Kathy Liebler                         Director of Public Information

    C   O   M   M   I   S   S   I   O   N                N   E   W   S             R   E   L   E   A   S   E

    Contact: Patricia L. Bodack, (724)755-5018                          April 20, 1998

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PA TURNPIKE COMMISSION APPROVES TWO CONTRACTS FOR
NEW STANTON BRIDGE AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has awarded two contracts totaling $13.8 million to Brayman Construction Corporation of Gibsonia, PA, for bridge and roadway work near the New Stanton Interchange in Westmoreland County. Work is already underway and is expected to be complete by Fall, 1999.

The first contract, New Stanton viaduct replacement, totals $12.6 million and involves replacing the existing 7-span concrete bridge at milepost 75 with a new 5-span continuous steel girder bridge. This part of the Turnpike runs over Interstate 70, the Sewickley Creek and the Westmoreland County Industrial Developmental Center railroad tracks. The new 5-span steel girder bridge will be constructed just south of the existing viaduct.

Early work on the project will focus on upgrading the shoulder and median areas of the existing roadway and 7-span concrete bridge in order to accommodate traffic during the construction of the new 5-span steel girder bridge. Other work includes the construction of two retaining walls, realignment of Turnpike roadway leading to and from the bridge and the removal of the existing bridge. The total construction area spans about a mile.

The second contract totals $1.17 million and involves improvements to the ramp bridge which carries traffic eastbound from Interstate 70 to the New Stanton Interchange. The bridge and the ramps leading to and from the bridge will be re-decked and repaved. During this part of the project, motorists traveling eastbound on I-70 wishing to enter the Turnpike at the New Stanton Interchange will be detoured approximately 1 mile. Motorists exiting the Turnpike at New Stanton Interchange will have direct access to I-70 throughout the project.

Variable message signs and Highway Advisory Radio will be used on The Turnpike, I-70 and along the detour route to provide information and caution motorists.

Traffic advisories will be issued prior to any traffic stoppages that may result from these projects.

Motorists are urged to use caution in this and all construction areas, and remember to give Pennsylvania Turnpike highway workers a "brake."

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