Apr 23, 2018 By Jacob Calvin Meyer staff Writer jmeyer@thealmanac.Net 3 min read

One of the most congested areas in the South Hills is expected to undergo reconstruction in 2020.

The bridge over Chartiers Creek and the intersection at Route 50 and Washington Pike in Bridgeville will be improved to alleviate traffic, PennDOT officials said April 19 during a well-attended public meeting at the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department.

The intersection and bridge, which experience more than 30,000 cars a day and are frequently backed up during peak hours, are projected to see significant queue reductions ranging from 20 to 50 percent.

The biggest improvement will be the widening of the bridge over Chartiers Creek. The often-backed-up bridge between Bridgeville and South Fayette will increase from four lanes to seven lanes, with three heading toward Bridgeville and Chartiers St. and four to I-79, Washington Pike and the Crossings at South Fayette development.

“What we wanted to do is alleviate those backups, because that’s alleviating congestion,” said John Petulla, a design consultant with McCormick Taylor. “If you’re backed up 1,000 feet from the traffic signal, we can make improvements to that, cutting that in half and alleviating that a lot better. There will be less delays and less traffic time.”

Petulla also said the bridge’s “superstructure deficient,” meaning the upcoming construction will prevent future problems.

“There isn’t any type of concern with driving on the bridge now or really in the foreseeable future, but with this project, as we look to widen and replace the bridge, the superstructure is something we can take care of now with the project and not have to worry about in the future,” Petulla said.

Petulla said the final project design is expected to be finished in early 2020 and construction would begin that summer. It’s unknown when the project would be completed.

The project is “funded by federal and state funds,” PennDOT District 11 Executive Cheryl Moon-Sirianni said. South Fayette Township and Bridgeville Borough are expected to also provide financial contributions. Petulla said the cost of the project is still to be determined.

The area has long been discussed as a traffic issue in South Fayette, and Petulla said without this project, it would only continue to worsen as traffic flow continues to increase around the Bridgeville interchange.

Petulla said the project will not impact Bethany Presbyterian Church, the Chartiers stretch of railroad or Chartiers Creek.

“One of the things that’s really important for PennDOT is to have a minimal effect on our community and to be a good partner and neighbor,” Petulla said. “The risk of flooding is the same after the project as it is before the project. … The project will also not create any adverse impacts to the water quality, the stream flow, fish or wildlife or up and down stream properties.”

The main construction of the bridge will happen over two or three undetermined weekends, Petulla said, during which it will be demolished, rebuilt and widened. A detour will be provided.

Most of the construction of the overall project is expected to take place during off-peak hours.

The project was originally kickstarted by the Route 50 Task Force, which is composed of Allegheny County, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, local municipalities and state representatives.