Southern Beltway - PA Tpk 576

[Bitmapped]

Update Google imagery, shows the ramp to 79 south paved.  As an aside, new imagrey for most of I70

It seems weird that the satellite view shows the southern most paved stretch of the highway dead end into what looks like a hill. Shouldn't the land work have been started by now for the remaining stretch?

It has. The I-79 interchange is right on the border of where Google updated their imagery. Looks like they got new imagery for Washington County but not Allegheny.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Update Google imagery, shows the ramp to 79 south paved.  As an aside, new imagrey for most of I70

It seems weird that the satellite view shows the southern most paved stretch of the highway dead end into what looks like a hill. Shouldn't the land work have been started by now for the remaining stretch?

It has. The I-79 interchange is right on the border of where Google updated their imagery. Looks like they got new imagery for Washington County but not Allegheny.

Actually the imagery is accurate, I was there 8 months ago for my dads burial, at that point the new Morgan Rd Bridge over the future beltway had just opened and excavation for the beltway interchange and mainline east of 79 did not really start until around November 1.

[The Ghostbuster]

Although this will likely never happen, the author of the Pennsylvania Highways website believes that if PA Turnpike 576 were to "truly" be a bypass of Pittsburgh's eastern suburbs, the Southern Beltway's eventual eastern terminus would be, not at PA Turnpike 43, but at the mainline Pennsylvania Turnpike between Exit 67 and 75: https://www.pahighways.com/toll/PATurnpike576.html. What do the rest of you think about this?

[jakeroot]

Update Google imagery, shows the ramp to 79 south paved.  As an aside, new imagrey for most of I70

It seems weird that the satellite view shows the southern most paved stretch of the highway dead end into what looks like a hill. Shouldn't the land work have been started by now for the remaining stretch?

It has. The I-79 interchange is right on the border of where Google updated their imagery. Looks like they got new imagery for Washington County but not Allegheny.

Actually the imagery is accurate, I was there 8 months ago for my dads burial, at that point the new Morgan Rd Bridge over the future beltway had just opened and excavation for the beltway interchange and mainline east of 79 did not really start until around November 1.

Where is the dead end? The whole freeway is paved on my end.


PA Turnpike 576 by Jake Root, on Flickr

[ARMOURERERIC]

Jake, note the are to the SE, where the excavation parraells 79, not the over crossing of both 79 and 576 for Morgan Rd.  As of last fall, though the Morgan Rd bridge existed, the trench for 576 abruptly ended there.

[jakeroot]

Jake, note the are to the SE, where the excavation parraells 79, not the over crossing of both 79 and 576 for Morgan Rd.  As of last fall, though the Morgan Rd bridge existed, the trench for 576 abruptly ended there.

I think I was trying to figure out what JoeP2 meant when he was talking about dead-ending into a hill. There is still work to do around the 79/576 junction, but I didn't see in jarring dead-ends.

By the way, I am sorry for your loss. Condolences to you and your family.

[Gnutella]

Although this will likely never happen, the author of the Pennsylvania Highways website believes that if PA Turnpike 576 were to "truly" be a bypass of Pittsburgh's eastern suburbs, the Southern Beltway's eventual eastern terminus would be, not at PA Turnpike 43, but at the mainline Pennsylvania Turnpike between Exit 67 and 75: https://www.pahighways.com/toll/PATurnpike576.html. What do the rest of you think about this?

Better idea: Extend PA 43 north of I-376 to the Turnpike between exits 48 and 57. It can follow Thompson Run for most of its path.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Although this will likely never happen, the author of the Pennsylvania Highways website believes that if PA Turnpike 576 were to "truly" be a bypass of Pittsburgh's eastern suburbs, the Southern Beltway's eventual eastern terminus would be, not at PA Turnpike 43, but at the mainline Pennsylvania Turnpike between Exit 67 and 75: https://www.pahighways.com/toll/PATurnpike576.html. What do the rest of you think about this?

I think you should ask Jeff Kitsko, who maintains that website.

[JoeP2]

Jake, note the are to the SE, where the excavation parraells 79, not the over crossing of both 79 and 576 for Morgan Rd.  As of last fall, though the Morgan Rd bridge existed, the trench for 576 abruptly ended there.

I think I was trying to figure out what JoeP2 meant when he was talking about dead-ending into a hill. There is still work to do around the 79/576 junction, but I didn't see in jarring dead-ends.

I figured out the difference. I always look at Google satellite view in global view mode because I like be able to move the map in its various 3d angles etc.

I had no idea that it was not consistent with the standard satellite view.

[JoeP2]

Although this will likely never happen, the author of the Pennsylvania Highways website believes that if PA Turnpike 576 were to "truly" be a bypass of Pittsburgh's eastern suburbs, the Southern Beltway's eventual eastern terminus would be, not at PA Turnpike 43, but at the mainline Pennsylvania Turnpike between Exit 67 and 75: https://www.pahighways.com/toll/PATurnpike576.html. What do the rest of you think about this?

Wasn't the original intent to go from the airport to somewhere near the turnpike (and a spur into the city)?

[MASTERNC]

It appears both I-79 roadways are now open to traffic.  Restrictions remain, especially around Southpointe, but it's a sign things are getting closer to the end.

[The Ghostbuster]

PA Turnpike 43, here we come!

[MASTERNC]

Looks like the opening is nearing.  Tucked away on the construction page is an invite to the "Community Day" on October 9, when you can bike/walk a five-mile stretch from PA 50 on west.

https://www.patpconstruction.com/southern_beltway/22to79/community-day.aspx

[rickmastfan67]

Looks like the opening is nearing.  Tucked away on the construction page is an invite to the "Community Day" on October 9, when you can bike/walk a five-mile stretch from PA 50 on west.

https://www.patpconstruction.com/southern_beltway/22to79/community-day.aspx

Which is right where we ended the Pittsburgh meet back in 2019!

[MASTERNC]

And the road will open October 15, though not all ramps at I-79 will be open (my recollection is that ramps to and from Washington will be open).

https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/southern-beltway-toll-road-to-open-oct-15/article_f510e1ea-1c87-11ec-be4d-7f97b341ef36.html

[rickmastfan67]

They just had the open house today.  (Sadly, I couldn't attend due to car issues.)

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2021/10/09/pedestrian-bicycles-southern-beltway-preview/
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/10/09/Pennsylvania-Turnpike-allows-community-sneak-peek-open-section-Southern-Beltway-October-15/stories/202110090052

[rickmastfan67]

Also, several pictures of the new signage here:
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/10/08/Southern-Beltway-new-highway-Pennsylvania-Turnpike-Allegheny-County-Washington-County-Pittsburgh-International-Airport/stories/202110100022

Also shows that going WB on PA-TPK-576, the I-79 ramps will be split numbered, 18 for SB I-79 & 19 for NB I-79.

[Bitmapped]

Also shows that going WB on PA-TPK-576, the I-79 ramps will be split numbered, 18 for SB I-79 & 19 for NB I-79.

I just noticed that on the PTC toll calculator webpage. I don't like it. If they're ramps for the same highway in the same interchange complex, number them 18A and 18B rather than completely different numbers.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Maybe this was an ASTHO requirement since the 2 halves of the interchange are way apart

[Crown Victoria]

Today's the big day...

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2021/10/15/southern-beltway-set-to-open-to-traffic-friday/

[74/171FAN]

Has anyone clarified what the exit number from I-79 is?  Wikipedia states Exit 49, but I cannot find any further evidence on that.

[ARMOURERERIC]

They went with the 1980's spec used at 79/80 and put "junction" in the exit tab using small Clearview letters 😃

[74/171FAN]

Has anyone clarified what the exit number from I-79 is?  Wikipedia states Exit 49, but I cannot find any further evidence on that.

I got clarification that it is Exit 49 (https://forum.travelmapping.net/index.php?topic=4088.msg25731#msg25731).

[Crown Victoria]

Now that the US 22 to I-79 segment is open, the remaining portion to the Mon-Fayette Expressway is slated for completion...in the 2040s.

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/10/17/Pennsylvania-Turnpike-Southern-Beltway-Mon-Fayette-Expressway-long-term-projects/stories/202110170090


*Article also posted in the PA Turnpike thread.

[ARMOURERERIC]

I think you will see an accelleration of the Duquense to Monroeville section....Amazon just bought the old Eastland Mall site for a distribution center.