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Caution: construction zone ahead

3 min read
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Getting from one point to another around Washington is proving to be a challenge for drivers who are increasingly finding themselves stuck in traffic caused by one of the several construction projects.

Drivers like Guy Tucci, president of East Washington Borough council, were frustrated earlier this week as they sat in traffic while crews resurfaced East Beau Street (Route 136) in the borough. Tucci said there was one-lane, alternating traffic.

“It was a surprise,” Tucci said. “It would have been nice if we had known.”

The work is part of two major road improvement projects by two contractors. Lindy Paving of Pittsburgh has a $15.3 million contract to resurface roads in the county, including more than 18 miles of Route 136 between Main Street in Washington and Route 88 in Monongahela. Other roads scheduled to be paved include almost 24 miles of Route 88 from California to Union Township; Route 980 between Canonsburg and McDonald and Route 481.

Golden Eagle Construction of Uniontown also has a $5.289 million contract to resurface several roads. Paving work is planned on Route 18 (Jefferson Avenue) in Washington, Route 19 in Amwell Township, Route 837 between Carroll Township and Donora, North Main Street in Washington and South Strabane Township, Route 40 through Washington and Route 18 in North Franklin Township.

Predicting the exact location where contractors will be in advance is tricky, said Valerie Petersen, community relations coordinator for PennDOT’s District 12.

“It can be difficult to project where the crews will be,” Petersen said Tuesday. “Sometimes a contractor will send in crews to mill one road and then move them to another spot before paving.”

“Work is also dependent on the weather and other factors,” she added. “Things can change on short notice.”

Petersen said she understands the frustration of drivers.

“I know there is an inconvenience but once it is done, the roads will be so much nicer and safer,” Petersen said.

Drivers who found themselves sitting in traffic on Interstate 70 eastbound or Interstate 79 southbound at the north junction in South Strabane Township will see another change in traffic pattern tonight, weather permitting. Starting at 8 p.m., crews will prepare to switch traffic on the right, eastbound lane to a crossover that was built just west of the bridge that takes I-70 over Route 19. Traffic will still be able to exit on Murtland. Once that eastbound lane crosses over Route 19, another crossover will take it back to the right lane so drivers can access the Beau Street exit or continue east on I-70.

The work is part of a $54 million project to construct a diverging diamond interchange at Murtland Avenue (Route 19) in South Strabane. If weather permits Thursday night, crews will move southbound traffic from the existing lanes on to the two, newly built lanes in the middle of Route 19. One of the temporary signals not currently in use also will be reactivated.

Pike Street will be closed to traffic between Country Club Road and the Meadow Lands exit in Chartiers Township starting this morning through Monday so crews can replace the railroad crossing in advance of a $2.1 million project to reconstruct the intersection of Pike and Country Club. That work was to have started in May but was delayed because of line relocation by utility companies.

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