Kathy Liebler
Manager, Public Affairs & Media Relations

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

Contact:  

Joe Agnello (724) 755-5262,  (724) 755-5142 fax
e-mail: jagnello@paturnpike.com

April 3, 2003



 MON/FAYETTE EXPRESSWAY PROJECTS
 EARN STATE, NATIONAL AWARDS

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s Mon/Fayette Expressway Projects in Allegheny, Washington and Fayette counties have gained state and national recognition with more than a dozen awards, so far, for design and construction excellence.

The newest honor, to be presented Friday, April 4 at the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors 2003 Spring Conference, is from the Pennsylvania Partnership for Highway Quality (PPHQ). PPHQ has selected the 17-mile Mon/Fayette Project extending north from Interstate 70 to Pa. Route 51 for its 2002 Project Recognition Award.

The Interstate 70-to-Route 51 Project opened in its entirety last April 12, creating the longest contiguous stretch of the growing Mon/Fayette system to date (approximately 25 miles). During its first year of operation, the number of average daily trips on any part of the 17 miles approximated 8,500.

One trip is any vehicle using any part of the 17 miles one direction. Because of the configuration of fare collection locations, no vehicle traveling either direction passes through fare collection more than once.

“These awards show that the Turnpike Commission is receiving state-of-the-art design and construction services from its consultants and contractors, not to mention our own staff professionals who contribute to and monitor this work,” said Frank J. Kempf, Jr., Assistant Chief Engineer for Development Projects/Programs.

Kempf added, “Building this new transportation infrastructure so vital to our Commonwealth’s economic standing is a total team effort. It starts with the state lawmakers who assigned and funded these projects and runs the gamut through the hundreds of technicians, equipment operators and laborers who studied environmental impacts, sought the best solutions, moved the dirt, poured the concrete, set the steel and bolted the signs.”

Approximately 35 miles, or roughly half, of the proposed Mon/Fayette Expressway system is operable. Eventually, the system will extend south from Interstate 376 in Pittsburgh and Monroeville to Interstate 68 near Morgantown, W.Va., largely through the Monongahela River Valley.

A system of “sister” projects that would form the proposed 30-mile Southern Beltway, shooting west off of the Mon/Fayette near Finleyville and extending west and north to Interstate 79, U.S. Route 22 and Pittsburgh International Airport, has not yet advanced to construction.

Construction of the first Southern Beltway Project – the six-mile Findlay Connector between the Pa. Route 60 Expressway at Pittsburgh International Airport and U.S. Route 22 in northern Washington County – is scheduled to begin in the fall.

The Mon/Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway systems represent an estimated $4 billion investment.

Here is a list of awards for the Mon/Fayette Expressway projects received to date: 

  • 2003 National Award of Excellence for Projects up to $10 Million, from the American Institute of Steel Construction for the mainline toll plaza in Jefferson Hills serving the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51.
  • 2003 Diamond Award, from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania for the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51.
  • 2003 Building Services Design Honor Award, from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania for the mainline toll plaza on the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51. 
  • 2002 Project Recognition Award, from the Pennsylvania Partnership for Highway for the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51.
  • 2002 Structure Award for Spans Greater Than 150 Feet, from the Pennsylvania Partnership for Highway Quality for the Joe Montana Bridges on the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51.
  • 2002 Civil Engineering Achievement Award, from the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers for the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51. 
  • 2002 Transportation Project of the Year, from the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania for the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51.
  • 2002 Outstanding Highway Engineering Award, from the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Society of Highway Engineers for the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51.
  • 2002 Design Honor Award, from the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for the mainline toll plaza on the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51.
  • 2001 National Finalist Award, from the America Concrete Pavement Association for Construction Section 52C1 on the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51.
  • 2001 Concrete Pavement Award, from the Pennsylvania Quality Initiative for Construction Section 52C1 on the Mon/Fayette Project from I-70 to Route 51.
  • 2000 Outstanding Highway Engineering Award, from the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Society of Highway Engineers for the Mon/Fayette Project from the West Virginia line to Pa. Route 43 near Uniontown.
  • 2000 Concrete Pavement Award, from the Pennsylvania Quality Initiative for Construction Section 50D on the Mon/Fayette Project from West Virginia to Route 43.
  • 2000 National Finalist Award, from the American Concrete Pavement Association for Construction Section 50D on the Mon/Fayette Project from West Virginia to Route 43.
  • 2000 Diamond Award, from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania for the Mon/Fayette Project from West Virginia to Route 43.

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