said.
He noted that some local businesses are worried about the effect of the disruptions on their customers, and encouraged people to continue to support local businesses, “The key is for everyone to be informed and plan ahead, but please make the effort to support our businesses.”
Smeal added that while while the trips will be made six days a week, that Edwards Moving agreed to not transport on Sept. 19, when Market Street is scheduled to be closed for Pink Day.
Smeal and Pascal complimented Edwards Moving, saying they have been “incredibly responsive to our questions, concerns and requests,” including agreeing to inform officials of the specific days that transporting will take place so that they can then inform residents.
“The borough had nothing to do with the decision to bring this recurring disruption through town, but we are prepared, we will make the best of it, and make sure it goes as smoothly as possible,” Smeal said.
