Latest news with #DougThompson
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
PennDOT suspends major construction projects for U.S. Open
With thousands of people flocking to the U.S. Open at Oakmont over the next week, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is suspending most of its major projects. 'So we've taken a lot of effort, a deep dive into all those projects to make sure there isn't something that we're not thinking of that could pop up,' said Doug Thompson, Assistant District Executive for Construction for PennDOT. Thompson said the agency is approaching the open in a similar way it would an extended holiday weekend - by lifting as many lane restrictions as it can to keep traffic moving. Where projects cannot be suspended, the agency is moving work to the evenings, like work on the Parkway West near Pittsburgh International Airport. 'We only have one project on the Parkway West, just on the western side of Interstate 79,' Thompson said. 'We'll have some nighttime work that will be going on there, we know daytime restrictions, so again, people coming from the airport through during the daytime, you know, going to the event, they'll see no impact from construction projects.' The United States Golfing Association (USGA) has developed a plan for fans to get in and out of the Open. Fans are encouraged to use lots at Hartwood Acres and the Monroeville Mall, where shuttles will run between the course and the lots throughout the day. Thompson says 'What we're doing is we're taking a look at any of our construction projects that may impact those routes and we're making sure that they're traveling or their shuttles are traveling, we're making sure that we don't have any work going on, any lane restrictions that would impact those travel routes,' Thompson said. PennDOT is pausing its project along Route 8 in an effort to keep traffic headed to the red lot near Hartwood Acres moving. The agency is also pausing work on the replacement of the Commercial Street bridge, which carries the parkway east from the Squirrel Hill tunnels toward the Edgewood/Swissvale exit. 'We will have zero lane restrictions going on from the 9th to the 16th day or night on that important quarter because that's a big point for people traveling either from the airport or from the south getting on the Parkway and getting to like, for example, that blue lot [at the Monroeville Mall] so they can get a shuttle to go to the event,' Thompson said. PennDOT contracts with various construction crews to carry out its projects, and in some cases, was able to write the work stoppages into the plan from the beginning. In other cases, Thompson says the agency works with contractors to keep traffic flowing and projects on schedule. 'Sometimes it'll cost us some more money to accommodate the contractor with some of their operations, but, you know, that's just what we have to do in some of these instances like this with such a major event to make sure the roads are clear.' Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW,
CBS News
27-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Squirrel Hill Tunnel lane closure causing traffic headaches for drivers
Cars and trucks packed the Parkway East outbound Tuesday morning, creating some headaches for folks during the peak rush hours as they returned to work after the long Memorial Day weekend. Be prepared, it could stay that way for a while. It's the result of closing one lane coming out of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel, causing a backup to the Liberty Bridge. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation crews closed the eastbound, outbound right-hand lane and shoulder from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale Interchange at Exit 77. PennDOT Assistant District 11 Executive for Construction Doug Thompson said they'll continue to do so through Friday and again during the work week next week as they construct a retaining wall on the parkway outside of the tunnel, near the site of the new Commercial Street bridge. "We would anticipate that, and you know, we do apologize for those inconveniences," Thompson said. Then, there will be a break from June 9 to 16 for the U.S. Open in Oakmont. "We won't have any restrictions on the Parkway East during that time period due to the traffic impacts, the additional traffic we're anticipating to, you know, come into the area during the U.S. Open," Thompson said. However, they'll be back in place when the tournament ends, and Thompson encourages drivers to try to find different routes out of town. Once they do, he expects your commute to be a little smoother. "Anytime we have new restrictions out there, anytime we start a project or start new lane restrictions, you know, it does take a few days for people to find alternate routes, you know, it's always worse the first few days," Thompson said. Patience will be key. More lane restrictions and closures on the Parkway are expected until the project's estimated completion in the summer of 2027.
CBS News
09-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Vietnam 50 Years Later: Inside the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum
There will soon be a new place to visit honoring the stories of Minnesota's history in world conflicts, including the Vietnam War. The new Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum is under construction just outside of Camp Ripley in Little Falls, and is expected to open in late 2026. When it opens, it will honor not only Minnesota's service members and their sacrifices, but the refugee experience as well. For the past 50 years, the former regimental headquarters building-turned-museum has served Camp Ripley well. But Doug Thompson, the museum's curator of collections, says these quarters are now just too cramped to do the museum justice. "In totality, in all of our our collections, I would say that that number is between 70,000 to 80,000 individual artifacts, ranging from ribbon bars to submarines," Thompson said. MMVM Inside, you'll find items from the Revolutionary War, both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and beyond. All of it is meaningful to Minnesota. "Everything that you see in the museum today was donated by a Minnesota family and veteran, so it gives a real good connection for Minnesotans to their history," he said. The new museum will also feature a state-of-the-art archive room, a classroom for students, as well as a dedicated space to continue recording and preserving stories of Minnesota's veterans and refugee communities. "It's who we are as a state. We've been shaped by that. The leadership that those communities have demonstrated at various levels, first responders, state legislature active in their communities, we want to have those stories be part of those facilities," Thompson said. Finally, a facility to call their own, built just for them, that lays the groundwork for future generations to remember and honor their past. This story is part of the WCCO documentary "Vietnam 50 Years Later: Reflection on a War that Changed Minnesota," by reporter Pauleen Le and photojournalist Art Phillips. Watch the full documentary below, or on our YouTube channel.
CBC
03-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Who's running in the Osgoode ward byelection
Social Sharing The race is on to fill the Osgoode ward council seat, left vacant after George Darouze was elected as Carleton's MPP. Eleven people have been certified as candidates as of the May 2 nomination deadline — the same day that their campaigns were allowed to begin putting up election signs across the sprawling rural ward. Residents will vote on June 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, or in advance on June 6. Byelection June 16 to fill George Darouze's Osgoode seat Here's who's running, in the order they filed their nomination papers: Doug Thompson Relying on decades of experience in municipal politics, Doug Thompson is hoping to get back onto Ottawa City Council after years away. Thompson was the pre-amalgation mayor of Osgoode Township from 1980 to 2000 and subsequently represented the area on the amalgamated Ottawa council. He retired as councillor in 2014 and endorsed Darouze, before barrelling back into the municipal realm with an unsuccessful challenge of his successor in the 2022 municipal election. Thompson's election website lists a number of priorities, including roads, policing and doctor recruitment. Colette Lacroix-Velthuis Dubbing herself a volunteer, proud farmer and business woman, Colette Lacroix-Velthuis boasts a career in the tech sector and community experience. Her election website highlights promises to improve roads and ditches, access to emergency services and the rural economy. Dan O'Brien Taking a second run at representing Osgoode ward is Dan O'Brien, who came in third in the 2022 election after Darouze and Doug Thompson. As of Friday, O'Brien did not have a website listed on the city's election page. A post on his social media account emphasizes his roles as a volunteer, entrepreneur and farmer. Isabelle Skalski Current president of the Greely Community Association, Isabelle Skalski notes on her election website that she has stepped away from a career in the federal public service to run. She most recently served as a senior policy advisor at the Privy Council Office. Skalski's site highlighted several priorities, including well-maintained roads, low taxes and less red tape. Jennifer van Koughnett Jennifer van Koughnett describes herself as a community health advocate with leadership experience. Her campaign website highlights three main issues: traffic, trails and the Tewin suburb planned for the area. Bobby Gulati While the city's election website indicated as of Friday that Bobby Gulati did not provide an election website, a campaign Facebook page indicates his priorities include fair taxes, support for local businesses and removing red tape. Gulati's LinkedIn page lists his current job as mortgage broker. Gregory Vail Gregory Vail's election website emphasizes decades of corporate business experience, along with local volunteer work. His listed priorities include roads, policing and strengthening the city's ties with farmers. Arnold Vaughan The city's election website indicated that, as of Friday, Arnold Vaughan had not provided an election website, social media page or any contact information. Peter Scott Westaway Peter Scott Westaway describes himself as a candidate with a "single issue political platform." A resident of Nepean, his campaign website said he believes the Ottawa greenbelt must be changed. Guy Clarence Boone The city's election website indicated that, as of Friday, Guy Clarence Boone had not provided an election website or social media page. Dalton Holloway
