PennDOT projects set to continue and begin in region during warm weather

As western Pennsylvania prepares to welcome the warm weather in the coming months, local road crews are preparing to work on some major projects across the region when the milder weather arrives.

With over $329 million dedicated to infrastructure across the region, PennDOT is set to work on over 65 projects throughout District 11 during the 2023 construction season. The district, which covers roads in Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties, will see road crews conduct paving and other maintenance on approximately 825 miles of roads, 38 bridges and 37 slides.

"Construction season is underway in District 11 and we are excited to deliver projects that will greatly improve our infrastructure and enhance transportation throughout our region,” said Jason Zang, assistant district executive of construction at PennDOT. “We thank the public for remaining safe and patient when traveling through our work zones.”

Some of these major roadway projects are featured below, with details on their plans and changes in traffic patterns. For up-to-date info on roadwork projects, motorists can check the condition of the road and project status live on the 511PA website and smartphone app.

I-79 Neville Island Bridge Rehabilitation to be completed

While construction along the Neville Island Bridge has caused a significant impact on local motorists, crews are set to complete the lengthy bridge rehabilitation project this season.

According to PennDOT, the $43 million project is estimated to be completed in the summer as the work is completed along the high-traffic area of Interstate 79. After starting the project in 2020, crews have worked continuously on structural steel repairs, full structure painting, deck repairs, bridge barrier repairs, concrete work, preservation of signage and drainage improvements.

The roadway completed its final southbound closure in August 2022, but has closed ramps and continued detours for smaller projects since that time. Crews have not yet announced if any additional detours or closures will occur before the project's completion.

Route 18 Monaca-Rochester Bridge preservation project to begin

As work concludes on the major Allegheny County bridge, PennDOT plans to begin its preservation of another popular path for motorists in Beaver County.

According to the organization, road crews will begin their work on the preservation project for the proposed Rochester-Monaca Bridge later this year. The estimated $6.5 million project aims to improve the bridge's safety to meet modern standards and create a reliable way to travel across the Ohio River while driving along Route 18.

In a preview of the project, PennDOT officials said they would like to make improvements such as concrete deck overlays, leaking expansion joint replacement, concrete repair, steel repair, new drainage systems, railings for pedestrians and updated signage. Road modifications are also planned in Monaca, including realignments and new signaling.

More: PennDOT highlights plans for Rochester-Monaca bridge, predicts 39 days of closure in 2023

The project would also be completed in several phases, requiring a full closure of the bridge for 29 days in Phases 1 and 2 that would detour motorists to the East Rochester-Monaca Bridge. At this time, PennDOT has not announced a starting date for the project or any closures, but plans indicate the project will start during the summer.

Freedom Road Upgrade enters final phase of construction

Roadwork along Freedom Road will continue as PennDOT enters the final phase of the lengthy $21.7 million project between Park Quarry Road and Route 989. Throughout the project, crews have worked to realign and widen the roadway, add new turning lanes, as well as various utility and drainage upgrades along the route.

A portion of the roadway, which had added a roundabout to control traffic through the intersection of Freedom Road and Route 989, was opened to motorists in 2022. In March, members of PennDOT and the New Sewickley Township Police Department urged motorists to use extra caution when traveling through the multiple lanes of traffic along the roadway.

More on roundabout safety: PennDOT and local police urging driver safety around Freedom Road roundabout

Estimates posted on the PennDOT website anticipate that roadwork along the popular roadway will continue until the fall of 2024.

Clinton-Frankfort Road Bridge Emergency Project continues

An emergency project in Independence Township is continuing as crews work to repair the damage to a historic bridge in the region.

Construction to replace the stone bridge along Clinton-Frankfort Road (SR 3082) began in September of 2022 after a truck collided with the wall of the single-lane path over Potato Garden Run waterway. An emergency contract was formed with Golden Triangle Construction and Mackin Engineering following the collapse of the bridge, with the organizations working together on the $2.97 million construction project.

According to PennDOT, the replacement bridge will be 30 feet wide and allow for two lanes of traffic to pass over the new structure while also raising the bridge's safety standards to modern requirements. Road alignment will also be adjusted to assist with traffic approaching the bridge on both sides. While the new structure will be a rigid frame, molds and dyes will be added to allow the bridge to maintain a stone aesthetic.

Weight limits along the roadway will not be adjusted from the current 10-ton restrictions, but larger signs will be added to redirect trucks that travel along the roadway and divert them from the bridge.

Paving along Brodhead Road to be completed in June

While crews got an early start on the work in February, construction will also continue along Brodhead Road (Route 3007) as crews from Lindy Paving work to complete a $12 million project along the roadway.

According to PennDOT, crews from Lindy Paving will conduct milling and resurfacing, concrete pavement patching, culvert preservation, signal work, guardrail updates, drainage improvements, signing and pavement marking installation and other miscellaneous construction activities into early June. Construction on the road will occur in sections from Moon Township to Center Township.

As of the week of May 1, some portions of the roadway have already been affected and the road can be rough in some locations, such as major portions in Aliquippa and Hopewell Township. Motorists are advised to use caution in these areas and remain vigilant for any road crews working along the road.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: PennDOT projects set to come to western Pennsylvania during 2023 work season