Project Updates

2-24-23

PennDOT District 11 is announcing the reopening of the southbound I-79 crossover in Glenfield, Sewickley Hills, and Franklin Park boroughs and Ohio and Aleppo townships, Allegheny County.

Due to several crashes at the crossover location on southbound I-79, the Department closed the left-hand express lane on Monday evening and implemented a 45 MPH speed limit in the work zone. Additional safety improvements that been completed include:

• An around-the-clock presence of the Pennsylvania State Police for the next two weeks;
• Trucks restricted to the right-hand local lane through the work zone;
• Addition of full-matrix changeable message signs;
• Addition of four-speed minders in the work zone;
• Addition of advanced signage further north of the work zone allowing for an extended gore area redefining the lane decision point prior to the crossover;
• Installation of additional signs including speed reduction/45 MPH hour signs;
• Milling and paving to remove rumble strips;
• Line and legend painting;
• Installation of raised pavement markers; and
• Barrier removal and guiderail installation work. 

As a reminder, the following traffic configuration 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. This is 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 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 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.
• Emergency pull-off areas will be implemented in various locations through the work zone. Three pull-off areas will be implemented in the northbound lanes, three in the southbound express lane, and three in the southbound local lane.
• The southbound crossover will remain in place continuously through late-November.
  

Traffic Alert

Southbound I-79 is restricted to a single lane just south of the I-279/I-79 split until modifications are performed to enhance the safety of the work zone.  Additionally, a 45 MPH speed limit has been implemented in the work zone. Updates will be made available as they develop, to safely restore I-79 to two lanes in the southbound direction. Motorists should expect major delays and consider alternate routes.

2-17-23

A southbound crossover on I-79 will be implemented at approximately noon on Saturday to allow crews to begin bridge deck replacement work. To accommodate this work, the following traffic configuration 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. This is 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 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 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.
• Emergency pull-off areas will be implemented in various locations throughout the work zone. Three pull-off areas will be implemented in the northbound lanes, three in the southbound express lane, and three in the southbound local lane.
• The southbound crossover will remain in place continuously through late November.

To prepare for the crossover, single-lane restrictions and traffic stoppages will occur on northbound and southbound I-79 from 9 a.m. Friday until approximately noon Saturday. The crossover is anticipated to be in place shortly after noon on Saturday. 

While the crossover is in place, 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. 

3-1-22

UPDATE: The anticipated crossover was rescheduled so that additional barriers could be placed. The crossover is now going into effect March 17, 2022.

PennDOT District 11 is announcing a traffic crossover on northbound Interstate 79 in Glenfield, Sewickley Hills, and Franklin Park boroughs and Kilbuck, Ohio, and Aleppo townships, Allegheny County, will begin Friday night, March 4.

A northbound crossover on I-79 will be implemented Friday night to allow crews to begin bridge deck replacement work. To accommodate this work, the following traffic configuration and restrictions will occur: