May 6, 2007 9 min read

The state Department of Transportation has provided an update of projects under way in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Details of the projects follow:

Fayette County

Route 119/Uniontown bypass – This $4.9 million project is located on Route 40 and the Route 119 Uniontown bypass in North and South Union townships and the city of Uniontown. The project begins just north of the Bute Road interchange with a bituminous overlay to a point just west of the Walnut Hill interchange on Route 40. The overlay will end there and concrete patching and diamond grinding will continue until the end of the project at the bridge over the northbound ramp to Route 43. Prior to the bituminous overlay and diamond grinding, concrete patching and joint repair will be performed on the entire length of the project. The contractor is Golden Eagle Construction Co. of Uniontown. The anticipated completion date is July.

Update: Pavement patching will be completed this week. Lane restrictions will remain in place in preparation for bituminous resurfacing and diamond grinding beginning Monday. Work zone speed limits will be strictly enforced. Fines will be doubled for violations within the work zone.

Bridge preservation project on Route 119 in North Union Township – Bridge preservation work on Route 119 over Route 2027 in North Union. The project includes concrete deck repairs, overlay and roadway approach milling and paving. The contractor for the $717,701 project is Mosites Construction Co. of Pittsburgh. The project is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year. The painting contractor closed the southbound Connellsville Street exit (Route 2027).

Update: The contractor has one lane closed on Route 119 north and southbound while they replace concrete on the approach slabs and bridge deck.

Bull Run Road (Route 4003) in Luzerne Township – This $2,983,373.75 restoration project on Bull Run Road begins at Penn Craft to two miles south of Brownsville. The project includes widening, milling existing surface, resurfacing and upgrading the guardrail and drainage. The contractor for this project is Frank Gavlik & Sons Inc. of Bentleyville. This project will wrap up in mid-December.

Update: Single-lane traffic controlled by flaggers from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. started on April 30 and will continue until further notice. After school is let out in June, a marked detour utilizing Route 4003, Route 40, Route 166 and Route 4020 (Academy Road) will be in place.

Railroad bridge removal – Route 3007 in Smithfield Borough – This project is located about 395 feet south of Prospect Street over Georges Creek. The project includes the removal of an abandoned railroad bridge crossing over Route 3007. The embankments will be laid back to a slope. There will be a detour route used during construction for three Saturdays. Maintenance forces will take care of any road and drainage work that may need updated. The contractor for the $59,280 project is Lycoming Supply Inc. of Williamsport.

Surface improvement project – Golden Eagle Construction will continue paving Route 2002 (Kirby Road from Skyline Drive to Elliotsville) and Route 2004 (Quebec Road from Elliottsville to Sumey Road) in Wharton Township this week. These roads will be closed to thru traffic during daylight operations while paving is going on. The work should be complete by Saturday, weather permitting. Base repairs will begin on Route 381 (Elliottsville to Farmington) when paving on Route 2004 is complete. Traffic will be controlled by flaggers and restricted to one lane during daylight operations.

Greene County

Carters Road/Junction Deli – State Route 21 – This $1,298,264 highway restoration and betterment improvements projects is on Route 21 (Carters Road) in Cumberland Township. The project begins at the intersection of Route 21 and Route 2017 and proceeds west on Route 21 for about 1.5 miles, ending 200 feet east of the intersection of Fox Road and Route 21. The scope of work includes milling, pavement replacement, drainage, structure painting and guardrail improvements. The contractor is Golden Eagle Construction.

Update: There is a 10-foot lane restriction on Route 21 in the project area.

Bridge rehabilitation – Route 221 – This $579,488.60 bridge rehabilitation project is in Lippincott, Morgan Township. It includes milling, overlay, drainage, structure and guardrail work. The contractor is Frank Gavlik & Sons Inc. and work will start in late May or early June and end in August. There will be a detour.

Longwall mining repairs – Interstate 79 – This $1,385,295.75 emergency repair project is for longwall mining subsidence repairs on I-79. The project started in February and will be finished this month. It includes overlay work, drainage adjustments and guardrail work. The contractor is Lindy Paving. This project will be completed this month. This project is between the Kirby and Waynesburg areas.

Update: Lindy Paving is completing earthwork buildup in median and shoulders and also plans to have the drainage work complete by the end of the week. Paving operations are complete. Traffic is still restricted to single lanes throughout the project limits.

Longwall mining repairs – I-79 – This emergency repair project is for continuing repairs of longwall mining subsidence on I-79 between the Kirby and Waynesburg areas.

Update:

Lane Construction has completed milling operations and was set to begin asphalt buildup on Wednesday. Paving operations are slated to last two to three weeks. Traffic is still restricted to single lanes throughout the project limits.

Bridge preservation project on Route 1011 – This $494,324 bridge preservation project is for work on Route 1011 in Chartiers Township. The project includes deck repairs, structure painting, channel work and structure repairs. The contractor is Frank Gavlik & Sons Inc. and work will start in June and end in November. There will not be a detour. Traffic will be maintained.

Update: Bridge beam sandblasting has begun and beam painting should be completed this coming weekend.

Route 21 between Route 19 and Kiwi Road – Route 21 – This $2,497,352 project includes widening, resurfacing, traffic signal upgrades at the I-79 ramps, and drainage work. The contractor is C.H. & D. Enterprises and the project started in February and will finish in August.

Update: CH&D is working on the widening of the east and westbound lanes of Route 21 in front of the Greene County Airport. Concrete paving operations will continue all week. Widening also is being performed this week on the northbound ramps of I-79. Truck traffic is restricted on these ramps. Traffic is not restricted anywhere else inside the project limits.

Bates Fork Creek bridge replacement – Route 18 – Bridge replacement on Route 18 in Washington Township. It is near the intersection with W&W Railroad Road. The two-span bridge is to be widened. The approach road will be reconstructed as necessary to safely tie into the widened structure. Engineering consultant will develop conceptual plans, obtain permits, provide utility relocation coordination, perform surveying, provide geotechnical services and environmental tasks. The bridge will be replaced with half-width construction for single-lane traffic. Short-term detours also may be implemented to aid in construction. The project was let on March 15. The apparent low bidder was Gregori Construction and Engineering Inc. for $2.4 million.

Browns Creek bridge replacement – Route 18 – Bridge replacement on Route 18 in Morris Township. It is near the intersection with Hopkins Run Road. The single-span bridge is to be widened and the approach road will be reconstructed as necessary to safely tie into the widened structure. An engineering consultant will develop conceptual plans, obtain permits, provide utility relocation coordination, perform surveying, provide geotechnical services and environmental tasks. The bridge will be replaced with half-width construction for single-lane traffic. Short-term detours also may be implemented to aid in construction. The project was let on March 15. The apparent low bidder was Gregori Construction and Engineering Inc. in the amount of $2.4 million.

Murtha Drive project – Motorists are alerted to delays and possible stops on I-79 in the area of the Waynesburg exit. The delays began on April 23 and will end on Friday. The delays will occur Monday through Friday at 2 p.m. and will last for about a half-hour. The delays will be because of blasting which will take place daily along I-79. State police will be controlling traffic on both the north and southbound sides on the interstate in advance of the blasting area. Police vehicles will act as pace cars in order to slow traffic and keep vehicles out of the blasting area. Interstate traffic may be stopped for a short period of time if necessary. The northbound entrance to I-79 at Waynesburg will be open to traffic, however no traffic will be allowed to enter I-79 south during the delay period. Traffic will be released to normal flow after the blasting has occurred and the interstate has been viewed and determined to be clear of any debris.

Washington County

Westmoreland County

Three Mile Hill – State Route 31 – This $8.8 million project is located in Mount Pleasant Township. The project runs from state Route 982 to state Route 1058 County Line Road and consists of widening the existing three-lane road to four lanes to provide a downhill truck lane. Median control, left turn lanes and two turnarounds also will be installed. The contractor is Gregori Construction and Engineering Inc. The project is expected to be complete in November.

Update: Traffic is limited to one lane in each direction throughout the project limits – County Line Road to Route 982. Brief delays can be expected. This schedule should continue for the next few weeks as the contractor places widening for the downhill lanes and surface milling of the closed lane.

West Tech Drive – Route 119 interchange at Westmoreland Technology Park – The $13,568,888.83 project in East Huntingdon includes the construction of a new interchange located near the Westmoreland County Intermodal Center. The contractor is John Gulisek Construction Co. of Mount Pleasant. It will be completed in late 2008.

Update: The contractor is working on erosion control. Median barriers have been placed along the shoulders of Route 119 in the area. Center pier construction for the new bridge has begun in the median area behind barrier and will continue for several weeks.