Snow Causes Delays for Route 65 Road Projects

PennDOT was scheduled to begin three projects today along Route 65 between and Pittsburgh, but the roadwork was delayed until tomorrow or postponed for a later date, all because of the snowfall.

A two-day project in the area of the Interstate-79 interchange in Glenfield now will begin Wednesday. Crews will be installing overhead signs, guide rail and drainage in several locations through the interchange area on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Jim Struzzi, PennDOT spokesman.

Struzzi said restrictions will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day with single-lane closures in both directions on Route 65. All ramps will remain open. The work is part of an overall project that started in 2009 to improve the I-79 Neville Island Bridge-Route 65 interchange (Exit 66) and approaching roadways in Glenfield. Work is expected to be complete in the spring.

Contractors are also planning to continue working Wednesday to install six traffic cameras and a message board along inbound Route 65 between the McKees Rocks Bridge and the Fort Duquesne Bridge, PennDOT said.

Motorists could experience some short-term lane closures, if needed, while work occurs between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The project that started last year is expected to be completed this spring.  

 A third project that was also supposed to resume today in Avalon was postponed for a later date, Struzzi said. 

Contractors planned to install ramps and continue drainage work to finish out a $1.4 million improvement project on Route 65 between Prospect Avenue and Locust Street. When the work resumes, Locust Street will be closed at the Orchard Avenue intersection. Signs will be posted to guide motorists during the closure.  The project is expected to be completed sometime in March.