The summer-long construction project coming to the Route 50/Washington Pike intersection aims to help alleviate traffic problems by introducing new left turn lanes at major back-up points.
Work will likely begin in May, according to the project’s contractor, A. Folino Construction. For motorists in the area, this could mean lane restrictions in the area Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or overnight from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The project could last throughout the summer.
When work is completed, drivers heading out of Bridgeville on Washington Pike will have a new left turn-only lane leading into the Starbucks/Aldi plaza, in addition to a through-lane into South Fayette, and a right-turn only lane onto Route 50.
Drivers coming from South Fayette will get a second left turn lane onto Route 50, in addition to the existing through lane into Bridgeville.
Interstate 79 Exit 54 is also changing. Motorists using that off-ramp will now have two left-turn only lanes onto Route 50, in addition to the two existing right-turn only lanes.
This is all part of a larger, multi-phase effort to address traffic congestion in the area. PennDOT is finalizing plans to widen the Washington Pike bridge linking South Fayette and Bridgeville to seven lanes—possibly next year—and South Fayette is investing in adaptive traffic signals that would adjust to real-time traffic demand.
This summer’s work is funded by Newbury Associates, the real estate group that is building an expansive housing and retail development off of Route 50 in South Fayette.