New interchange to be introduced on Route 51

Traffic will be routed onto the Diverging Diamond Interchange early Tuesday.

Traffic will be introduced Tuesday to the new Diverging Diamond Interchange on Route 51 in Rostraver Township, weather permitting.

Beginning at approximately 6 a.m., traffic will be routed into the DDI configuration in a single-lane in each direction.

Traffic will be in the outside lanes and controlled by temporary traffic signals. It will be placed in the following configuration:

• Traffic on Route 51 will cross over to the opposite or left side of the roadway within the interchange area to access Interstate 70 on-ramps more directly.

• The left-turn movements from Route 51 to the I-70 onramps will occur from the left side of the roadway.

• The left turn movements from I-70 exit ramps to Route 51 do not need to cross opposing travel lanes to gain access to the desired lanes of Route 51.

• Flaggers will help motorists through the work zone as the new traffic configuration is implemented, but drivers should allow extra time if traveling through the corridor.

The DDI is a design innovation that improves safety and mobility by reducing the number of conflict points with oncoming traffic.

DDIs provide a timely, cost-effective design solution, and can often be constructed at a much lower cost compared to conventional interchange designs.

The design takes up less space, reducing the impact of surrounding property, and provides for improved capacity by requiring fewer lanes to handle the same amount of traffic than a conventional design.

This work is part of the $120.6 million I-70 at Route 51 Interchange Project, which will reconstruct I-70 at Exit 46 to make the section similar to other reconstructed sections to the east and west.

This year, construction has focused on completing the reconstruction of eastbound and westbound I-70, construction of the northbound Route 51 bridge over I-70 and the DDI and reconstruction of southbound Route 51.

In April, westbound traffic was shifted onto temporary widening while the lanes and medians are reconstructed.

This month, westbound traffic will remain on temporary widening and eastbound traffic will be shifted onto newly constructed westbound lanes while the new eastbound lanes, on/off ramp acceleration/deceleration lanes, and median are reconstructed.

The mainline construction is expected to be complete this year.

Construction will include the completion of the new northbound Route 51 bridge over I-70.

All ramps within the DDI pattern will include permanent signals and a single lane of traffic in each direction on Route 51 using new bridges.

Additionally, Route 51 southbound will be fully reconstructed in addition to left-turn standby lanes at intersections.

Signals will remain at Route 981/relocated Finley Road and Concord Lane.

Temporary signals along the corridor will be replaced with permanent ones this winter.

Construction at the I-70/Route 51 Interchange began in late 2022 and is expected to continue through 2026.

For more specific information regarding turning movements to and from the I-70/Route 51 interchange, please visit I-70 at Route 51 How to Drive the Diverging Diamond Interchange to read the project brochure detailing the DDI.