PA Turnpike to Hold Open House for Mon/Fayette Expressway
PA Turnpike to Hold Open House for Mon/Fayette Expressway
Representatives to be on-hand with details of next construction section
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) is planning an open house this month for the community to learn about the next construction section of the Mon/Fayette Expressway PA Route 51 to I-376 Project.
The Mon/Fayette Expressway is a project that was mandated by the state legislature in 1985, designed to boost economic development in the Mon Valley. Although the Pennsylvania Turnpike is a limited-access highway that operates without state funding or tax dollars, the Mon/Fayette Expressway project is the one exception. Beyond toll revenue, the Mon/Fayette Expressway is funded through Act 89 of 2013 and the Oil Company Franchise Tax.
Based on current funds, the PA Turnpike will move forward with constructing the third section within the southern portion of this project. The southern portion of the Mon/Fayette Expressway (PA Turnpike 43) runs from PA Route 51 in Jefferson Hills Borough to PA Route 837 in the City of Duquesne, Allegheny County, and is divided into seven construction sections through the county.
In January, the PA Turnpike awarded Trumbull Corp. a $163.5 million contract to build the third section (53B1A). It will extend approximately 1.5 miles beginning just north of the Camp Hollow Road (State Route 2043) roundabouts in West Mifflin Borough and run north where it will tie in with a new interchange at Pittsburgh McKeesport Blvd. (State Route 2045) near the Richland Cemetery in Dravosburg Borough.
The contract requires Trumbull Corp. to excavate approximately 1.5 million cubic yards of earth, construct two noise walls and build four bridges. Pittsburgh McKeesport Blvd. will be reconstructed to create a half interchange with the Mon/Fayette Expressway, allowing traffic to enter the toll road going south and exit the toll road heading north.
A new, permanent traffic signal will also be installed at the intersection of Richland Avenue and 5th Street in Dravosburg. In 2024, the contractor working for the PA Turnpike put in a temporary signal to address the tragic incidents that happened in that area.
Construction of the permanent traffic signal will require the temporary signal to be removed as crews work in that area to add more safety features. Traffic will be restricted to one lane, and no left turns will be allowed in the area during construction.
An open house will be held for the community to see the plans for this specific construction section and ask questions of the PA Turnpike’s team of engineers. It is being held:
Wednesday, February 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
3122 Lebanon Church Road, West Mifflin 15122
(parking in the rear of the building, enter through the back doors to get to the main ballroom)
PA Turnpike representatives and contracted project specialists will be available to discuss future road restrictions, detours, blasting zones and additional construction-related information about the 53B1A section of the Mon/Fayette Expressway.
For those unable to attend the meeting in person, the information is available on the project website at www.paturnpike.com/monfayette. The community is encouraged to submit their questions through the comment form available on the website. Project engineers will answer questions as they are submitted.
Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson Inc. (JMT) of Hunt Valley, Maryland will manage the construction of the entire eight-mile southern section of the Mon/Fayette Expressway. This project will require JMT to provide cost, schedule and quality control while complying with all PA Turnpike, state, and federal highway construction requirements.
The Mon/Fayette Expressway (MFE) currently stretches 54 miles from I-68 near Morgantown, WV to PA Route 51 in Jefferson Hills, Allegheny County. Once all seven sections are complete, the MFE will extend 68 miles to I-376 in Monroeville, Allegheny County. Funding for the remaining sections are evaluated annually based on state funding.
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Media Contact: Renee Vid Colborn, rcolborn@paturnpike.com, 724-755-5260