Route 43 - Mon-Fayette Expressway
Better known as the Mon-Fayette Expressway, PA 43 follows a series of toll roads and pre-existing freeway segments from the West Virginia state line, east of Point Marion, to Jefferson Hills, south of Pittsburgh. The toll road first opened between U.S. 40 and Interstate 70 on October 19, 1990. The southernmost section followed and was completed by March 1, 2000 between Gans Road (Exit 2) and U.S. 119 (Morgantown Road). This toll stretch joined the Chadville Demonstration Project (Morgantown Road north to U.S. 40 southwest of Uniontown), a freeway built by PennDOT and transferred to the Turnpike Commission when it was finished in 1993.1
Further work on the Mon-Fayette Expressway focused on the toll road north from Interstate 70 to PA 51. This stretch opened initially between I-70 (Exit 36) and Coyle Curtain Road (Exit 39) near North Charleroi on May 11, 2001 and overall to PA 51 at Jefferson Hills on April 12, 2002.1 The south end included two miles of unopened freeway from Gans Road to the West Virginia State line. WVDOT connected that roadway with its portion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway finally on July 11, 2001. This portion continues the numbering as West Virginia 43 to Interstate 68 by Cheat Lake.
The most recent construction of PA Turnpike 43 concluded on July 16, 2012 involving the Uniontown-to-Brownsville link. Built at a cost of $882 million, the 17 mile segment first opened in 2008 between U.S. 119 and PA 51 at Uniontown and Redstone Way, southeast of Brownsville. The second phase included a 3,022 foot $95 million bridge over the Monongahela River and the bypass of Brownsville to the PA 88 freeway west of Denbo.2 A detailed history with many more photos and maps found at the PAHighways web site.
North
A welcome sign stands at the transition of West Virginia Route 43 into PA 43 just north of the Ruble Run bridges. The Mon-Fayette Expressway lines a hill just above Springhill, adjacent to PA 857 (Springhill Furnace Road).
06/24/12
A parclo interchange (Exit 2) joins PA 43 with Gans Road in one mile. Gans Road was the south end of PA 43 until 2011. The roadway concludes at PA 857 to the east and leads west to U.S. 119 (Morgantown Road).
06/24/12
A second welcome sign on the Mon-Fayette Expressway northbound references the Pennsylvania Turnpike as America's First Superhighway. PA Turnpike 43 is part of the overall toll road system.
06/24/12
The West Virginia portion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway is toll free. The free portion of the roadway concludes at Gans Road from the south.
06/24/12
U.S. 119 follows Morgantown Road west from Gans Road at Morris Crossroads to Locust Hill and Point Marion on the Monongahela River. Northward the route ventures to Smithfield.
06/24/12
South
The final reassurance marker for Pennsylvania Turnpike 43 south.
06/24/12
One exit remains on the Mon-Fayette Expressway south at Cheat Lake. The freeway ends at Interstate 68 in six miles.
06/24/12
The high level Rubles Run Bridge comes into view as PA 43 approaches the West Virginia state line.
06/24/12
A Pennsylvania Turnpike sign thanks drivers for taking one of their toll roads as PA 43 transitions into West Virginia Route 43.
06/24/12
scenes
The connection between I-68 and the Mon-Fayette Expressway formerly utilized PA 857 and County Route 857 (Fairchance Road) between 2000 and 2011. This view shows the first PA 857 shield along Springhill Furnace Road just beyond the state line.
08/07/04
Gans Road links PA 857 (Springhill Furnace Road) with PA 43 at Exit 2 within one half mile. The turnpike ended there until West Virginia completed its section of Mon-Fayette Expressway.
08/07/04
PA 857 continues northward from Gans Road, east of PA 43 near Springhill, three miles to Haydentown and Fairchance before entering Uniontown.
08/07/04
Gans Road west at the northbound entrance ramp for PA 43. The toll road reaches Uniontown in ten miles at U.S. 40/119. Gans Road continues west to U.S. 119 for Point Marion or Smithfield.
08/07/04
Gans Road east at the northbound entrance ramp for PA Turnpike 43.
08/07/04
A green and white Keystone shield for PA 43 precedes the southbound loop ramp to Cheat Lake on Gans Road west.
06/24/12
Motorists taking PA 43 south from Gans Road reach Interstate 68 in six miles. This stretch of the Mon-Fayette Expressway is toll free.
06/24/12
The southbound entrance ramp for PA Turnpike 43 from Bunker Hill Road north, which ties into the ramps at Gans Road.
06/24/12
Gans Road intersects PA 857 (Springhill Furnace Road) one mile north from the West Virginia state line. There PA 857 transitions into CR 857 en route to Route 43 at Exit 1.
08/07/04
Looking southward at the temporary end of the PA 43 Turnpike from the Gans Road overpass in southern Fayette County.
08/07/04
Looking westward at the unopened PA 43 Turnpike mainline and ramps with Gans Road.
08/07/04
References:
- Pennsylvania Highways: PA Turnpike 43
- "Last section of expressway, bridge set to open in July." Herald-Standard, June 25, 2012.
Photo Credits:
- ABRoads: 06/24/12
- Alex Nitzman: 08/07/04
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Page Updated Wednesday February 06, 2013.