Beams placed for new Route 51 bridge over I-70 in Rostraver

By Jeff Himler
Trib Total Media
The area’s first significant snowfall of the season Tuesday didn’t stop progress on reconstruction of the Route 51 interchange on Interstate 70.
On Tuesday night, crews from contractors Golden Triangle and JC Lee set in place beams for a new bridge that will carry Route 51 over the interstate in Rostraver.
According to PennDOT, traffic passing below on the interstate was subject to rolling single-lane restrictions as the beams, each 130 feet long and weighing about 36 tons, were lowered into place. Two cranes unloaded the beams from tractor-trailers staged along northbound Route 51, which also was restricted to a single lane of traffic.
The existing Route 51 bridge remains open to traffic while work is underway on the portion of the new bridge that will carry southbound traffic over the interstate. Construction will occur later on the northbound lanes of the new bridge.
The existing bridge underwent emergency repairs after it was struck by an over-height vehicle in December 2021.
The new bridge is part of a nearly $121 million project that will reformat the Route 51 interchange from a cloverleaf design to a diverging diamond pattern.

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