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 Getting Around: Construction Guide
Sunday, June 22, 2003
Special Traffic Notes
Safety laws -- A second set of laws goes into effect tomorrow in highway construction zones providing for an automatic, 15-day suspension of driver's license for exceeding speed limit by 11 mph, causing an accident or being cited for unsafe driving. Police no longer have to provide a 6 mph "cushion" to cite drivers for speeding; it's now zero tolerance.
School's out -- So watch out for more kids on highways and streets, on bicycles, scooters and skateboards, around ball fields, parks and neighborhood playgrounds. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says 265 children under age 13 were killed as pedestrians last year and another 97 were killed while riding bicycles.
Butler Main Street plans -- PennDOT and consultants will explain the $25 million bridge improvement plan 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Butler Days Inn, Route 8. Information on the Web at www.mainstreetviaduct.com.
Cranberry Connector -- A flat-rate toll system is now in place at the Ohio line, where drivers of cars pay $1 cash (without E-ZPass) for travel in either direction. Tolls have been eliminated at the New Castle, Beaver Valley and I-79 interchanges.
At the new Warrendale toll plaza at Milepost 31, the turnpike fare collection operates east to the New Jersey line in traditional fashion using tickets.
Traffic will be able to make a direct connection between the turnpike and I-79 by the end of the year or early 2004 as a result of the Cranberry Connector. Until then, keep using Route 19 between I-79 and the toll road.
The new exit ramp from the westbound turnpike is open. Drivers come to a fork at the Route 19 intersection.
Mon-Fayette Expressway -- The turnpike has begun converting the toll plaza near I-70, Washington County, to mechanical equipment that will no longer require staffing with collectors. Up to two of the six lanes at a time may be closed until the work is done in September.
Mainline -- Traffic restricted and shifted between mileposts 85 and 94 in Westmoreland County and between mileposts 109 and 122, Somerset County. Work to last through 2004. Work at Gateway Toll Plaza to be finished late this spring.
Occasional other one-lane restrictions across the state for construction or maintenance. For updates, 1-800-331-3414 or www.paturnpike.com.
The inbound tunnel and bridge are closed through August. Inbound traffic from Parkway West (I-279) and Banksville Road to Downtown and the Parkway East is crossed over and directed through the outbound tunnel.
Traffic to I-279 North, PNC Park and Routes 65 and 28 must exit to Route 51 north and use the West End detour.
Because of the unusual contraflow situation with inbound traffic using the outbound tunnel, PennDOT is using last year's detours for outbound traffic.
The I-279/376 connector ramp from the Fort Duquesne Bridge to the Parkway East is usually closed at 8 p.m. daily until the next morning. Most of the time, you can take Fort Pitt Boulevard eastbound to the Parkway. On some nights, those lanes are closed, too, and traffic is detoured a short distance.
Also, the outbound tunnel being used by inbound traffic is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays and until 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Use the Route 51 north-West End detour.
New West End tunnel -- The road carrying Route 51 northbound under the railroad tracks, the so-called hole-in-the-wall, opened Thursday, providing a direct connection to the West End Bridge. Southbound traffic will remain in its normal configuration for now.
I-70, Washington County -- Single-lane restrictions between Kammerer and Centerville exits during resurfacing. Paving complete; line-striping taking place.
I-79, Crawford County -- Nine miles being rebuilt between Geneva and Meadville exits. Traffic restricted to southbound side, one lane in each direction, while work takes place northbound until late October. Southbound side to be rebuilt next year.
I-80, Centre/Clearfield counties -- An eastbound bridge near the county line is closed for repairs. Traffic using westbound bridge, one lane each way. Expect delays.
I-376, Allegheny County -- Concrete barriers along shoulders under the Greenfield Avenue Bridge, just west of Squirrel Hill Tunnel on the Parkway East.
Route 18, Burgettstown -- Reconstruction of the Market Street intersection to begin soon. People who use the route to the Post-Gazette Pavilion can expect slow-moving traffic at times.
Route 19, Ross, West View -- Single-lane, overnight closures between West View Avenue and West View Park Drive; $2.9 million project scheduled for Labor Day completion.
Route 22, Murrysville -- Traffic switched to the eastbound lanes in the area of Cline Hollow Road. Slow-moving traffic and delays.
Route 22, Indiana-Cambria county line -- County Line Road being used as a temporary detour through the construction zone in the Gas Center area. The speed limit is 25 mph while new lanes are built through July.
Routes 22/119 -- Road in front of Chestnut Ridge Golf Course to be resurfaced starting tomorrow. Shoulder widening in other areas, part of $29 million interchange reconstruction to be completed in October.
Route 60, Hopewell -- Restrictions on Routes 60 and 151, crossovers and ramps. Road being rebuilt from Airport Expressway to Route 151. Completion date is Nov. 14.
Route 60, Moon-Findlay -- Traffic restricted and lanes shifted on Flaugherty Run Road Bridge crossing Route 60. Deck repairs taking place through June 30.
Route 119, Uniontown -- Northbound and southbound restrictions for paving in North Union construction zone. Work to start soon on a section in Dunbar at Routes 119, 711.
Route 119, Indiana County -- Lane shifts and changing traffic configurations in Burrell and Homer City for $44.4 million widening project. Web site is www.119south.com.
Also, 24-hour lane closure begins tomorrow for $2.6 million resurfacing project in village of Marchand in North Mahoning Township. Flaggers to control traffic movement through work zone.
Route148, McKeesport -- Reconstruction of ramps and roadway around the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge. Bowman Avenue closed between Elm Street and Route 148 until July 6. Patching under way on Route 148 (Fifth Avenue), resulting in one lane in each direction between Hartman Street and Lysle Boulevard through mid-July. The $4.9 million project to last until mid-December.
Route 219, Somerset County -- One lane open in each direction, reduced speed for five miles between Routes 281 and 601.
Route 388, Lawrence County -- A $2 million resurfacing under way from Route 65 north through Shenango and Slippery Rock townships to Center Church Road. Completion in October.
Route 422, Butler County -- Lane and ramp restrictions supposed to start last Monday were postponed because of weather. They will now start tomorrow and continue through mid-September for $11.2 million interchange where Routes 422, 38 and 68 meet in Summit. Completion in 2004.
Route 885, Lebanon Road -- Single lane in each direction until Labor Day while PennDOT rebuilds the roadway through an underpass below Allegheny County Airport's main runway.
Bigelow Boulevard -- The outbound curb lane closed through July 13 between Centre Avenue and Polish Hill while a retaining wall next to the roadway is reconstructed.
Greentree Road -- $2.2 million, 1.5-mile resurfacing and improvement project restricting traffic to one lane in each direction between Swallow Hill and Cochran roads. Project is to last through November.
Fifth Avenue, Oakland -- One northbound lane closed between Lothrop and Darragh streets, near the Falk Clinic, through spring 2005, while University of Pittsburgh builds a $188 million biomedical building. For now, two-way traffic on Lothrop not affected.
Robinson Boulevard, Wilkinsburg-Penn Hills -- Restricted to a single lane, 24 hours a day, between Frankstown and Laketon roads. The $2.7 million project, including upgrading traffic signals, is to be finished by late August.
Wilkins Avenue, Braddock Hills -- Closed through July between Woodstock Avenue and Park Avenue Extension while the county replaces Tassey Hollow Run Bridge.
Bakerstown-Warrendale Road, Richland -- Restricted to a single lane in each direction weekdays for a $2.9 million resurfacing project between Valencia Road and Route 8.
Evergreen Road, Ross -- Single lane in each direction weekdays while PennDOT resurfaces between Babcock Boulevard and McKnight Road overpass.
Wible Run Road, Shaler -- Closed through October between Anderson and Marzolf roads while a short bridge over Wible Run is replaced. Detour via McElheny Road.
16th Street Bridge -- Closed for reconstruction until mid-September.
31st Street Bridge -- Work during off-peak hours has restricted traffic to a single lane in each direction for several weeks for sidewalk repair. Minimal delays expected.
40th Street Bridge -- Traffic restricted to a single lane each way, 24 hours a day, until Nov. 3. Besides repairing the structure, PennDOT is working with the Boy Scouts of America to repair and repaint plaques along the sidewalks representing the original 13 colonies.
Apollo Bridge -- $6.3 million project has begun to replace the bridge over the Kiskiminetas River between Oklahoma and Apollo with a new span beside it, including new Route 66 approaches. Minimal traffic restrictions until next year.
Kane Road Bridge, Beaver County -- Closed through July 11 while the bridge between Airport Road and Brodhead Road in New Sheffield is replaced.
Bocktown Road Bridge, Beaver County -- Existing bridge, part of Route 151, between Independence and Thompson Hill roads, closed through mid-October during $1.9 million replacement. Detour via Route 60, Flaugherty Run Road.
Ligonier area -- Traffic crossed to one side of Route 30, one lane in each direction. PennDOT replacing a bridge over Mill Creek west of town. Also, Route 711 bridge over the Loyalhanna Creek near Route 30 intersection being replaced. Alternating traffic over 12-foot-wide lane. August completion.
Point Marion Bridge, Fayette County -- $520,000 in emergency repairs under way to restore 30-ton weight limit to the bridge, now posted for 3 tons. September completion.
Transit protest -- The Save Our Transit group of bus-trolley riders will rally in front of the State Office Building, Downtown, at 11 a.m. tomorrow and then begin 25 hours of vigil and fasting to protest a lack of financial support for public transit from Gov. Ed Rendell and state lawmakers.
Mount Washington Tunnel -- Closed to buses and trolleys until approximately 2:30 p.m. today for work. Detours will be in effect.
412-442-2000
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