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Prep work continues on project to improve Murtland interchange on I-70

3 min read
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Drivers going through the construction zone near the Murtland Avenue interchange may not think much work is going on during the recent frigid weather.

But excavation is being done to remove mounds of dirt in the area between Murtland and the north junction of Interstate 79. The dirt is being moved to the area near the Beau Street interchange and used as fill so that crossovers can be built for future phases of the project to construct a diverging diamond interchange at Murtland and Route 19 (Washington Road.)

“There is a lot of work i going on right now, but drivers may not be easily seeing the results,” said Scott Faieta, assistant construction engineer for the state Department of Transportation, who is overseeing the project. “But the end product will be lasting and an improvement.”

The diverging diamond interchange requires traffic to cross over and switch lanes on Route 19, with traffic signals directing the flow to allow drivers to pass through the area or get on the highway in either direction. Golden Triangle Construction of Robinson Township started work on the $53 million project in September.

The nightly single-lane restriction on Route 19 is done for now, Faieta said.

“The contractor will be bring in more crews next week and starting to work two shifts,” Faieta said. “These really cold days have been difficult on the workers. It is also tough to get the equipment going.”

Faieta expects work to begin March 9 on the eastbound lanes of the highway, necessitating some nighttime lane closures. He said the contractor will submit a proposal for that work because it is still considered the winter season and there are concerns about snow-clearing efforts.

Crews continue to try to keep any potholes forming on the highway.

“We are doing our best to maintain I-70,” Faieta said. “But we can only get cold patch for the potholes.”

Drivers are again being reminded that the speed limit through the construction zone is 45 mph. There have been three crashes in the zone this week, including two involving tractor-trailers that resulted in traffic congestion on the eastbound side. One of the drivers reportedly told state police he was going 55 mph before crashing into barriers. Some of the barriers were knocked into the left lane, blocking it. State police have tried to increase enforcement, but the extreme weather conditions have hampered efforts to do enforcement safely, said Lt. Douglas Bartoe, patrol section supervisor for Troop B in Washington.

“We seem to be having a problem with crashes about 7:30 a.m. with the sun glaring off the snow,” Bartoe said. “PennDOT has set up an arrow board to let drivers know about the slight curve in that stretch.

“I expect we will increase patrols in March when the lanes will narrow in the construction zone,” he added. “But all drivers have to adhere to the speed limit through there.”

Faieta said the project, slated to be completed in November 2017, is on schedule. An estimated 70,000 vehicles travel that stretch each day, of which about 30 percent are trucks, Faieta said.

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