Work to begin Tuesday on next phase of Mon-Fayette Expressway project

JEFFERSON HILLS, Pa. — Starting on Tuesday, drivers in Jefferson Hills might have to adjust their daily commute, as the latest phase of work begins for the Mon-Fayette Expressway project.

Early Tuesday morning, a portion of Payne Hill Road, near Route 43, will be closed for the next few weeks, as crews work to reconstruct the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard, according to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

“They need to make it bigger, better, to accommodate all of the traffic that is going to be using that roadway when the extension is opened up,” said Renee Colborn, operations communications officer for the PA Turnpike Commission.

It’s the next step of the multi-million dollar, multi-state Mon-Fayette Expressway project, something many drivers we spoke with are in favor of.

“I think it’s great. It opens up the corridor to go further,” said Robert Lambermont of Jefferson Hills.

Turnpike officials said work is expected to last around 45 days, which means it’ll likely wrap up at the end of October. Until then, officials are advising drivers of a detour that will be in place.

“They’ll have to utilize the detour at that intersection, which will take them to 51, to North Lewis Road, to 885, or the reverse if you’re going the other way,” Colborn said.

This phase of work for the Mon-Fayette Expressway comes just weeks after Route 51 was shut down in Jefferson Hills on two separate weekends as crews installed steel bridge beams over the road. Drivers we spoke with said this phase could also be a minor inconvenience for some, but they think most people will adjust.

“In the South Hills, people are so used to the closures. You find a way around. You gotta get to work, so I think people will adapt to it,” Lambermont said.

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