Highway project may start earlier
The prediction of an early spring Tuesday by Punxsutawney Phil is being shared by the contractor working on the diverging diamond interchange on Interstate 70 at Murtland Avenue in South Strabane Township, which is gearing up for a possible early start on the construction season.
Golden Triangle Construction of Imperial has indicated it will send a letter to the state Department of Transportation seeking to resume work on the project in the second or third week of March as opposed to the traditional start date of April 1, Scott Faieta, assistant construction engineer for PennDOT overseeing the work, said Tuesday at an update meeting on the project.
Work on the $51 million project to construct a diverging diamond interchange at Murtland began in 2014. It is expected to be done by November 2017.
“They have told us they will submit a letter, requesting some single-lane closures at night to move some barriers and do other work,” Faieta said. “Typically, we don’t do anything before April 1, but we will take a look at it.”
“We have granted it in the past as long as there is no inclement weather,” he added. “They’d be able to get started a few weeks earlier.”
Temperatures around freezing are more conducive to winter work than the fluctuating temperatures experienced this year because there is less mud, Faieta said. The contractor has spent the winter months working in the median on drainage and preparing the crossovers needed for this year. Work also will be done in the next few weeks to widen the bridge that takes the highway over Locust Avenue, just east of the north junction with Interstate 79.
Work will begin no later than April 1 to start work on the reconstruction of the westbound side of the highway with all traffic moved to the eastbound side that was rebuilt in 2015. Work on implementing the diverging diamond is scheduled for next year, although that could be moved up depending on how things go on the project this year, Faieta said.
Faieta said that state police were pleased with the snow removal effort in the construction area during the recent winter storm. A truck from the contractor was dedicated to keep the area clear on both the interstate and Route 19.