Valley Brook Road in Peters Township to open Aug. 28
A view of the Valley Brook Road project from the bridge on Route 19.
Looking at the Route 19 intersection from the new ramp on Valley Brook Road.
The new ramp that connects Valley Brook Road to Route 19 has been widened and features additional turning lanes.
Construction on the Valley Brook Road project is just about complete.
Drivers can breathe a sigh of relief as Valley Brook Road in Peters Township is set to reopen for traffic for rush hour the evening of Aug. 28 after more than 15 months of construction to realign the intersection of Old Washington and Valley Brook roads, and to build a new ramp connecting Valley Brook Road to Washington Road.
The $7,363,330 project began May 22, 2013, with the reopening date set for Aug. 28. Once the ramp is reopened, the traffic signals on Washington Road will be reactivated.
Although overseen by the state Department of Transportation, Peters Township was required to supplement the project with $800,000.
For the past 15 months, motorists have followed posted detours on state-owned roads or created their own traveling through residential streets.
“Soon, it will be back to normal,” said Peters Township Manager Michael Silvestri of the traffic. Valley Brook Road is a major east-west corridor in the township connecting Cecil Township, and for traffic to and from Southpointe.
Silvestri said he expects residents living along unofficial detours will be pleased to see a reduction in traffic.
Two temporary speed humps placed during non-winter months on Hays Road will remain until at least the end of September, Silvestri said. Hays Road was used by drivers to connect Washington Road in Upper St. Clair Township to East McMurray Road in Peters Township. The speed limit is 25 mph.
Even though the temporary speed humps will be removed, permanent ones could be placed depending on results of a traffic calming study, Silvestri said.
Motorists will have a short reprieve from road closures after Valley Brook Road reopens. However, another project is on the books and already funded to start at an undetermined date in 2015, Silvestri said. The bridge near Finleyville Cemetery in Hackett that connects Peters, Union and Nottingham townships is slated for replacement.
Silvestri said the bridge project is current in design.