CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Construction on Route 68 in Clarion will pause today to allow easier access to downtown Autumn Leaf festivities.

The construction project will halt for the day due to heavy traffic flow for the Autumn Leaf Festival and Farmers and Crafters Day. Crews will not be working over the weekend, as has been the case throughout the project.

Utility work on Route 68 began over two years ago as a $3.8 million safety improvement project to flatten the roadway’s curve. Additional improvements include the addition of a center turn lane and drainage improvements.

Single-lane traffic, controlled by flaggers, are in place during the daytime in Clarion Borough between Trout Run Court and South Street to facilitate utility work on the project.

Two lanes of traffic have been maintained throughout construction, with intermittent short term flagging restrictions (one-lane). A sidewalk has been constructed from the Borough line to the Comet Food Warehouse on the right side of the road.

The $3,883,444.00 safety improvement project is being constructed by Francis J. Palo, of Clarion.