Interstate 70 tie-ups expected this weekend near south junction
Drivers who plan on driving east on Interstate 70 near the south junction with Interstate 79 in South Strabane Township should expect traffic backlogs this weekend as the state Department of Transportation removes a bridge on the highway that is being replaced with a box culvert.
And motorists who drive local roads should also expect traffic tie-ups as interstate drivers get off the highway in an attempt to find a way around the construction.
The single-lane closure runs from at 8 p.m. today through 6 a.m. Monday to allow crews from Golden Triangle Construction of Imperial to demolish the bridge that takes I-70 east over I-79, work on the embankment and then pave the area with asphalt to connect the highway with the box culvert that is replacing the span. The contractor spent the past several weeks doing preparation work in the area. A closure on the westbound side in the same area is planned for next weekend, weather permitting, to remove a bridge carrying I-70 west over I-79.
The work is part of a $36 million project that began in the fall of 2011. It included the construction of a two-lane flyover ramp taking southbound I-79 over Vance Station Road to westbound I-70, replacing the notorious “killer curve” that was the scene of many crashes, some fatal, since the highway was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The box culverts are directly under the flyover and are already in place, said Scott Faieta, assistant construction engineer for PennDOT overseeing the project. He said the bridge will be removed, some fill added and the road will be resurfaced.
“At this point, plans call for both lanes to be open eastbound to the south junction with the right lane being directed to I-79 southbound and the left lane for traffic continuing east on I-70,” Faieta said. “Drivers might want to consider alternate routes like routes 40 or 136.”
“I hope it goes smoothly, but we are preparing for the worst,” he added. “I would not be surprised if the traffic backs up to the Murtland Avenue project.”
PennDOT and Golden Triangle are currently working on a project to replace the Murtland Avenue interchange on I-70 with a diverging diamond interchange at Route 19 in South Strabane Township.
Washington police Chief Chris Luppino said his department was not notified of this weekend’s work on I-70, adding they always see a large increase in traffic when there are incidents on the interstate.