WASHINGTON, Pa. — PennDOT is set to begin reconstructing a heavily traveled stretch of Jefferson Avenue in Washington near Interstate 70 on Wednesday.

“The locals all know this piece of Jefferson Avenue, over the years, has just been horrendous. Constant potholes, utility relocation,” said Scott Faieta, PennDOT District 12′s assistant construction engineer.

Starting Wednesday at 7 a.m., crews will begin digging up Jefferson Avenue between Wylie Avenue and the I-70 ramps, removing old trolley tracks buried beneath the roadway, and resurfacing the street.

“The base of the roadway, underneath, is basically shot,” said Faieta. “We’re going to do a two-to-three foot undercut, removing all the pavement, and do a full depth replacement out here.”

PennDOT says it will complete the work one lane at a time, but the detour will remain the same throughout.

Southbound traffic will continue on Jefferson Avenue.

Northbound traffic will get onto I-70, to go around the closure.

“They’ll get on the ramps here at Jefferson to go 70 eastbound down to Murtland Avenue, do a loop-de-loop, come back westbound, and get back on Jefferson Avenue,” said Faieta.

While drivers get used to the temporary route, you can expect some delays.

PennDOT says the detour will add four extra miles to your trip, but since most of that is on the highway, it only equates to a few extra minutes.

“Once we get done, the conditions of the road are going to be a lot better, a lot safer, and definitely a lot smoother. In the end I think it’s going to turn out to be a really nice job,” said Faieta.

Workers hope to complete the project by mid-July.

Posted Car Detour:

Traveling northbound on Route 18 (Jefferson Avenue)

• Turn right onto the ramp for eastbound I-70
• Take exit for Murtland Avenue (Exit 19)
• Bear left onto northbound Route 19 (Murtland Avenue)
• Take the on ramp to westbound I-70
• Take the exit for Jefferson Avenue (Exit 17)
• Turn right onto East Wylie Avenue
• Follow East Wylie Avenue to Route 18 (Jefferson Avenue)
• End detour

Posted Truck Detours:

Traveling northbound on Route 18 (Jefferson Avenue)

• Turn right onto the on ramp for eastbound I-70
• Take exit for Murtland Avenue (Exit 19)
• Bear left onto northbound Route 19 (Murtland Avenue)
• Take the on ramp to westbound I-70
• Take exit for Jessop Place (Exit 16)
• Turn right onto Sheffield Street
• Turn right onto Jessop Place
• Turn right onto Weirich Avenue
• Weirich Avenue becomes West Wylie Avenue
• Follow West Wylie Avenue to Route 18 (Jefferson Avenue)
• End detour

Travelling eastbound on I-70 with a destination of Route 18 (Jefferson Avenue)

• Take exit for Jessop Place (Exit 16)
• Turn left onto Sheffield Street
• Turn right onto Jessop Place
• Turn right onto Weirich Avenue
• Weirich Avenue becomes West Wylie Avenue
• Follow West Wylie Avenue to Route 18 (Jefferson Avenue)
• End detour

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