Work continues on I-70 as winter approaches
As winter weather approaches, crews working on the project to reconstruct a 5 1/2-mile stretch of Interstate 70 between the East Beau Street and Route 519/Eighty Four exits in South Strabane Township are trying to get work done on a portion of the westbound lanes before the snow flies.
Concrete work on the stretch between East Beau and the south junction with Interstate 79 should be done in early December, said Scott Faieta, assistant construction engineer for the state Department of Transportation overseeing the project. Faieta said there may be some small sections near the flyover ramp from I-79 and the East Beau exit that will not be completed this year.
“We’ve already did a few concrete pours in that area,” Faieta said.”We want to get as much of that work done as we can.”
Other work continues on the part of the project between the south junction and the Eighty Four exit, but concrete work will be done this construction season. Temporary paving also will be done in that area.
The split on the westbound lanes between the south junction and East Beau will likely remain in place through the Thanksgiving holiday, Faieta said, adding that plans to have it removed before the holiday fell through.
“We will try to not mess with traffic any more than we have to,” Faieta said of the split. “Snow could create a problem through there. But we are preparing for anything.
“I anticipate backups in that area over the holiday,” he added. “Local residents may want to pick an alternate route.”
The contractor may continue to do shoulder work throughout the winter, but that will be done behind a barrier.
Faieta said the general contractor, Lane Construction, has been paid $45 million of the $118 million total cost of the project, which is scheduled to be completed in November 2020.