Nov 14, 2015 3 min read

Crews for Golden Triangle Construction will be out in force this week as the deadline looms for getting Interstate 70 and Route 19 fully open to traffic in South Strabane Township before the start of Thanksgiving travel.

Golden Triangle, the Imperial-based general contractor on the reconstruction project at the interchange, must have existing restrictions removed on both the interstate and Route 19 by Nov. 23 or face penalties imposed in the contract with the state Department of Transportation.

Crews are constructing a diverging diamond interchange at Murtland Avenue. The project began in September 2014.

Bad weather the past two weeks set the project about two days behind, but Scott Faieta, assistant construction engineer overseeing the project for PennDOT, expects that time to be made up as work starts this week to restore traffic to two lanes on the eastbound side of the highway.

“But we are pressing up against the deadline,” Faieta said.

Crews could work through next weekend, if necessary, to complete the work.

Barrier removal will begin Monday. Traffic had been moved onto the westbound side of the highway while work was done in the eastbound lanes this construction season. Eastbound traffic lanes had been split starting just east of the north junction with Interstate 79, with the left lane being for through traffic and the right lane for drivers wanting to get off at Murtland Avenue or East Beau Street.

“All traffic should be moved out of the split by the end of the week,” Faieta said.

There will be no daylight lane restrictions, but there could be some at night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., if necessary, Faieta said.

Once the eastbound traffic is moved to that side of the highway, the barriers will be removed from the westbound lanes, where work will be done next construction season.

Faieta said work started last week to remove the barriers on Route 19. Drivers who want to get on or off the highway from Route 19 will continue to use the traffic signals that are now in place throughout the winter.

“What you see now will be in place for the ramps,” Faieta said.

Crews also will paint new lines in the construction area.

Trooper Matthew Jardine, public information officer for state police Troop B in Washington, said it is important to get that stretch of highway open before holiday travel begins.

“That stretch is the one of the most heavily traveled highways,” Jardine said. “Interstates 70 and 79 become one through that area. You have two highways converging on that small stretch, so it is important to have the restrictions removed.”

As part of efforts to get ready for holiday travel, state police will participate in the Click It or Ticket campaign that begins Monday and runs through Nov. 29. Police will take additional steps to enforce traffic laws and educate motorists.

The enforcement efforts will have more troopers patrolling the highways, aggressively enforcing occupant restraint and checking for child safety seat violations. Troopers also will be looking for drivers violating traffic laws that often lead to crashes, including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding and aggressive and distracted driving.

State police at the Washington station will conduct a free child-restraint checkup from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Washington Auto Mall off Route 19 at Strabane Square in South Strabane. Parents can have the child-restraint seats checked for recalls and learn proper installation. Certified child-restraint technicians from the state police will be able to assist.