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
fax: (724) 755-5142
email: jagnello@paturnpike.com

January 27, 2005

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Potato Garden Road to Remain Closed
Through March for Ongoing Bridge Construction

A 1.3-mile stretch of Potato Garden Road (State Route 3071) in Findlay Township, Allegheny County will remain closed through the month of March to allow for the construction of dual bridges that will carry the Findlay Connector over Potato Garden Road.

The section of Potato Garden Road affected by the work is between Washington Road (State Route 3089) and Burgettstown Road (State Route 3078). Crews also are reconstructing Potato Garden Road through this area.

Unfavorable weather conditions have hindered construction and delayed the reopening, originally pegged for September 2004 and, later, expected by Thanksgiving 2004. Potato Garden Road has been closed between Washington Road and Burgettstown Road since April 19, 2004.

A posted detour directs traffic around the construction area via Washington Road, U.S. Route 30 East, and Burgettstown Road (for northwest-to-southeast bound motorists). Motorists moving southeast to northwest are directed off of Potato Garden Road at Burgettstown Road, then to Route 30 West and then back to Potato Garden Road via Washington Road.

The Findlay Connector, a six-mile tolled expressway extending south from the Pa. Route 60 Expressway at Pittsburgh International Airport to U.S. Route 22 in Robinson Township, Washington County, is expected to open in Summer 2006.

It is one of three independent but interconnected projects that would form the proposed Southern Beltway, which is to eventually extend to Interstate 79 and the Mon/Fayette Expressway near Finleyville.

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 P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676         Phone: (717) 939-9551         Fax: (717) 986-9649