Motorists can expect to be temporarily halted in their travels along Route 51 Thursday in Rostraver.
PennDOT has advised that intermittent traffic stoppages are slated to occur between 6 a.m and 5 p.m. on the stretch of highway between Concord Lane and Route 981.
As part of ongoing reconstruction of the Route 51 interchange on Interstate 70, contractor Golden Triangle Construction will reopen the ramp from southbound Route 51 to eastbound I-70 and will deactivate a temporary left-turn lane onto the eastbound I-70 on-ramp.
Also, Route 51 ramps to and from I-70 will undergo minor reconfiguration.
Traffic will be controlled by flaggers with the help of Rostraver police. The work schedule is dependent on weather and operating conditions.
The $120.6 million project will reformat the interchange in a “Diverging Diamond“ layout. It will allow drivers on Route 51 to make a left turn onto the interstate without making a potentially hazardous maneuver across an opposing lane of traffic.
To accommodate the revamped interchange, a one-mile segment of Route 51 will be widened and some intersecting roads — including Finley Road and Route 981 — will be relocated. A portion of I-70 also will be reconstructed and widened.
The project is scheduled for completion in October 2027.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.