Mar 30, 2007 By Steve Ferris 2 min read

Traffic on Route 119 will be diverted on to the Route 51 ramps in North Union Township all weekend long beginning for the demolition of the Route 51 overpass. The northbound lanes of Route 51 and the northbound half of the overpass are being reconstructed in a project related to Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s Mon/Fayette Expressway.

The traffic changes will begin at 10 p.m. today. “We’re replacing the second half of the bridge,” said Joe Agnello, a Turnpike Commission spokesman.

Last year, the southbound lanes of Route 51 and the southbound side of the overpass were reconstructed last year. To divert traffic from the overpass, traffic will be detoured off Route 119 via off-ramps at Route 51 and directed back to Route 119 via on-ramps after it crosses over Route 51.

The work started Wednesday night. The detour was set up at 10 p.m. and was lifted at 5 a.m. Thursday.

Work and the detour began again at 10 p.m. Thursday and lasted until 5 a.m. today. When work resumes tonight, the detour will remain in place until 5 a.m. Monday, Agnello said.

Walsh Construction of Chicago, Ill., is doing the work under a $35.8 million contract that includes construction of the Northgate Highway from Route 40 at Fan Hollow Road to Route 51 at Confer Drive in North Union Township.

The 1.5-mile Northgate Highway also will intersect a new full-diamond intersection with Old Pittsburgh Road and the expressway.