Community Corner

PennDOT Preparing For Summer Roadwork

Motorists are asked to pay attention and use caution while driving through construction zones.

The and state police are warning motorists to slow down and pay attention while driving through work zones as construction season begins.

While speaking Monday morning near a construction zone along Route 28 in Pittsburgh, PennDOT District 11 Executive Director Dan Cessna said drivers must follow posted speed limits, turn on headlights and avoid distractions.

District 11, which oversees work in Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties, expects to spend $216 million this year on road and bridge improvements in Allegheny County. Cessna urged motors to be flexible as traffic patterns change and commutes become longer.

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“I can’t overstate patience,” Cessna said during a press conference to kickoff PennDOT's Work Zone Safety Awareness Week.

According to state statistics, 10 people died in 894 work zone accidents on District 11 roadways in the past three years. Statewide, 68 people have died in nearly 5,000 work zone crashes during that period.

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State police Lt. Tom Dubovi said that traffic backups can sometimes lead to multiple accidents when drivers aren’t paying attention to the road

“Be aware, be safe and slow down,” Dubovi said.

He reminded drivers to turn on their headlights in work zones and move change lanes when emergency vehicles construction trucks are parked along the side of the road. He added that traffic fines in work zones are doubled.

“It can be scary at times (for construction workers) because there’s nowhere to run,” Dubovi said.

Besides major roadwork on Route 28, another problem spot appears to be construction on Interstate 79 near Wexford. Cessna said that area is improving as PennDOT tweaks some of the traffic patterns.

“It’s getting better, but motorists are going to continue to experience delays,” Cessna said.

is undergoing the next phase of a $7.3 million reconstruction project.

a mile from Wenzell Avenue to Sawmill Boulevard and includes removal of trolley track, new paving and markings, ADA-compliant sidewalks and new traffic lights and walk signals intended to improve traffic.

The project also includes a continuous left-turn center lane, which turns into a left-turn-only lane at intersections.

The work will require lane closures and detours, but should be finished in early December.

PennDOT also plans to spend more than $4 million on various improvements along Interstate 79 from Bridgeville to the Washington County line. There will also be work on the bridges that carry Parkway West traffic over Campbell’s Run Road.

Click on the photos to the right to view a complete listing of roadwork planned for Allegheny County this summer.


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