Aug 18, 2006 4 min read

The following is an update of projects of the state Department of Transportation in Fayette County. Yough Bridge replacement project – Route 40 – This is a $25 million bridge replacement project located in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County, and Addison Township, Somerset County. The project begins 600 feet east of the Jockey Hollow Information Center in Fayette County and ends 900 feet east of the Lakeside Road (Township Road 860) intersection in Somerset County. Project length is less than a mile. The contractor is G.A. & F.C. Wagman.

Update: work is suspended until lake level is reduced to an elevation 1,425 feet so that pier demolition can continue. There are no traffic restrictions at this time.

Route 119 – Walnut Hill interchange – This is a $6.7 million project that involves work for the completion of an existing partial interchange by adding the two southern ramps to compete the full diamond-shaped interchange, new traffic signals at ramps, structural repairs, box culvert extension, drainage upgrades, construction of new overhead sign structures and other construction. The project is located in South Union Township and runs from the existing Walnut Hill Road interchange to the existing Route 40-43 interchange. The construction will limit traffic on Walnut Hill Road to one lane in each direction and minor traffic modifications will be necessary along mainline Route 43-119 northbound and southbound to construct the ramps. The contractor for the project is Joseph F. Fay Co.

Update: Crews are currently fine grading of the new Walnut Hill southbound “on” ramp, working on the continuation of the embankment placement for the new Walnut Hill northbound “off” ramp and sub-base placement work on the new Walnut Hill southbound ramp.

Prison Road – Route 4020 – This $1.8 million project is located in Luzerne Township and begins about 1,800 feet east of the Rush Run Road (Route 4001) intersection and continues east for about 1.6 miles. The project will end about 325 feet west of the Bull Run Road (Route 4003) intersection. The project involves 1.6 miles of widening, resurfacing, slide repair, 1,300 feet of roadway reconstruction, drainage improvements and guardrail improvements. The contractor is Frank Gavlik and Sons Inc.

Update: Contractor is currently working on pavement base drain and sealing inlets.

Interstate 70 guardrail replacement – Work is being done throughout Fayette, Greene Washington and Westmoreland counties. Work will be conducted Monday through Thursday.

Update: Guardrail work has been completed in Greene and Washington counties. The contractor is proceeding with work, presently, on I-70 in Westmoreland County. Motorists will encounter single-lane closures at various locations in Westmoreland and Fayette counties.

Dawson Bridge – Route 819 – This $2,089,532 project consists of the replacement of the entire bridge deck and dams, the replacement of bearings, repairing the ends of beams and minor repairs to piers. A section of Route 819 is closed and traffic is being detoured so that the deck of the Dawson Bridge of the Youghiogheny River can be replaced. The closure was set in place Monday June 5 and will reopen to traffic before school starts, tentatively set for the last week of the month. The project begins about 50 feet west of the intersection of Route 1041 (River Road) and Route 819 and ends 50 feet east of the intersection of Route 1010 (Dickerson Run) and Route 819. The work includes replacing the deck slab and placing new approach slab. A marked detour will be in place that uses Route 201 and Route 119. The contractor is Brayman Construction Co.

Update: The concrete deck has been constructed on all seven spans of the bridge. The southern approach slab also is complete. Work continues on the sidewalk, parapets and the northern approach slab. A detour is in effect. The project is on schedule. The target date for opening to traffic is Aug. 27.

Surface improvements – Various roads in the county are being resurfaced. The work includes milling of existing bituminous pavement, construction of asphalt courses and pavement markings on all or portions of the selected state routes.

Update: Golden Eagle Construction has competed placing the asphalt overlay on Route 1037 from York Street to Memorial Boulevard and was expected to complete the overlay on Route 711 on Tuesday from Route 119 to Snyder Street. Work is scheduled to begin at 2 a.m. on Route 711 from the intersection with Fairview Avenue to Rock Ridge Road. This work entails the removal and replacement of roadway material at a 6-inch depth. The job is expected to take four days to finish. Traffic will be reduced to one land and controlled by flagmen during the week.