Expressway projects to continue this week
Detours are set up for drivers in the areas of Sections 53A1 and 53A2.
Construction on Section 53A1 and Section 53A2 of the Mon/Fayette Expressway will continue this week, according to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
They are part of the Mon/ Fayette Expressway PA Route 51 to I-376 project’s southern section.
Section 53A1 is expected to be finished in the fall of 2026, and Section 53A2 is on pace to be completed in the summer of 2027, according to the PA Turnpike’s website.
The standard work shift is 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays. Friday and Saturday shifts are used when needed.
Section 53A1, which begins where the current expressway ends at PA Route 51 in Jefferson Hills and stretches approximately three miles north of Coal Valley Road, has undergone work since March of 2023.
The nearly $214 million contract requires Trumbull Corp. to excavate more than four million cubic yards of earth and build six bridges. The remaining construction sections will go through the bidding process, and construction will begin as bids are awarded.
Coal Valley Road is closed for up to two months for road and slope reconstruction. Traffic deliveries will continue on SR 885 Clairton Road, according to the week of June 9 update.
Route 43 southbound drivers will use the southbound ramp, and northbound drivers will cross over to the southbound side to Jefferson Boulevard. Jefferson Boulevard and Route 51 have a new traffic pattern implemented until the northbound off ramp is reopened.
Brickyard Road will have traffic restrictions during working hours, and Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard will have a single-lane closure in place for future 53B1A construction and plugging two existing gas wells.
Concrete bridge deck placements for the bridge over Brickyard Road are ongoing and scheduled as weather permits. The southbound bridge deck and parapets have been completed.
The majority of other bridge work has been completed, with the bridge over Coal Valley Road having deck forms, overhang work and rebar installation underway.
Additionally in Section 53A1:
• Erosion control measures are installed, will be modified as construction advances and will be maintained as necessary.
• Trespassing on construction sites is prohibited. No pedestrians, ATVs or motorcycles should be entering these areas.
• A toll facility is being constructed.
Section 53A2
The standard work shift in this section is 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays. Friday and Saturday shifts will be used as needed.
New England Road is open, but may have lane closures with flagging daily. Construction entrances on both sides of the road will be utilized and a temporary concrete barrier has been added to protect traveling vehicles.
Lower Camp Hollow Road is open to traffic. Construction traffic will continue crossing utilizing flaggers while bridge construction is underway. This section of Lower Camp Hollow Road will be closed in the future to continue the rock slope work.
The upper section of Upper Camp Hollow Road’s alignment continues as well as work on roundabouts. As phases are completed, traffic will be shifted onto the new construction. Utility work for waterline replacement has been completed.
The blasting at both points of Camp Hollow Road has completed, but blasting will occur south of Maxim Yard between Camp Hollow and New England Roads and North of Camp Hollow Road.
For all blasts, five minutes prior to blasting the contractor will give three horn alerts of 15 seconds each. One minute prior to blasting, three horn alerts of 10 seconds will be sounded. Thirty seconds prior to blasting, a series of short horn alerts will be sounded up to the time of detonation.
After the blast, the area will be checked, and a horn will be sounded for 15 seconds to indicate that all is clear. Additional air horns have been added to help notifications.
More updates on the construction can be found on the PA Turnpike Commission’s website every week at www.paturnpike.com.
