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Started by rickmastfan67, November 30, 2011, 10:27:15 PM

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rickmastfan67

#25
Does anybody know what is happening @ the PA-228 interchange with I-79 (Exit #78)?  I just was on PA-228 today and it looks like they are reconfiguring the interchange and adding in a new NB on-ramp to I-79 for both directions to eliminate the loop one on the South side of the interchange.  And also new ramps to/from SB I-79 (maybe to make the current one a direct link to I-76/PA Turnpike?).

EDIT: Looks like I'm correct.
http://cranberry.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/penndot-rolling-out-route-228-ramps-project-in-cranberry


rickmastfan67

PennDOT just recently has posted a brand new Truck route for US-30 here in Robinson Twp near the Pittsburgh International Airport.  It starts @ I-376 Exit #60 and heads West towards the airport.  I unfortunately didn't get to travel all of it as I had to get off @ Exit #59 today and didn't have any free time to investigate it any more than what I very quickly saw between Exits #60 & #59.

I'm going to assume the route for this truck route will lead US-30 Truck traffic to the PA Turnpike 576 interchange and back to US-30 that way.  If anybody else is in that area before I can go back out there and can investigate the full route, let me know.  I want to put this into OSM when I get the chance and let Tim know the full route so he can add it to the CHM site.

NE2

pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

Mr_Northside

Quote from: rickmastfan67 on October 13, 2013, 11:11:02 PM
PennDOT just recently has posted a brand new Truck route for US-30 here in Robinson Twp near the Pittsburgh International Airport. 

I also noticed there is a Truck PA-519 signed at I-79, pointing towards the Bridgeville exit heading north.
I don't have opinions anymore. All I know is that no one is better than anyone else, and everyone is the best at everything

rickmastfan67

#29
I wonder if any of these new "Truck" routes have to do with the recent PennDOT announcement about weight limits on some bridges. :hmmm:

Mr_Northside

Quote from: rickmastfan67 on October 14, 2013, 09:52:06 PM
I wonder if any of these new "Truck" routes have to do with the recent PennDOT announcement about weigh limits on some bridges. :hmmm:

That was certainly my guess.
I think I saw a "Truck 51" on the inbound Blvd of the Allies (around Duquesne University) today.  (Unless my memory is playing tricks on me).

I haven't seen any article or statement saying these have popped up due to new bridge weight limit restrictions... but I'd bet all my Monopoly money on that being the case.
I don't have opinions anymore. All I know is that no one is better than anyone else, and everyone is the best at everything

dave19

  I'd bet on that too... I was driving north on I-99 Friday night from Bedford and saw "Truck 867" signs north of exit 7 - I thought that was weird, why would trucks be on a back road like PA 867 anyway, maybe truckers on their way to the paper mill in Roaring Spring were being directed onto it by their GPSs... That is not a good way for large trucks to go, for a couple of reasons.
  Saturday, I was in Huntingdon and noticed Truck 26 signs. To the west, there is a Truck 22 route, thanks to a bridge in Canoe Creek - most of those signs were covered up for some reason. After I got home on Sunday, I did some researching and found that there are bridge restrictions on all three of those routes.
  There is a Truck 56 route posted in Indiana County because of a little bridge southeast of Brush Valley. There was a story about that one in the Indiana paper not too long ago.

PAHighways

These new truck routes are due to direct those vehicles around structurally deficient bridges.  The only new AASHTO approved routes for Pennsylvania are the extension of Business US 209 in Monroe County and the creation of an Alternate US 219 in Cambria and Clearfield counties.

Also, the assemblies are installed [TRUCK] then [cardinal direction], rather than the other way around as the standard on auxiliary routes.  I've seen trailblazer assemblies like that on side roads pointing trucks to the best and/or shortest route to the main highway.

NE2

AASHTO claims to not deal with truck routes:
QuoteA new US 95 Truck Route [sic] is proposed to be established in San Luis, Arizona, extending from an intersection with US 95 south and east along existing streets 0.5 mile to the Port of Entry at the international boundary. AASHTO's policy does not include U.S. truck routes. See AASHTO Policy Statements: Purpose & Policy Statement HO1 and Purpose & Policy Statement HO2 (Retention of HO1).
http://route.transportation.org/Documents/SCOH%20Report%2011-16-2012.pdf
pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

dave19

Jeff, speaking of ALT 219, do you know if any of the improvements to SR 4013 in Cambria County or the 90 degree turn on PA 36 in Newburg (LaJose) are underway yet?

PAHighways

I haven't seen any press releases from District 9 about any projects along those routes.

rickmastfan67

Quote from: PAHighways on October 28, 2013, 04:09:11 PM
These new truck routes are due to direct those vehicles around structurally deficient bridges.  The only new AASHTO approved routes for Pennsylvania are the extension of Business US 209 in Monroe County and the creation of an Alternate US 219 in Cambria and Clearfield counties.

Also, the assemblies are installed [TRUCK] then [cardinal direction], rather than the other way around as the standard on auxiliary routes.  I've seen trailblazer assemblies like that on side roads pointing trucks to the best and/or shortest route to the main highway.

Do you know of a list with all of the new truck routes that were added and where they start/finish?  This is mainly for CHM.

CanesFan27

http://pgdigs.tumblr.com/post/72841555150/november-1961-the-trouble-with-those-tunnels

Great stories on the famous tunnel slowdowns in Pittsburgh and some the attempted solutions in the mid50s early 60s. 

pghgal_90

Quote from: CanesFan27 on January 10, 2014, 10:40:52 AM
http://pgdigs.tumblr.com/post/72841555150/november-1961-the-trouble-with-those-tunnels

Great stories on the famous tunnel slowdowns in Pittsburgh and some the attempted solutions in the mid50s early 60s.

Ha, this is great! I'm so glad I live in the South Hills and don't usually have to travel east. The "tunnel monster" never seems to affect the Liberty Tubes as badly as poor Squirrel Hill.

PAHighways


ARMOURERERIC

With current technology, I would like to see the PWE be 3 lanes each way, wide median with a parkway feel.  The first parkway contract provided for decorative stone bridges and they were built at Old Greensburgh Pike, since removed during the 1980's expansion and that look should be restored but within I standards.  I don't really think with the available ROW that anything can be done with the tunnels but I think a 3 lane HOT facility starting at BUS 22 along the PWE then on the ROW of the East Busway, but as a separate from the buses zipper laned carrigeway with 2 lanes going peak and both dumping at 11th and Liberty/Grant and a tie in to the reversible lanes of 579 would do the trick,

pghgal_90

Unrelated, but: has anybody noticed shields/signs missing lately? My guess it was the wind and the cold weather last week blowing some off, but on my way home from the North Hills a week or so ago, the I-279 shield had been blown right off! It just had the "South" bracket on top.

I also drive PA 88 every day and noticed the "JCT 88" sign missing its keystone. That has since been fixed ;)

rickmastfan67

Quote from: pghgal_90 on February 03, 2014, 08:45:15 PM
Unrelated, but: has anybody noticed shields/signs missing lately? My guess it was the wind and the cold weather last week blowing some off, but on my way home from the North Hills a week or so ago, the I-279 shield had been blown right off! It just had the "South" bracket on top.

Where was this?

JawnwoodS96

#43
Quote from: pghgal_90 on February 03, 2014, 08:45:15 PM
Unrelated, but: has anybody noticed shields/signs missing lately? My guess it was the wind and the cold weather last week blowing some off, but on my way home from the North Hills a week or so ago, the I-279 shield had been blown right off! It just had the "South" bracket on top.
The 79/279 merger is also missing a sign (The 'Exit 72' sign is missing). It seems to happen a lot around this time of year. I remember two years ago where the sign for the Perrysville exit on 279 was missing. They usually seem to replace the signs in the spring.

Also, on the topic of the parkway, here's how I think it should go down: four lanes in each direction from Bus-22 to Robinson, with reversible HOV/HOT lanes in the median. Though the queries here are of course the tunnels, of which there would need to be extensive construction, occupation relocation and astronomical budgeting.
Major interstates driven: i64, i264(VA), i66, i68, i70, i270(DC & OH), i71, i74, i75, i275 (Cin), i76, i376, i476, i77, i79, i279, i579, i80, i480 (OH), i81, i83, i283, i85, i185(GA), i285, i485, i90, i95, i295(VA & NJ), i495, i695(MD), i99

Go Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins!

Gnutella

Quote from: JawnwoodS96 on February 04, 2014, 01:18:55 AM
Quote from: pghgal_90 on February 03, 2014, 08:45:15 PM
Unrelated, but: has anybody noticed shields/signs missing lately? My guess it was the wind and the cold weather last week blowing some off, but on my way home from the North Hills a week or so ago, the I-279 shield had been blown right off! It just had the "South" bracket on top.
The 79/279 merger is also missing a sign (The 'Exit 72' sign is missing). It seems to happen a lot around this time of year. I remember two years ago where the sign for the Perrysville exit on 279 was missing. They usually seem to replace the signs in the spring.

Also, on the topic of the parkway, here's how I think it should go down: four lanes in each direction from Bus-22 to Robinson, with reversible HOV/HOT lanes in the median. Though the queries here are of course the tunnels, of which there would need to be extensive construction, occupation relocation and astronomical budgeting.

Eight lanes from Robinson to Monroeville is overkill. I say six lanes from Pittsburgh International Airport to I-79, eight lanes from I-79 to PA 51, six lanes through the Fort Pitt Tunnel, five lanes (three westbound, two eastbound) past downtown Pittsburgh, and six lanes from Grant Street to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, including the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. Add one climbing lane where necessary. Expand the interior shoulders to 12' across to conform with AASHTO standards.

As for the interchanges, I'd like to see geometric improvement at the following interchanges: Montour Run, Robinson Town Centre Boulevard, Campbell's Run Road, Rosslyn Farms, Carnegie/Heidelberg, Second Avenue and William Penn Highway. I'd like to see the following interchanges overhauled: U.S. 22/U.S. 30/PA 60 (stack), Green Tree/Mt. Lebanon (SPUI), U.S. 19 Truck/PA 51 (modified directional T), Oakland/Hazelwood (modified SPUI), Squirrel Hill/Homestead (I don't know what, just make it better), Edgewood/Swissvale (SPUI), Wilkinsburg/Forest Hills (SPUI), Churchill (SPUI, no left-lane ramps) Monroeville/Plum (SPUI), Pennsylvania Turnpike/U.S. 22 (stack). I'd like to see the Parkway Center Drive and Greensburg Pike interchanges eliminated, and longer acceleration and deceleration lanes at the Penn Hills interchange.

As for the signage, I'd update some of them to read as follows...


Exit 60 - U.S. 22 West/U.S. 30 West/PA 60 East - Robinson - Weirton WV

Exit 65 - PA 50 - Carnegie - Crafton

Exit 67 - PA 121 - Green Tree - Mt Lebanon (both directions, not just eastbound)

Exit 69A - U.S. 19 South - Banksville Road - Dormont

Exit 69B - U.S. 19 Truck/PA 51 - Saw Mill Run Blvd - West End - Beechview

Exit 70A - Blvd of the Allies - Liberty Avenue

Exit 70B - Fort Duquesne Blvd

Exit 70C - I-279 North - Franklin Park

Exit 73 - PA 885 - Bates St - Oakland - Hazelwood

Exit 74 - Beechwood Blvd - Squirrel Hill - Greenfield

Exit 77 - Braddock Ave - Regent Square

Exit 85A - U.S. 22 East - Murrysville

Exit 85B - I-76/PA Turnpike - Youngstown/Harrisburg


I'd also include the following auxiliary signs...


First Niagara Pavilion - Exit 60

TO I-70 West - Wheeling WV - Columbus - USE I-79 South - Exit 64A (westbound only)

Pennsbury Village - Exit 64B

TO PA 837 South - Carson Street - South Side - USE U.S. 19 Truck North/PA 51 North - Exit 69B (eastbound only)

ALT ROUTE - TO PA 65 North - USE U.S. 19 Truck North/PA 51 North - Exit 69B (eastbound only)

Heinz Field - Rivers CasinoExit 69B (eastbound only)

Station Square - Duquesne Univ - Exit 70A (eastbound only)

David L Lawrence Convention Ctr - Strip District - Exit 70B (eastbound only)

PNC Park - Andy Warhol Museum - National Aviary - USE I-279 North - Exit 70C

Consol Energy Center - Exit 71A (eastbound only)

Station Square - Exit 71A (westbound only)

Univ of Pittsburgh - Carnegie Mellon Univ - Exit 72A (eastbound only)

Duquesne Univ - Consol Energy Center - Exit 72B (westbound only)

South Side - USE PA 885 South - Exit 73 (westbound only)

Homestead - Munhall - Exit 74

Sandcastle Waterpark - Exit 74

Schenley Park - Exit 74 (brown sign)

Edgewood - Swissvale - Exit 77

Kennywood Park - Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium - Exit 77

Frick Park - Exit 77 (brown sign)

E Pittsburgh - N Versailles - Exit 78

Turtle Creek - Exit 80A

Boyce Park - Exit 84 (brown sign)

TO I-70 East - Baltimore - Washington DC - USE I-76/PA Turnpike East - Exit 85B

JawnwoodS96

Quote from: Gnutella on February 04, 2014, 01:03:49 PMEight lanes from Robinson to Monroeville is overkill. I say six lanes from Pittsburgh International Airport to I-79, eight lanes from I-79 to PA 51, six lanes through the Fort Pitt Tunnel, five lanes (three westbound, two eastbound) past downtown Pittsburgh, and six lanes from Grant Street to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, including the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. Add one climbing lane where necessary. Expand the interior shoulders to 12' across to conform with AASHTO standards.

As for the interchanges, I'd like to see geometric improvement at the following interchanges: Montour Run, Robinson Town Centre Boulevard, Campbell's Run Road, Rosslyn Farms, Carnegie/Heidelberg, Second Avenue and William Penn Highway. I'd like to see the following interchanges overhauled: U.S. 22/U.S. 30/PA 60 (stack), Green Tree/Mt. Lebanon (SPUI), U.S. 19 Truck/PA 51 (modified directional T), Oakland/Hazelwood (modified SPUI), Squirrel Hill/Homestead (I don't know what, just make it better), Edgewood/Swissvale (SPUI), Wilkinsburg/Forest Hills (SPUI), Churchill (SPUI, no left-lane ramps) Monroeville/Plum (SPUI), Pennsylvania Turnpike/U.S. 22 (stack). I'd like to see the Parkway Center Drive and Greensburg Pike interchanges eliminated, and longer acceleration and deceleration lanes at the Penn Hills interchange.
Maybe eight lanes to Robinson was a bit much, but I still think that eight lanes from at least Second Ave. to Bus-22 is a formidable option, I just can't see six lanes sufficing. Six lanes from the airport to 79 sounds good, though.

I like your interchange options as well. For the Squirrel Hill exit, I have in mind something like a modified directional-T. For the most part though, I really don't care as long as it gets an overhaul; that exit is a disgrace.
Major interstates driven: i64, i264(VA), i66, i68, i70, i270(DC & OH), i71, i74, i75, i275 (Cin), i76, i376, i476, i77, i79, i279, i579, i80, i480 (OH), i81, i83, i283, i85, i185(GA), i285, i485, i90, i95, i295(VA & NJ), i495, i695(MD), i99

Go Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins!

Gnutella

Eight lanes from Second Avenue east would be very difficult in the vicinity of Bates Street. The right of way can't be expanded on the eastbound side of the Parkway East because Second Avenue and the Great Allegheny Passage both pass right next to the highway. Expansion would have to be on the westbound side, which would require excavation of the cliffs not only for the right of way, but also for a buffer zone so potential rock slides would be less likely to impact the highway.

On top of that, the alignment of the highway would have to be shifted away from Second Avenue at the Bates Street interchange in order to make room for an eastbound off-ramp. A cross section of an eight-lane highway with a 2'-wide median barrier, 12'-wide interior and exterior shoulders and an acceleration/deceleration lane on each side would be 170', and that doesn't count the buffer zone for falling rocks. In other words, you're looking at over 200' of space necessary in the vicinity of Bates Street, which would require the demolition of several dozen buildings on top of the cliffs.

Speaking of building demolition, it appears that any widening or interchange reconfiguration would wipe out a few dozen homes in the vicinity of both the Edgewood/Swissvale and Wilkinsburg/Forest Hills interchanges. The good news is, reconfiguring those two interchanges as SPUIs would allow them to greatly reduce their footprints. It also appears that the Boulevard of the Allies/Forbes Avenue partial interchanges might need to be reconfigured in order to make the eastbound on-ramp enter on the right side instead of the left. Basically, redoing the Parkway East is probably going to take a long time.

The Parkway West appears to be much easier. One thing I just noticed looking at satellite imagery: The Ridge Road overpass over the Parkway West is 170' wide underneath, which is enough room for 10 lanes, plus 12'-wide interior and exterior shoulders. My guess is, PennDOT plans to eventually widen the Parkway West to eight lanes, and they also have big plans for the U.S. 22/U.S. 30/PA 60 interchange, which would necessitate very long ramps. I bet that the Parkway West will be 10 lanes wide there, with four of the 10 lanes going to or coming from U.S. 22/U.S. 30. That means the segment from U.S. 22/U.S. 30 to the airport will be six lanes.

Three challenges with the Parkway West:


1. The Fort Pitt Tunnel has to be expanded. Expanding each tube to four lanes will fit the Fort Pitt Bridge perfectly, but the Carson Street interchange would need to be eliminated. Expanding each tube to three lanes would leave the interchange open, but one lane would need to be dropped from each ramp. The latter seems more reasonable since it keeps the interchange, but not enough traffic uses either ramp to justify them having two lanes.

2. There are two railroad bridges over the Parkway West, one near the Carnegie interchange and one near the Fort Pitt Tunnel. Both are owned by the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad, and both will have to be rebuilt in order to fit an eight-lane highway under them. PennDOT will have to negotiate with W&LE just like they had to with Norfolk Southern before the expansion of PA 28.

3. Between the Carnegie and Green Tree/Mt. Lebanon interchanges is a tight squeeze. On the eastbound side is a residential neighborhood, and on the westbound side is a frontage road that serves several industrial buildings adjacent to the Rook Yard. A couple of back yards are likely to get whacked there.


All in all, preparing the Parkway West for expansion would require a lot less preparation than widening the Parkway East. Here's hoping some progress is made before the end of the decade; Pittsburgh deserves better highways. (At least the Parkway North is nice.)

ARMOURERERIC

How is the construction of the US 219 freeway near Somerset progressing?  Do they have a project website?  I recently viewed google and noted that at least the trees were cut.

Gnutella

Quote from: ARMOURERERIC on February 05, 2014, 04:19:31 PM
How is the construction of the US 219 freeway near Somerset progressing?  Do they have a project website?  I recently viewed google and noted that at least the trees were cut.

I looked for a website and couldn't find it.

I'm excited to drive that segment of U.S. 219 someday, since I've been meaning to reminisce at Deer Valley next time I'm in Pennsylvania. I remember that we had to go from Somerset to Meyersdale and up over Mount Davis to get there, and a limited-access highway ought to take at least 20 minutes off the drive.

BrianP

The website seems to have not been renewed.
Here's the archive:
http://web.archive.org/web/20010413222854/http://www.us219.com/

Here's the project listing from the district 9 website:
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/penndot/districts/district9.nsf/691755df9fd43c3e852572d50052ac24/c209eb4ee1280d2885257bf3004de1d8?OpenDocument

The end date is 2018. :(  But at least it's getting built.



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