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[hbelkins]

It worked that time. Don't know why it didn't beforehand.

[rickmastfan67]

It worked that time. Don't know why it didn't beforehand.

Might be a problem with the DNS servers @ your Internet provider.

[hbelkins]

It worked that time. Don't know why it didn't beforehand.

Might be a problem with the DNS servers @ your Internet provider.

Well, HughesNet satellite internet does blow goats.

[Alps]

It worked that time. Don't know why it didn't beforehand.

Might be a problem with the DNS servers @ your Internet provider.

Well, HughesNet satellite internet does blow goats.

They based in Alanland?

[Mr_Northside]

Funding uncertainty delays action on Southern Beltway

[sarcasm]Well... I know I'm totally surprised to read this.  Completely shocked.[/sarcasm]

[Tom958]

I'm not a fan of the 576/US22 interchange, though. I understand a cloverleaf would be tough (the hillside that is prohibitive), and direct ramps were probably very costly (especially if built to handle further expansion). But, I'm not a fan of a freeway interchanging a freeway with cross traffic. Even if separated from the main roadways.

Isn't that some variation of a "volleyball" interchange?

Currently, it's a half volleyball as a result of the highway dead ending there.  It will be a full voleyball oncethe new toll road is completed.

Gravedig!

I wish they done a British style roundabout interchange instead. Not that it'd actually be a good idea-- it'd just be more fun.   

The last time I was in NC, I drove the one at Green 85 and I-74, southbound to eastbound, and of course I hit all three traffic lights despite the light traffic. With a roundabout there, I wouldn't have had to stop.

Presumably the one in NC was built because of the proximity to other interchanges, but I don't see any nearby interchanges at 576/22. They did it just  to save money, then?

[Mr_Northside]

Turnpike Commission awards two Southern Beltway contracts

Looks like they'll be some work going on this construction season. 
Though I was hoping for a more informative article.

[PAHighways]

Here's the PTC's press release:  Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Awards Contracts for Southern Beltway Projects

[DeaconG]

So when are they going to finish work on the mainline? Never?

[vdeane]

That sounds about right.

[ARMOURERERIC]

IIRC, last years aborted effort to resume work had them starting the mainline with the long bridge over the volleyball not beginning until 14 months after that, they were for an interim period going to have thru traffic use the volleyball ramps for a good 18 months before the bridge would be complete.  Now the plan appears to begin the mainline bridge first.

[ARMOURERERIC]

There is a brisk discussion on City Data by those now making plans to move to Stubenville and Weirton to escape high PA property taxes but still keep their jobs at Southpointe stating that the expected 35 min commute from Weirton will be less than the drive from the city.

[JoeP]

it's hardly worth it to make such a move.

[Mr_Northside]

Turnpike commission: Southern Beltway takes priority over Mon/Fayette plans

The fact that they can't afford more Mon-Fayette sections probably has a lot to do with this.

[Alps]

Turnpike commission: Southern Beltway takes priority over Mon/Fayette plans

The fact that they can't afford more Mon-Fayette sections probably has a lot to do with this.

How about the fact that traffic is heading toward Pittsburgh and not Monroeville? Honestly, from the end of 43 to Monroeville ought to be part of 576 anyway. Complete the beltway, and these guys will stop complaining.

[ARMOURERERIC]

I noted that the PTC website has separated it's Mon-Fayette/SoBeltway page into Finished and Under construction sections, I would figure in anticipation of being an active site to keep us informed on 22 to 79.  Wish there was a way to have the So Beltway go due east to the Irwin/ Pa Turnpike exit, then make the city section of 51 a true parkway.

[Gnutella]

I noted that the PTC website has separated it's Mon-Fayette/SoBeltway page into Finished and Under construction sections, I would figure in anticipation of being an active site to keep us informed on 22 to 79.  Wish there was a way to have the So Beltway go due east to the Irwin/ Pa Turnpike exit, then make the city section of 51 a true parkway.

I've thought about that too, but considering the Monroeville segment of the Mon-Fayette Expressway will intersect U.S. 30 in North Versailles, creating a segment to the Turnpike in North Huntingdon might be redundant. People from Westmoreland County can just use U.S. 30 to get to the Mon-Fayette Expressway.

I do believe that the Mon-Fayette Expressway needs to connect to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but I think it's better off doing so by extending north of the Parkway East. Currently, they've designed the northern terminus of the Mon-Fayette Expressway at the Parkway East, which means that eastbound Turnpike traffic that wanted to access the Mon-Fayette Expressway would have to use the Parkway East, creating an extra movement. There's very little development along Thompson Run north of the Parkway East, so creating a direct interchange between the Mon-Fayette Expressway and the Turnpike in Plum should be relatively easy. (About a dozen houses or so near the Turnpike would have to be acquired.)

[Gnutella]

Construction is now underway between U.S. 22 and I-79.

Overall, I'm undecided about this project. On one hand, I echo Jake Haulk's opinion that widening the Parkways East and West is much more necessary. On the other hand, the South Beltway would improve the piss-poor east/west mobility across Pittsburgh's southern suburbs. Also, this project is the domain of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, whereas the Parkways East and West are the domain of PennDOT, so widening the Parkways East and West would be PennDOT's responsibility.

[Henry]

We'll see five years from now, when the Southern Beltway is expected to be completed to I-79.

[ARMOURERERIC]

If you go to the PennDOT District 11 page, there is a press release involving multiple public hearings for a major investment study for the Parkway east.  I read the above link and if the ADT figures for the Parkway east are true, and I doubt they are, that would make the ADT similar to 1980 levels.

[Gnutella]

We'll see five years from now, when the Southern Beltway is expected to be completed to I-79.

I think it'd be better to judge the project when it's built all the way to the Mon-Fayette Expressway. That'd be when it's most useful for people trying to travel east or west across the southern suburbs. All the segment from U.S. 22 to I-79 would do is enhance Southpointe, and open up land near there and the airport to commercial and light industrial use.

If you go to the PennDOT District 11 page, there is a press release involving multiple public hearings for a major investment study for the Parkway east.  I read the above link and if the ADT figures for the Parkway east are true, and I doubt they are, that would make the ADT similar to 1980 levels.

Are you saying that the average daily traffic volumes are higher than what the article says? I remember the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission stating in a multimodal transportation study from 2002 that the Parkway West carries more than double the amount of traffic that it was designed for.

[ARMOURERERIC]

I am saying I lived in Pittsburgh around 1981 when they did the big rebuild, at that time the claimed ADT was 80,000.  The linked news article says the PWE has a 73K ADT now, I was surprised by that.

[Gnutella]

I bet the segment of the South Beltway between Pittsburgh International Airport and I-79 will soon become "energy alley" due to the cluster of energy companies in Southpointe. This is one of many reasons why I believe that most of the population and economic growth in the Pittsburgh suburbs in the coming decades will occur west of the city, from Cranberry to Cecil.

[JawnwoodS96]

Nice pics Hoss; I love the burgundy beams the PTC is using for this segment.

I bet the segment of the South Beltway between Pittsburgh International Airport and I-79 will soon become "energy alley" due to the cluster of energy companies in Southpointe. This is one of many reasons why I believe that most of the population and economic growth in the Pittsburgh suburbs in the coming decades will occur west of the city, from Cranberry to Cecil.

There sure is a lot of green space along that stretch of I-79. I wouldn't be surprised to see it get developed in a timely fashion.

[Pete from Boston]

I bet the segment of the South Beltway between Pittsburgh International Airport and I-79 will soon become "energy alley" due to the cluster of energy companies in Southpointe. This is one of many reasons why I believe that most of the population and economic growth in the Pittsburgh suburbs in the coming decades will occur west of the city, from Cranberry to Cecil.

It's seemed consistently this way over the 18 years I've been periodically visiting Pittsburgh—growing suburbs on the west, abandoning them to the east.  Terribly inefficient.