Jun 11, 2015 2 min read

Drivers who travel Route 19 and Interstate 70 in the area of the Murtland Avenue interchange in South Strabane Township will see a change in traffic pattern this morning.

Starting about 9 a.m., northbound traffic on Route 19 (Murtand/Washington Road) will be switched to recently constructed northbound lanes and newly built ramps to I-70 west from Route 19 north and from I-70 west to Route 19 will reopen to traffic, said Eric Klimas, project manager for Golden Triangle Construction of Imperial. The new ramp from Route 19 north to I-70 east is also slated to open.

The two lanes taking traffic north on Route 19 under the interstate will be closed and rebuilt. That project will take about three weeks. When it is done, the southbound lanes will be switched onto that portion and the existing southbound lanes will be rebuilt.

Klimas expects the switch to take several hours, wrapping up in the early afternoon.

The work is part of a $51 million project by the state Department of Transportation to construct a diverging diamond interchange. When complete, drivers on Route 19 under the highway will cross over and switch lanes with signals controlling the flow of traffic. Drivers will have the option of continuing through or get on the highway. Golden Triangle is the general contractor for the project.

Klimas said crews will do preliminary work and then start painting lines for the new Route 19 north and the interstate ramps.

“At some point, there will be a single-lane restriction on the southbound side while we do some realignment work,” Klimas said. “We will also work on the traffic signals.”

Klimas urged drivers to pay attention to the changes.

“I think if everyone does that, there should be no issues,” Klimas said.

Delays should be expected.

Klimas said there were concerns the switch would be delayed until Saturday because of rain in the forecast. But he said the forecast looks favorable for the work.