$121M project set to begin at Route 51 interchange in Rostraver
Jun. 25—The reconstruction of the Interstate 70 and Route 51 interchange in Rostraver has the distinction of being the highest-dollar-value project ever bid in PennDOT's District 12.
Golden Triangle Construction Co. in Oakdale was the winning bidder at $120.6 million.
Work has gotten underway, but the impact for motorists will be minimal this year, said assistant construction engineer Dominec Caruso.
PennDOT officials have been preparing for construction for about five years, first presenting plans for a diverging diamond design to replace the current cloverleaf interchange in late 2017.
About 2 miles of Interstate 70 will be widened, and an approximately 1-mile section of Route 51 also will see improvements, including re-routing Finley Road behind the GetGo gas station and convenience store to create a four-way intersection with Route 981.
As noted on the project website, the diverging diamond interchange will have lanes of traffic on Route 51 switching — diverging — to the opposite side of the road and back again, through a signalized intersections. That will allow drivers to turn onto Interstate 70 without crossing oncoming traffic.
A pair of bridges will carry Route 51 over the interstate, replacing the existing single span, which was repaired this year after an overheight vehicle struck it.
Rostraver Township manager and finance director Jeff Keffer said the construction will make his commute through the interchange rough, but he hopes it ultimately will help the area. The two highways are traveled by about 50,000 vehicles daily in that area, according to PennDOT traffic volume maps.
"I think it'll definitely be beneficial when it's all said and done," he said.
The township's comprehensive plan identified underutilized areas along Route 51 that could be ripe for business development. The improvements at the interchange could make a difference in businesses investing, Keffer said.
Joy Herman also uses the interchange to get to work at a shed sales location on Route 51. The diverging diamond interchange will be the fourth of its kind in Pennsylvania. The first is at Interstate 70 and Route 19 in Washington County. She was a bit skeptical of how the new traffic patterns will work, but said she needed to do more research.
"Any time that they're improving the infrastructure in the area, that's positive, so even if it costs for a time, I think that would be an improvement to the community," she said.
Caruso said there will be nightly lane closures on an as-needed basis in the area of the project through the rest of the construction season to allow a subcontractor to remove vegetation. Those could begin as soon as next week.
A schedule for the construction has not been formally set but will be distributed publicly when it is, Caruso said. The roadwork is expected to be finished in 2026. Details about the construction are available at I-70projects.com.
The previous highest dollar value project bid in the district — which consists of Greene, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties — was on Interstate 70 between Routes 136 and 519 in Washington County, Caruso said. That bid amount was $117.8 million.
Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .
