Nighttime delays extended on I-70 project at Route 51
Motorists traveling Interstate 70 on the eastbound and westbound lanes between the Smithton and Route 51 intersections will face delays from 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday on as crews continue to demolish the previously-used bridge carrying Route 51 over the interstate, PennDOT said.
Golden Triangle Construction must remove more concrete before the crews can remove the beams on Monday and Tuesday, PennDOT said.
The same restrictions, with the addition of intermittent rolling slowdowns of up to 15 minutes, are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday nights.
The timing of the work depends on the weather and operations, which could extend the timelines for the work, PennDOT said.
Removing the bridge is part of the $120 million reconstruction of I-70 at the Route 51 interchange, which is converting the existing substandard cloverleaf to what PennDOT refers to as a diverging diamond interchange.
To accommodate the new interchange, one mile of Route 51 is being reconstructed and widened. Roads intersecting Route 51 in the interchange area, such as Finley Road and Route 981, have been relocated. The state expects the project to be done in October 2027.
Motorists can check conditions on the roads by visiting www.511PA.com, which is free and available 24 hours a day. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices by calling 5-1-1.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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