Mon/Fayette Expressway PA Route 51 to I-376 Project to Begin
Mon/Fayette Expressway PA Route 51 to I-376 Project to Begin
First construction bid for southern section of project awarded to Trumbull Corp.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has awarded the first construction contract to begin work on the Mon/Fayette Expressway PA Route 51 to I-376 Project’s southern section, which runs from its terminus at State Route 51 in Jefferson Hills to State Route 837 in Duquesne, Allegheny County.
The estimated $1.3 billion project was able to move forward with the passing of Act 89 which provided a funding stream for the project mandated by the state legislature to build back in 1985 to boost the economy of the Mon Valley.
“This long-awaited project represents a significant investment in the Mon Valley that will not only enhance mobility in the area but is expected to bring economic opportunities to the region,” said PA Turnpike Commissioner Sean Logan.
Trumbull Corporation based in Pittsburgh was awarded the nearly $214 million contract to build the first section, which lies mostly in Jefferson Hills Borough but also reaches into West Mifflin Borough and the City of Clairton in Allegheny County. A public meeting is expected to be held in February explaining the scope of work. The meeting will be advertised locally and on social media.
“The public meeting is a chance for residents in the area to hear directly from the engineering team about construction details and how it may affect them,” said PA Turnpike CEO, Mark Compton. “I encourage people to attend, but if they cannot, the information will be on the website.”
Last year, Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson Inc. (JMT) of Hunt Valley, Maryland was awarded a $20-million contract to oversee construction of the entire eight-mile southern section, which is divided into seven separate construction sections stretching through Jefferson Hills Borough, West Mifflin Borough, the City of Clairton, Dravosburg and the City of Duquesne. The entire project is expected to take approximately six years to build.
“Unlike the Southern Beltway, we will be able to open portions of the Mon/Fayette Expressway as they are built,” says PA Turnpike Chief Engineer Brad Heigel. “Once the overhead toll gantries are in place and tested, the section can be opened to traffic.”
The Mon/Fayette Expressway (PA Turnpike 43) currently stretches 54 miles from I-68 near Morgantown, WV to State Route 51 in Jefferson Hills, Allegheny County. For more information about the Mon/Fayette Expressway and the PA 51 to I-376 Project visit the website at www.paturnpikemonfayette.com.
Media Contact: Renee Vid Colborn, rcolborn@paturnpike.com, 724-755-5260