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[wphiii]

Completely agree with this. Routing this freeway in the opposite direction of downtown Pittsburgh really makes little sense.

Building a connection to the west side of the Sq. Hill Tunnel is just a non-starter for a variety of reasons.

It would have been nice if the Mon-Fayette Expressway had a spur into the city of Pittsburgh, but not having one doesn't make the highway completely useless. The Mon-Fayette Expressway and South Beltway will give the brownfields in the Mon Valley direct highway access. The existing road network in southern Allegheny County is a total clusterfuck, comprised mostly of curvy, narrow, two-lane arterial roads that can barely handle any truck traffic, which doesn't help when it comes to industrial site selection these days. Industry likes to be near highways, because it produces a lot of truck traffic. As it is right now, U.S. 30 and PA 51 are only useful for eastbound trucks. Any trucks that want to go west without having to go through the city of Pittsburgh have to go far out of their ways to do so. And there's literally no way to get from the Mon Valley to Pittsburgh International Airport without going through the city. The South Beltway will provide a direct shot from the Mon Valley to the airport, as well as the emerging cluster of employment at Southpointe.

General east/west mobility is also an issue. In a county of 1,230,459 people, I-376 and PA 910 are the only true east/west routes, and the former is the only one with more than two lanes. And there's literally nothing in the southern suburbs. Lebanon Church Road doesn't count either, because it's not nearly long enough. On a good day, it'll still take an hour to get from North Versailles to Canonsburg. A completed Mon-Fayette Expressway and South Beltway will cut that time in half. It'll also give people in the eastern and western suburbs an option to access critical transportation infrastructure without going through the city. People in the eastern suburbs will have another way to get to Pittsburgh International Airport, and people in the western suburbs will have another way to get to the Pennsylvania Turnpike eastbound.

I lose track of this stuff; where are we at with the 79-to-43 section? Much of what you're saying doesn't apply unless that happens.

[The Ghostbuster]

Does anyone think a 2021 start date towards extending Hwy. 43 towards Monroeville seem optimistic?

[noelbotevera]

Does anyone think a 2021 start date towards extending Hwy. 43 towards Monroeville seem optimistic?

Well too optimistic, in fact. We all know PennDOT has the construction speed of cement.

[qguy]

Does anyone think a 2021 start date towards extending Hwy. 43 towards Monroeville seem optimistic?

Well too optimistic, in fact. We all know PennDOT has the construction speed of cement.

PA Turnpike Commission, actually, which is far worse. Whenever the Turnpike publicizes any project, you can always add 2 to 5 years minimum to their projected start date.

If I ever put something off, my teen-age son (who posts here from time to time) will say, "Dad, you're being a total Turnpike!"

[Gnutella]

I lose track of this stuff; where are we at with the 79-to-43 section? Much of what you're saying doesn't apply unless that happens.

They made the record of decision many years ago, and the path of the highway is official. The record of decision is considered Step 9 of 10 in the process of building a highway. Expect final design and property acquisition to begin in the next year or two, and construction to begin after the segment from U.S. 22 to I-79 is completed in 2019.

Does anyone think a 2021 start date towards extending Hwy. 43 towards Monroeville seem optimistic?

Maybe, but unlike before, there's finally some willpower to get the project completed, and an actual timetable for completion that they want to adhere to. Neither used to be the case.

[ARMOURERERIC]

ROW acquisition for the section from PA 51 to PA 885 has commenced with construction to start in 2021.

[sparker]

Question: has there been any indication as to what type of bridge structure for the Monongahela River crossing is planned for the extension? 

[Beltway]

Question: has there been any indication as to what type of bridge structure for the Monongahela River crossing is planned for the extension? 

Good question, but that segment isn't even in design yet.

"The project from PA Route 51 to I-376 is the largest and most expensive of the four Mon/Fayette projects.  The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this project was approved in December, 2004.  Design was started in 2004 but halted in 2009 due to lack of funding."

https://www.patpconstruction.com/monfaysb/

[PAHighways]

If any of the other bridges along 43 are any indication, then it will just be a girder bridge.

[Beltway]

If any of the other bridges along 43 are any indication, then it will just be a girder bridge.

Concrete box girder at the one near Brownsville -- https://tinyurl.com/yd7pw3qy

Looks like cast-in-place segmental post-tensioned construction method.

[sparker]

If any of the other bridges along 43 are any indication, then it will just be a girder bridge.

Concrete box girder at the one near Brownsville -- https://tinyurl.com/yd7pw3qy

Looks like cast-in-place segmental post-tensioned construction method.

Considering the fact that the future bridge will have to span a river valley roughly the size of the one pictured -- not to mention numerous rail lines flanking that river -- and this is the type of structure favored for this facility, it's entirely possible that it will bear some semblance to the bridge pictured.  Guess we'll find out down the line. 

[Beltway]

Concrete box girder at the one near Brownsville -- https://tinyurl.com/yd7pw3qy
Looks like cast-in-place segmental post-tensioned construction method.

Considering the fact that the future bridge will have to span a river valley roughly the size of the one pictured -- not to mention numerous rail lines flanking that river -- and this is the type of structure favored for this facility, it's entirely possible that it will bear some semblance to the bridge pictured.  Guess we'll find out down the line. 

The Turnpike replacement bridges over the Allegheny and Susquehanna rivers are of the similar concrete box girder designs.

[The Ghostbuster]

I have received word that Highway 43 is now planned to be extended north to Duquesne starting in 2024. Is this accurate?

[74/171FAN]

I have received word that Highway 43 is now planned to be extended north to Duquesne starting in 2024. Is this accurate?

The PA Turnpike's website has the following on this at the moment: 

The PA Turnpike Commission (PTC) is still acquiring the property interests needed to construct the southern section of the PA Route 51 to I-376 Project. This is a lengthy process that will take multiple years. This Right-of-Way acquisition process must be complete before construction can begin. Due to the size and scope of the project, construction has been broken into multiple sections. It is anticipated that construction of the first section could begin in 2023. Construction costs for the entire southern section are estimated to be approximately $900 million.

[ARMOURERERIC]

I read several months ago, in a totally unrelated article about the local electrical utility already actively moving high tension lines to accommodate  the row.

[Crown Victoria]

New construction starts next year (maybe?)...

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/03/07/Mon-Fayette-Expressway-Jefferson-Hills-Duquesne-West-Mifflin-Kennywood-Park-Pennsylvania-Turnpike/stories/202103070091

[Gnutella]

New construction starts next year (maybe?)...

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/03/07/Mon-Fayette-Expressway-Jefferson-Hills-Duquesne-West-Mifflin-Kennywood-Park-Pennsylvania-Turnpike/stories/202103070091

What they need to do is extend the Mon-Fayette Expressway up Thompson Run north of I-376 to the Turnpike. Ending it at I-376 means that traffic going between the Turnpike and the Mon-Fayette Expressway will need to use I-376 and exit twice in the span of two miles. Just connect it directly with the Turnpike, and then Pittsburgh will have a three-quarters beltway. (Good luck building the missing link between Cranberry and Pittsburgh International Airport, which would pass through some of the most expensive real estate in western Pennsylvania.)

[The Ghostbuster]

If PA 43 is completed to Interstate 376, around what exit on 376 would 43 terminate at in Monroeville?

[Roadsguy]

If PA 43 is completed to Interstate 376, around what exit on 376 would 43 terminate at in Monroeville?

It will end at a semi-directional T interchange directly north of the Monroeville Mall, about halfway between the PA 791/Rodi Road and PA 48/Haymaker Road interchanges.