PennDOT to spend $300 million on construction plans in Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence counties

Just how much work do our local roads and bridges need?

The state plans to spend about $300 million on nearly 90 construction projects this year in Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties — and PennDOT District 11 officials said they still could use another $100 million if it became available.

Officials on Wednesday outlined details of the scheduled projects during a virtual meeting with reporters.

The briefing came in advance of President Joe Biden’s visit to Pittsburgh, where the president was expected to deliver details about his “Build Back Better” infrastructure package, which could fund more improvements.

Workers “didn’t miss a beat” in 2020 despite shutdowns caused by the coronavirus, said District 11 Executive Cheryl Moon-Sirianni. Once work resumed in May, decreased traffic as a result of people working remotely meant projects such as the cap over Interstate 579 proceeded at a faster pace, Moon-Sirianni said.

RELATED: Pandemic increased pace of I-579 cap project in Pittsburgh, officials say

She touted projects such as the Shaler Street bridge replacement over Saw Mill Run Boulevard between Pittsburgh’s Duquesne Heights and West End neighborhoods.

The $14.5 million project started in November 2019 and was completed last year using a huge transporter to put the prefabricated span into place.

PennDOT also detailed projects it has in the works for this year, which include several in the Alle-Kiski Valley along with work on Interstates 79, 279 and 376 and 579, among other work throughout the three-county region.

RELATED: Expect traffic headaches as Tarentum Bridge, Route 28 work planned

Among the Allegheny County projects included in this year’s construction plan:

• A $42 million project on the Neville Island Bridge. Expect lane restrictions, ramp closures and four weekend-long northbound bridge closures as crews make structural repairs on the bridge across the Ohio River in Neville, Robinson and Glenfield. The project is anticipated to end in 2023.

• A $16.3 million project to make safety improvements on East Carson Street. Expect weekday lane restrictions between Smithfield and 33rd streets on the South Side. Parking and sidewalk restrictions will continue on East Carson between Smithfield and 33rd. There also will be single-lane restrictions later this year on the Birmingham Bridge near the intersection of East Carson, and three full weekend closures are expected for paving at the Smithfield Street intersection.

The project aims to improve pedestrian safety and will account for bicycle traffic. That portion of the project is being handled by Pittsburgh officials.

• A $7.6 million project to improve access to the Hazelwood Green development that included a turning lane on Route 885 at the intersections with Second Avenue, Hot Metal Street, Greenfield Avenue and Hazelwood Avenue. The work also includes widening the Parkway East bridge over Bates Street to lengthen the deceleration lane to the Glenwood off-ramp and widening Bates Street at the I-376 interchange to accommodate three lanes. Expect ramp closures, a 15-day lane restriction and weekend lane closures, along with four overnight closures of Bates Street at the Parkway East. The project should be completed by spring 2022.

• A $12.5 million project to replace the Kenmawr Bridge in Swissvale and Rankin that started in 2020. The bridge carries South Braddock Avenue over railroad tracks. Motorists have been using a temporary bridge, but when the new bridge is put into place this spring, expect a 45-day closure of the road.

Traffic to Kennywood Park will be detoured through Homestead, PennDOT aid.

• A $7 million project to resurface Route 65 from Glenfield to Sewickley. Expect lane restrictions once the project starts in May through its completion in late fall.

• A $40 million project on I-79 between the Neville Island Bridge and I-279. It includes work on several bridges and will require lane crossovers and restrictions in both the north and south bound lanes. The project will begin in the summer and won’t be done until 2023.

• A $6 million bridge preservation project on Route 837 near Kennywood Park that will require lane restrictions in West Mifflin. The project should be finished by the end of the year.

Here is a complete list of the projects: