Oct 9, 2017 By Mark Hofmann mhofmann@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read

PennDOT has announced updates on summer construction projects in the Washington and Westmoreland counties areas, including the November completion of the $20 million Belle Vernon/Speers Bridge preservation project.

“This construction season has gone well when considering the wet weather we experienced throughout the summer,” said Valerie Petersen, the the community relations coordinator with PennDOT District 12. “The recent weather has been a blessing and our crews will be able to work as far into winter as we possibly can.”

Work on the Belle Vernon/Speers Bridge, which carries Interstate 70 across the Monongahela River between Washington and Westmoreland counties, started around April, 2015, and consisted of the preservation of the bridge, two railroads and local streets.

The bridge work includes full painting, steel truss member repair, substructure repair and an epoxy deck overlay as well as concrete pavement patching and rock-slope repair for approximately half a mile on both approaches of the bridge.

Single-lane restrictions will remain throughout the project as the night-time closures will continue through this month to remove the temporary overhead containment system on the bridge and complete painting, which is also taking place underneath.

The project, originally due to be complete in August, is expected to be complete by Nov. 3.

Also in Washington County, milling and paving work will begin this week on I-70 and will continue for the next two weeks at night for the reconstruction of the interchange at the Monongahela and Centerville exits and improvements to Kennedy Road in Fallowfield Township.

During that next two weeks, the interstate will be restricted to a single lane during night working hours where crews will install a new right-of-way fence, guide rail and signs for the $24.7 million project, which is scheduled for completion in December.

In Westmoreland County, the $53.7 million project for the new interchange at the New Stanton exit includes geosynthetic reinforced slope system, traffic signals, new interchange signing including overhead sign structures, pavement markings, guide rail, drainage, highway lighting, utility relocation, park-and-ride lot construction, storm-water mitigation, stream relocation and other miscellaneous construction along with the widening of I-70 for approximately 1.8 miles.

PennDOT reports that roadway work will continue on the I-70 mainline east of the newly-constructed Hunker Bridge with day and night shifts continuing to work with single-lane closures at night.

That project is still planned to be complete by the end of this year.

A highway reconstruction project on Route 119 between the county line of Westmoreland and Fayette and near the Westec Drive Exit in East Huntingdon Township is complete with the main paving, and shoulder work is currently being done.

Expected to be complete on Nov. 1, the $37.8 million project will allow crews to begin reconstruction of northbound and southbound lanes of Route 119, replace the existing grass median with a concrete barrier, lengthen the southern entrance and exit ramps at the Route 119/Route 31 interchange and will include upgrades to drainage, guide rails, signing and paving markings.

PennDOT also reports that bridge preservation work will also occur on the Route 31 and Route 981 bridges along Route 119 is also a part of the project.

For a $1 million roadway rehabilitation project through West Newton, crews are still working on the upper layer of roadway as well as guider ails with the removal and replacement of all deteriorated concrete.

Flaggers are out for that project, which is expected to be complete by Oct. 31.

A 10-foot single-lane restriction is still in place along Route 906 in Monessen for the $4.3 million road-reconstruction project that started early this year and expected to be completed on Oct. 24 of next year.

Motorists should reduce their speed through the work zone as crews continue work on grading the sub base and concrete curb gutter on Schoonmaker Avenue as asphalt will soon be placed along the portion of Route 906.

Crews are beginning the reconstruction of the Eagle Street and Main Street intersection in Mount Pleasant Borough as part of a $7 million project involving improvements to Route 31 beginning in the borough and extending through town to intersection with Route 119 in East Huntingdon Township.

PennDOT notes that the reconstruction involves excavation of the existing road and paving a new road surface with concrete “around the clock” until completed later this week, weather permitting. Traffic will be maintained with a 10-foot lane width restriction.

Motorists are urged to drive with caution through all work zones.