PennDOT touts highway improvements on Interstate 70
Construction on numerous sections of Interstate 70 in Washington and Westmoreland counties is continuing as part of the state Department of Transportation鈥檚 long-term efforts to modernize the highway originally built in the mid-20th century.
For more than a decade, PennDOT has been improving several segments to upgrade interchanges, widen the highway and improve safety on the nearly 60-mile stretch of I-70 between the Pennsylvania Turnpike at New Stanton and the West Virginia state line near West Alexander.
鈥淚f you look at how things used to be along the interstate and how they are now 鈥� we put a concentrated effort into building the interchanges and then coming through and doing the corridors in between,鈥� PennDOT District 12 Executive Rachel Duda said. 鈥淪o we鈥檝e put a lot of investment into bringing (I-70) up to current standards and making it as safe for the public as we can.鈥�
Duda and other state and regional transportation officials gathered Wednesday morning at the Cedarbrook Golf Course club house in Rostraver Township to brief the media on the various projects planned this year in PennDOT District 12, which includes Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
This year鈥檚 construction projects on I-70 will focus on preservation of the highway between the Eighty Four exit and Bentleyville, which will cost $20 million to $25 million. That section of the highway has already had major upgrades with the interchanges, so now PennDOT is focusing on improving the road surface.
鈥淥ur plan is to keep them in good shape as long as possible,鈥� Duda said. 鈥淏ut these are the huge investments where we鈥檙e taking over and reconstructing (the highway).鈥�
Just across the Mononghahela River in Westmoreland County, work is continuing to widen I-70, rebuild the Arnold City exit and finish construction on the diverging diamond interchange at the Route 51 exit in Rostraver Township. Duda said all of those upgrades 鈥� such as adding room to the shoulder and lengthening on- and off-ramps at interchanges 鈥� will make I-70 safer for motorists who travel the highway.
鈥淭hose are going to make a big difference,鈥� Duda said. 鈥淭here were some elements of the previous design that were deficient, and those will all be brought up to (modern-day) standards.鈥�
More projects, which weren鈥檛 discussed at Wednesday鈥檚 press conference, are slated in the future near Claysville in Washington County and around the Route 201 interchange in Westmoreland County.
鈥淭hose ones are pretty far down the road,鈥� Duda said.
During construction, PennDOT and state police asked motorists to pay attention to work zone speed limits and changing traffic patterns, especially since workers are putting their lives on the line while on the side of the road.
鈥淎ct like it鈥檚 someone you love in that work zone,鈥� Duda added. 鈥淏e safe for yourself, but also for someone else 鈥� we all play a role in safety.鈥�
Another major project will be various improvements to an 11.5-mile stretch of Interstate 79 from the Marianna exit to Waynesburg, which is expected to cost between $40 million and $60 million.
But there are also bridge reconstruction projects now hitting their stride in Fayette County, such as reassembling the historic cast-iron bridge in Brownsville and building a new span to replace the Layton Bridge over the Youghiogheny River. Those projects are in full swing to update old and historic bridges that have stood the test of time.
At Layton, crews will begin working to replace the old single-lane bridge, fill in the tunnel and build a near span nearby, said Bill Beaumariage, who is assistant District 12 executive for construction.
鈥淚 know we鈥檝e all been very anxious to get started with this,鈥� Beaumariage said. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure you鈥檙e all aware of the need to replace that bridge. It鈥檚 been a long time coming.鈥�
The cast-iron bridge 鈥� built in 1839 over Dunlap Creek in Brownsville 鈥� is also a major undertaking, with PennDOT sending the pieces to Michigan for repair before they鈥檙e reassembled. A pedestrian bridge being built next to the spot will give people a spectacular view of the historic span.
鈥淭hat bridge (will still be) carrying legal load even though it was made to carry horses and buggies,鈥� Beaumariage said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing feat.鈥�
An entire list of projects in the area can be found online by going to PennDOT鈥檚 website and searching for District 12 鈥減rojects near you鈥� in the browser.
鈥淚t really is an exciting time for construction,鈥� Duda said.