SLIPPERY ROCK — The downtown turning lane project is coming to a close, according to Slippery Rock borough council.

“That's been a while and coming,” said council President Russell Karl. “The traffic flow pattern seems to be moving a lot better with that turn lane now in place. It's quite the asset to the borough.”

At Tuesday's meeting, Karl said the Pennsylvania Department of Health completed the turning lane Friday and went to work on some finishing touches, rounding off the corners of the intersection.

“They rounded them off so big trucks could turn easier,” Karl said. “They did a nice job. We sent them a thank-you letter, because they went above and beyond what they needed to do for us.”

Work on the project began in July, with the addition of a right-hand turning lane to eastbound New Castle Street at its intersection with Main Street.

The turning lane is part of a larger PennDOT project spanning from Interstate-79 to Route 8 at an overall cost of $3.1 million. The overall project will continue into next year.

In addition to the turning lane, borough manager Shawn Pugh said the repaving of Lab Alley and Library Alley has also been completed, and the remodeling of the borough building's front porch, which added a composite deck over the existing concrete patio, is in its final stage.

Unrelated to projects, the council also approved a motion to request a permit from PennDOT to put up a sign regarding the use of brake retarders in the residential areas along Franklin Street.

Pugh said the sign would be directed at truck drivers, but it would not be something the borough plans to enforce.

“This isn't prohibiting anyone,” he said. “It's just reminding truck drivers to keep in mind the residential area.”

Vehicles, particularly large trucks, use brake retarders to help slow or maintain speed while traveling down a hill. Some of these systems are louder than others, and the type dubbed a “Jake brake” is notoriously noisy.

“If it helps a little bit, that can sometimes go a long way,” Karl said.