Routes 8, 422 ramp project wraps early

BUTLER TWP — The ramps connecting Routes 8 and 422 at the interchange north of Butler reopened Wednesday, a few weeks ahead of schedule, according to the State Department of Transportation.

Half of the ramps closed in April to finish a paving project that began last year.

However, a 16-foot width restriction is still in place along Route 422 in eastbound and westbound directions between Route 68 and Route 356.

Deborah Casadei, a spokesman for PennDOT, said the experience that crews gained last year working on the ramps helped the work get completed earlier than expected. She said the state’s original schedule also had a little extra time for the work to be done. Shields Asphalt Paving did the work.

GC police monitor aggressive driving

GROVE CITY — The borough police will join a statewide initiative to target aggressive-driving enforcement in the next two months.

The campaign will run from Monday to Aug. 30.

Officers will monitor Routes 208 and 58 and adjoining roads in the borough, according to a news release.

Aggressive driving citations include speeding, disobeying traffic control signs and other violations.

The campaign is funded by the state Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

More than 330 municipal agencies are participating.

SRU names interim dean for college

SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University has named an interim dean for its College of Health, Environment and Science.

Biology professor Jerry Chmielewski took over for retiring dean Susan Hannam on June 29, according to a news release.

Chmielewski joined the SRU staff as an assistant professor in 1990. He previously served as acting associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Hannam was with the university for 28 years and had been the dean since 2007.