PennDOT examines local roads

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Representatives of Penn-DOT District 11 took an up-close look at area infrastructure this week, including some Mon Valley roads.

State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-West Mifflin, joined PennDOT District 11 Director Cheryl Moon-Sirianni and Senior Highway Maintenance Manager Lori Musto on Thursday to discuss infrastructure in the 38th Legislative District.

The district includes Dravosburg, West Mifflin, Glassport, Port Vue, Liberty Borough, Pleasant Hills, South Park, Baldwin and Whitehall.

Pisciottano, Sirianni and Musto discussed the impact of the Mon-Fayette Expressway project on local traffic.

The Southern Section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Mon/Fayette Expressway project is slated to begin next year and wrap up around 2027. 

The first section of the Mon/Fayette State Route 51 to I-376 Project to be constructed (the Southern Section) will be south of the Monongahela River.

This is an eight-mile stretch between state Route 51 in Jefferson Hills and state Route 837 in Duquesne near Kennywood Park. The Southern Section is being divided into seven construction sections. The design sections will include the areas of Jefferson Hills, West Mifflin, Dravosburg, Duquesne and Clairton. 

At a recent event at Youghiogheny Country Club — attended by Pisciottano and other Mon Valley officials such as state Sen. Jim Brewster, Rep. Austin Davis and Allegheny County District 9 Councilman Bob Macey —Turnpike Commission CEO Mark Compton said the sections will open as construction is completed on them rather than having the entire eight-mile stretch open all at once.

Construction costs for the entire Southern Section are estimated to be approximately $680 million with an overall total cost of $1.01 billion. That includes the design work, utility moves, tolling equipment and other items, according to the turnpike commission.

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