Mon/Fayette & Southern Beltway Projects - I-79 to Mon/Fayette Expressway

I-79 to Mon/Fayette Expressway - Project Info

The project area for the I-79 to Mon/Fayette Expressway Southern Beltway Transportation Project was divided into two sections to facilitate the development and analysis of the alternatives. Section 1, the western portion, starts at I-79 and runs to the North Strabane/Nottingham Township boundary. Section 2, the eastern portion, runs from the North Strabane/Nottingham Township boundary to the Mon/Fayette Expressway. Any of the alternatives in Section 1, could be coupled with any alternative in Section 2 in order to form a project alternative. (Refer to Maps and Illustrations to view the project area map and Preliminary Alternatives).

Section 1 Alternatives

Green Alternative, Option 1A - The Green Alternative originates at an interchange with Morganza Road and travels south in order to avoid the high-density residential areas in Cecil and Peters Townships. In Cecil Township, it crosses over Cecil Henderson Road, the Montour Trail right-of-way and West McMurray Road (S.R. 1002) The Green Alternative turns southeast to avoid the residential community of Glencannon and crosses the southern portion of the Canonsburg Lake property, and then crosses U.S. Route 19. An interchange would be provided just east of U.S. Route 19 with a connector road to serve the U.S. Route 19 corridor. The Green Alternative then passes south of the Boone Reservoir and parallels Water Dam Road. The Green Alternative then turns southeast, crossing through farmland in the vicinity of the intersection of Ross Road and South Spring Valley Road. It continues easterly crossing under Linden Road to the North Strabane/Nottingham Township boundary.

Green Alternative, Option 1B - The Green Alternative, Option 1B is identical to the Green Alternative Option 1A except within the vicinity of Canonsburg Lake, where it deviates in order to avoid the Canonsburg Lake property owned by the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). The Green Alternative, Option 1B originates at an interchange with Morganza Road and travels south in order to avoid the high-density residential areas in Cecil and Peters Townships. In Cecil Township, it crosses over Cecil Henderson Road, the Montour Trail right-of-way and West McMurray Road (S.R. 1002). After crossing Canonsburg-McMurray Road, the Green Alternative, Option 1B turns south to avoid the PFBC Canonsburg Lake property. The Green Alternative, Option 1B crosses through the residential communities of Glencannon and Foxchase, and would displace the Evangelical Free Church on Galley Road south of the Canonsburg Lake property. An interchange would be provided just east of U.S. Route 19 with a connector road to serve the U.S. Route 19 corridor. The Green Alternative, Option 1B then passes south of the Boone Reservoir and parallels Water Dam Road. The Green Alternative, Option 1B then turns southeast, crossing through farmland in the vicinity of the intersection of Ross Road and South Spring Valley Road. It continues easterly crossing under Linden Road to the North Strabane/Nottingham Township boundary.

Tan Alternative - The Tan Alternative in Section 1 was developed to utilize the I-79 corridor in order to attempt to minimize environmental impacts and to provide an avoidance alternative to the crossing of Canonsburg Lake. The Tan Alternative in Section 1 originates at the interchange with I-79 and proceeds south as a shared-use facility for approximately 3.5 miles by adding additional lanes to I-79.

The Tan Alternative continues along the I-79 corridor; however, in order to minimize earthwork quantities, the Tan Alternative departs from I-79 near West McMurray Road, and is on new location parallel to and just east of I-79 south of West McMurray Road. It parallels I-79 crossing McClelland Road and Weavertown Road.

The half-diamond interchanges on I-79 at McClelland Road and Weavertown Road would be combined as a full-diamond interchange at McClelland Road. Local access to the Tan Alternative would be provided at Weavertown Road. In the Borough of Canonsburg, the Tan Alternative turns east, crossing U.S. Route 19, Walker Road, and Linden Creek Road in North Strabane Township. Local access to the U.S. Route 19 corridor would be provided by an offset interchange east of U.S. Route 19 with a connector road provided to the Weavertown Road/ U.S. Route 19 intersection and also to PA Route 519. The Tan Alternative then proceeds through a combination of residential areas and pending developments, farmland, and forested areas and meets the Green Alternative corridor near Linden Road at the North Strabane Township/Nottingham Township boundary.

Purple Alternative - The Purple Alternative in Section 1 was developed to combine segments of the Green and Tan Alternatives and to provide an additional alternative that avoids the Canonsburg Lake area. The Purple Alternative originates at the interchange with Morganza Road and proceeds southeast along the same general alignment as the Green Alternative. In Cecil Township, it crosses over Cecil Henderson Road and the Montour Trail right-of-way.

After crossing Cecil-Henderson Road, the Purple Alternative turns southwest towards I-79 through mostly forested areas. As the Purple Alternative approaches I-79 near West McMurray Road, it follows the same corridor as the Tan Alternative.

Section 2 Alternatives

Tan Alternative - The Tan Alternative in Section 2 was developed to closely parallel existing transportation corridors including Venetia Road and the former B&O railroad corridor.

The Tan Alternative in Section 2 originates at the Section 1 boundary and proceeds east generally through shrub and forested land south of Venetia Road and the railroad tracks. The Tan Alternative would interchange with Sugar Run Road in Nottingham Township. Sugar Run Road and Mingo Church Road would be realigned. The Tan Alternative then turns southeast passing south of the Finleyville airport. It would cross over PA Route 88 before interchanging with the Mon/Fayette Expressway in Union Township north of Courtney Hill Road.

Red Alternative - The Red Alternative in Section 2 was developed to avoid the potentially developable land in the Venetia Road corridor while minimizing impacts to farmlands and coal mining operations in the southern portion of the project area.

The Red Alternative in Section 2 proceeds east through generally shrub and forested areas south of Munntown Road and would interchange with Sugar Run Road in Nottingham Township. Sugar Run Road would be realigned. The Red Alternative then turns east following the same alignment as the Tan Alternative, passing south of the Finleyville airport, crossing over PA Route 88. It would interchange with the Mon/Fayette Expressway in Union Township north of Courtney Hill Road.

Tan - Red Alternative - The Tan-Red Alternative in Section 2 was developed to combine segments of the Tan and Red Alternatives and to provide an additional alternative.

The Tan-Red Alternative in Section 2 originates at the Section 1 boundary and proceeds east generally through shrub and forested land south of Venetia Road and the railroad tracks. The Tan-Red Alternative then turns southerly to cross over Lutes Road. The Tan-Red Alternative would interchange with Sugar Run Road in Nottingham Township. Sugar Run Road would be realigned. The Tan-Red Alternative then turns east following the same alignment as the Tan and Red Alternatives, passing south of the Finleyville airport, crossing over PA Route 88. It would interchange with the Mon/Fayette Expressway in Union Township north of Courtney Hill Road.