A traffic crossover on southbound Interstate 79 in Glenfield, Sewickley Hills, and Franklin Park and Ohio and Aleppo townships will begin Saturday.
PennDOT officials said the crossover will start at about noon to allow crews to begin bridge deck replacement work.
It is expected to remain in place through late November.
Officials said single-lane restrictions and traffic stoppages that started on I-79 in bother directions Friday morning are expected to continue to about noon Saturday to prepare for the crossover.
Traffic changes
As part of the process, these traffic configurations and restrictions will occur:
The left lane of southbound I-79 will be crossed over into the northbound lanes between the I-279 and the Red Mud Hollow Road overpass.
PennDOT is calling this the Express Lane.
All traffic using this lane will not have access to the Mt. Nebo Road (Exit 68) or Emsworth/Sewickley Route 65 (Exit 66) interchanges.
Southbound Express Lane traffic will be crossed back over between the Emsworth/Sewickley Route 65 (Exit 66) interchange and the Neville Island Bridge.
The right lane of southbound I-79 will remain in place. This is dubbed the Local Lane.
Access to the Mt. Nebo Road (Exit 68) and Emsworth/Sewickley Route 65 (Exit 66) interchanges must be made from the Local Lane.
Traffic will be shifted slightly at the Red Mud Hollow Road and Glenfield Road bridges to allow crews to conduct a half-width deck replacement work.
Two lanes of traffic will be maintained on northbound I-79. A barrier will separate the northbound lanes and the crossed over southbound lane.
Officials said there will be emergency pull-off areas in various locations through the work zone.
Three pull-off areas will be in the northbound lanes, three in the southbound express lane and three in the southbound local lane.
Work to be done
Officials said crews will conduct bridge rehabilitation work on the southbound structures over Glenfield Road and Red Mud Hollow Road in half-widths. This work includes bridge deck replacement, approach slab work, bearing pad and expansion dam replacement, substructure concrete repairs, and downspout upgrades.
The work is part of the $26.49 million I-79 improvement project.
Improvements include four bridge deck replacements, one bridge preservation, milling and resurfacing, preservation work on seven sign structures, installation of five new ITS signs, guide rail improvements, signage updates, and pavement markings .
Crossovers will occur on I-79 this year for bridge deck replacement work.
The majority of the project will conclude in the spring of 2024.
The prime contractor is the Joseph B. Fay Co. Work on this project will be coordinated with other projects in the area.
PennDOT has created an email distribution list for the I-79 Neville Island Bridge rehabilitation, including traffic advisories and construction updates. to help keep motorists informed of its progress.
Enroll by sending email addresses to stcowan@pa.gov. Write “Subscribe – I-79” in the subject line.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles by going to 511PA.com.
