Staff writer
A word of advice for anyone contemplating a trip down Racetrack Road Friday: If your destination is not the new Tanger Outlets mall or The Meadows Casino, avoid the area.
Local and state police are gearing up for some traffic tie-ups when the new mall in South Strabane Township opens its doors at 9 a.m. Friday.
"We'll get you there if that's where you want to go," South Strabane police Chief Don Zofchak said of the new mall and casino. "But if you are local and don't need to go through the area, don't. If you need to get on Interstate 79, consider using another ramp other than Racetrack Road."
Police from South Strabane and North Strabane townships will be at the four traffic signals on Racetrack, including a new one at the entrance to the mall, to keep traffic flowing.
State police are preparing for possible congestion on I-79.
Trooper Joseph Christy, communications officer for Troop B in Washington, said additional troopers already are scheduled due to the holiday weekend.
"We will be monitoring the queue on the interstate for a possible backlog," Christy said. "We are prepared to call in additional people, if necessary, to help. We certainly don't want traffic backing up on the interstate."
The state Department of Transportation will use message boards notifying drivers of potential congestion.
Christy agreed with Zofchak's recommendation to avoid the area if the mall or casino is not the driver's destination.
"Don't add to the congestion and your own frustration," he recommended. "Consider this a test for Black Friday."
Chartiers Township police Chief Jim Horvath is hoping his officers won't see much traffic in that municipality.
"I only foresee problems if northbound traffic get off the wrong exit and come through Meadow Lands," Horvath said. "Hopefully, drivers will know to get off at Exit 41, not Exit 40."
Drivers who use the wrong exit won't have a problem this weekend, but come Tuesday, they will encounter a road closure. Pike Street between Fifth Street and Racetrack Road will be closed for three weeks starting Tuesday to allow a bridge to be replaced with a box culvert.
Work to widen Racetrack and the ramps from I-79 will be temporarily suspended and lane restrictions lifted over the weekend, which should alleviate traffic congestion, Zofchak said.
"But on Tuesday, the work will start again, which means traffic will be restricted in the area," he added.
The work, being done for Tanger by Trumbull Corp., was supposed to be completed for the opening. But Scott Faieta, who is overseeing the project for PennDOT, said some unanticipated problems slowed the project.