I-70/I-79 Widening Project, SR 136 (Beau Street) to South Junction with I-79 & South Junction to SR 519 Reconstruction Project

Improvements Coming

The SR70-T10/SR70-W31 project involves the reconstruction and widening of approximately 6.5 miles of Interstate 70 (I-70) from the SR 136/Beau Street Interchange to the SR 519 interchange. The western limit at SR 136 will connect with the ongoing SR70-T20 project while the eastern limit will connect with the recently completed I-70/SR519 Interchange Project. The SR70-T10 and SR70-W31 projects were initially scheduled to be bid separately, but were combined allow more efficient construction in terms of cost and traffic control.

The SR70-T10 project, which is from SR 136 to the I-79 South Junction interchange in South Strabane Township, Washington County, completes the widening and reconstruction of I-70 from two (2) to three (3) lanes in each direction in the area between the Interstate 79 (I-79) North and South Junction Interchanges and is based on a 60 mph design speed. The new template in this section will consist of three (3)-12 foot lanes, 12 foot outside shoulder, 10 foot inside shoulder and varying width of grass median. The project includes improvements to the existing entrance and exit lane lengths along I-70 at Exit 20 (Beau Street). The current interchange configuration at Exit 20 (Beau Street), known as a “trumpet” configuration, will remain unchanged. Noise Barrier Walls were deemed reasonable and feasible will be constructed along a section of westbound I-70 starting approximately 700 feet east of Beau Street Interchange and extending for a length of just over 2000 feet and ranging from 11 to 15 feet in height. The project will also replace the structure on Eastbound I-70 that spans the railroad. The westbound structure spanning the railroad was replaced and widened with the recently completed I-79 South Junction Project.

The SR70-W31 project, which has limits from I-79 South Junction to the SR 519 Interchange, will include the reconstruction and widening of I-70 to accommodate two (2)-12 foot lanes, 12 foot outside shoulders, 10 foot median and is based on 70 mph design speed. The project includes improvements to the existing eastbound entrance and westbound exit lane lengths at I-79 South Junction Interchange. The project also involves realignment of T-574 (Wilson Road) to accommodate flattening on I-70 along with relocation of approximately 2650 lineal feet of the tributary to Little Chartiers Creek. The project also includes limited structure work with the proposed effort typically being for extension of culverts to accommodate the wider template on I-70.

For both the SR70-T10 and SR70-W31 projects, drainage will be replaced and includes construction of 12 total detention basins for stormwater management. All signs, pavement markings, highway lighting, and guide rail impacted with the projects will be upgraded. Finally, new overhead sign structures, mirroring those installed with both ongoing SR70-T20 and recently completed I-79 South Junction Projects, are proposed.

Travel Details

Motorists traveling Interstate 70 from Exit 20 (Beau Street Interchange) to Exit 25 (State Route 519 Interchange) can expect to be shifted onto shoulder and/or temporary widened areas as they travel Eastbound and Westbound throughout the project. The contractor will be removing temporary crossovers, installing permanent concrete barriers and guide rail in median areas. The current traffic pattern will remain in effect until November 2020. Motorists are also advised that Interstate 70 Eastbound & Westbound lanes from Exit 20 to Exit 25 will have weekday nighttime single lane closures from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Shoulder width restrictions do exist throughout the project with Emergency Pull Offs located approximately every ½ mile.