Nov 11, 2014 2 min read

The traffic delay that the state Department of Transportation warned motorists of on Monday while lines were being painted on Interstate 70 was made even worse by at least two crashes on Interstate 79 in South Strabane Township.

PennDOT notified drivers last week of the work between the north and south junctions with Interstate 79 as part of an upcoming change in traffic patterns.

Preliminary work has started in that area on construction of a diverging diamond interchange that will replace the cloverleaf at the Murtland Avenue interchange. A third lane also will be added between the two junctions as part of the work.

Just after noon Monday, state police sent out an advisory about traffic delays on I-70 east and I-79 south. Traffic on I-70 east was reportedly backed up to the Taylorstown exit in Buffalo Township while southbound I-79 was backed to the Houston exit in North Strabane Township.

Police responded to at least two crashes in the congested area.

State police said that Cecilia J. Franc, 53, of Canonsburg, was going south on I-79 when she illegally crossed the center median near the Meadow Lands exit and pulled out in front of a northbound vehicle driven by Sandra Echols, 67, of Beckley, W.Va. about 2:15 p.m. The impact caused Franc’s vehicle to spin. Franc was cited with driving on divided highways and issued warnings for crossing into the median. Neither driver was injured.

About 3:30 p.m. a vehicle driven by William McCracken Jr., 18, of Washington, crashed into the rear of a vehicle driven by Marcus Sellers, 37, also of Washington. Police said Sellers’ vehicle was stopped when McCracken crashed into it on I-79 south. McCracken was cited for following too closely while Sellers was cited for an inspection violation. Neither driver was injured.

Work on the new interchange, being built at an estimated cost of $57 million, is scheduled to be completed in 2017.