Mar 9, 2017 2 min read

The state Turnpike Commission will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. today at Midway Volunteer Fire Department to give an update on construction of the next leg of the Southern Beltway project. The planned, 13-mile tolled expressway will extend from the southern end of the existing, six-mile Southern Beltway section, called the Findlay Connector, which opened in 2006. It will start at Route 22 in eastern Washington County, proceed southeast into western Allegheny County near McDonald and tie into Interstate 79 at the Washington-Allegheny County line.

The fire department is at 99 Saint John St., Midway. Turnpike representatives and contracted project specialists will be available to discuss future detours, blasting zones and additional construction-related information about the section of the Southern Beltway from Route 22 to I-79.

This section is approximately 3.2 miles in length and requires nearly six million cubic yards of excavation. The project includes a five-span bridge over Route 980 that is 1,370 feet in length. The northern leg of Reissing Road is to be relocated and will become Laurel Hill Road, while the southern leg will have a new connection to Route 980. Realignment of the Reissing and Profio Road intersection is included in this project.

The Southern Beltway, which will open in spring 2019, will enable motorists from I-79, near the Allegheny County line with Washington County, to get to Pittsburgh International Airport without having to use other congested roadways. Once completed, it will extend the Southern Beltway to 19 total miles, connecting I-79 to I-376 at the Pittsburgh International Airport.