Phase: Construction
Location: Westmoreland County
Anticipated cost: $120.7 million
Single-lane closures are planned on I-70 eastbound and westbound, between Exits 49 (Smithton) and 46A/46B (Route 51) on Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 2 from 9 AM to 3 PM daily.
Rolling closures with a possibility of lane closures are planned on I-70 eastbound and westbound, between Exits 49 (Smithton) and 46A/46B (Route 51) on Monday, April 28 and Tuesday, April 29 from 8 PM to 6 AM nightly.
Please be advised that all construction-related traffic restrictions are weather dependent and subject to change.
In 2025, construction will be focused on completing the following:
Planned construction phasing includes:
I-70 Mainline
In April, westbound traffic will be shifted onto temporary widening while the lanes and medians are reconstructed.
In July, 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 in 2025.
Route 51 Diverging Diamond Interchange
Construction will include the completion of the new northbound Route 51 bridge over I-70. 2025 construction will also include all ramps within the DDI pattern, and opening of the DDI, including permanent signals and a single lane of traffic in each direction on Route 51 using new bridges.
Route 51 Corridor
Route 51 southbound will be fully reconstructed in addition to left-turn standby lanes at intersections. Signals will remain at Route 981/ Relocated Finley Rd. and Concord Ln. Temporary signals along the corridor will be replaced with permanent ones this winter.
See work zone mapping here.
Construction at the I-70/Route 51 Interchange began in late 2022 and is expected to continue through 2026. Track construction progress with updated construction photos.
Tips for your safety and the safety of highway workers can be found here.
This project includes improvements to I-70 and Route 51. Interstate 70 will be reconstructed to make this section of I-70 similar to other reconstructed sections of I-70 to the east and west. A Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) will be constructed to replace the substandard I-70/Route51 cloverleaf interchange.
One mile of Route 51 will be reconstructed and widened from south of Ridge Road to north of Concord Lane/Pfile Lane. Route 51 will also be milled and paved from Concord Lane/Pfile Lane to Harper Drive. Finley Road will be relocated behind GetGo to form a four-way intersection at Route 981 and a left-turn lane will be added from Route 51 to Ridge Road. Planned improvements are detailed in the project overview video.
An informational project brochure is available to view online or download and print to share project information with the community.
View project mapping to learn more details about this area.