Get ready for new restrictions and slowdowns on I-79 north of the Ohio River.
Beginning at noon on Saturday, PennDOT will install a crossover zone on the interstate between the Parkway North and the Neville Island Bridge for bridge deck replacement work.
The crossed over left lane will be used as an express lane while the right lane will remain on the southbound side for local side.
Here is where restrictions will occur, according to PennDOT:
· The left lane of southbound I-79 will be crossed over into the northbound lanes between the I-279 and the Red Mud Hollow Road overpass. This is the EXPRESS lane. All traffic using this lane will not have access to the Mt. Nebo Road (Exit 68) or Emsworth/Sewickley Route 65 (Exit 66) interchanges.
Southbound express lane traffic will be crossed back over between the Emsworth/Sewickley Route 65 (Exit 66) interchange and the Neville Island Bridge.
· The right lane of southbound I-79 will remain in place. This is the LOCAL lane. Access to the Mt. Nebo Road (Exit 68) and Emsworth/Sewickley Route 65 (Exit 66) interchanges must be made from the local lane. Traffic will be shifted slightly at the Red Mud Hollow Road and Glenfield Road bridges to allow crews to conduct half width deck replacement work.
· Two lanes of traffic will be maintained on northbound I-79. A barrier will separate the northbound lanes and the crossed over southbound lane.
· Emergency pull-off areas will be implemented in various locations through the work zone. Three pull-off areas will be implemented in the northbound lanes, three in the southbound express lane, and three in the southbound local lane.
· The southbound crossover will remain in place continuously through late-November.
Single lane restrictions are being instituted Friday though noon on Saturday.
The project is expected to wrap-up in late November.