Route 31 ramps reopen amid I-70 interchange update
Motorists traveling east on Interstate 70 once more can exit and enter at Route 31, with the opening of ramps that were closed for construction.
The ramps opened to traffic on Tuesday as work progressed on revamping the interchange in South Huntingdon from a cloverleaf to a diamond configuration.
“If you were heading east on Interstate 70, you couldn’t get on or off there,” PennDOT District 12 safety press officer Jay Ofsanik said of the interchange, which offers access to nearby West Newton.
As of Tuesday, he said, “The detour that was in place is now gone, and people can use the full-functioning interchange going in either direction.”
Some work remains to be completed on the edges of the ramps, Ofsanik said.
The work is part of a $66.9 million interchange improvement project by general contractor Golden Triangle Construction. Work is tentatively expected to wrap up by November 2020.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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