Latest news with #PennDOTDistrict11
CBS News
18-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
PennDOT to begin work on Route 28 in an attempt to reduce wrong-way crashes
Expect to see some orange cones on Route 28 this year. It's all part of an effort to reduce crashes from the North Side to Harmar. What PennDOT wants to do on these Route 28 exits is to add even more ways for drivers to know they are going the wrong way to prevent these potentially deadly crashes. PennDOT has tried whatever technology has allowed them to this point. Now with newer tech, they will use it. Some of it includes having sensors detect when someone is going the wrong way and setting off LED lights on signs. "And that's to try to catch more attention to that motorist and have them self-correct," PennDOT District 11 traffic engineer Stephanie Zolnak said. The signs will go down the ramp to essentially 'yell' at the driver to turn around. If the driver still doesn't correct the situation, data will go to the 24/7 staffed regional traffic management center, and they will let first responders know an emergency may unfold. It will also tell the highway alert billboards to alert drivers that someone is driving the wrong way up ahead. "For them to use caution, maybe pull over, maybe get off an exit. Do everything they can to wake up so that they might encounter some danger," Zolnak said over Zoom. According to PennDOT's latest data from 2019-2023, there were 30 wrong-way incidents. Those ranged from property damage to deadly crashes. This $4.8 million project will involve some road work, including some exit lane shifts, crews working, and in some cases, detours. "We are going to keep those off-peak and make sure," Zolnak said. Arrows will also be painted on roads, and red lenses will be around them to tell drivers they are going the wrong way. Now, for drivers driving in the right direction on exits, all they should notice is arrows saying they are in the right direction. "To you, it's just going to look like a regular ramp with another pavement marking. That's also the benefit, it's not going to be disruptive," Zolnak said. PennDOT said they should wrap up everything by the spring of 2026.
CBS News
17-03-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
The Tale of Two Parkways: PennDOT offers updates on projects on the Parkway North and East
Call it the tale of two Parkways - one good news, one not so much. So, let's start with the good, the Parkway North. Since the crack was discovered in the HOV lane pier, closing the HOV lanes, East Street Valley traffic has been a challenge but it's about it change. "Tomorrow morning, we'll be open for morning rush hour," said Lori Musto PennDOT District 11's Assistant Executive for Maintenance. However, according to Musto, not all of the HOV lanes are returning. "The Bedford exit will still be closed," she said. "You won't be able to get up at Bedford and you won't be able to get off. It will be the North Shore. That will be the limit of the HOV lanes." By definition, the HOV lane is for more than one person in your car, but Musto said they will be lifting the two-person restriction. "It will be open to all traffic because we're seeing really an increase in congestion at outbound in the afternoon," she said. It will be a relief for the rush hours to have that part of the HOV lane back on Tuesday. As far as the Bedford Avenue side, PennDOT still doesn't have an estimate on when they'll be able to reopen that. Now, let's go to the bad news, the Parkway East. Work on the bridge over Old William Penn Highway just west of Garden City is ready for the next phase of its reconstruction. "Friday night, we'll be restricting the Parkway East down to a single lane in each direction," said John Myler, PennDOT District 11's Senior Assistant Construction Manager. By doing that, they can move everyone over to the inbound bridge, two lanes in each direction, so by Monday morning, demolition of the eastbound bridge will begin. "That will mean some short closures of Old William Penn underneath to demolish the structure in the coming weeks," Myler said. Also, drivers should be aware that squeezing four lanes of traffic onto a single bridge designed for three is tight, especially for truck drivers. "It can feel a little bit more intimidating with that narrowing traffic," Myler said. "There will be barriers on both sides of you, so that also contributes to some of that, that little bit of tight feeling. I call it a bobsled run, we also call them cattle shoots." Once they get the bridge rebuilt, and that's looking like it's probably going to be July or early August, they'll move all the traffic over onto the new bridge and then they'll rebuild the inbound bridge. If everything goes as planned, this project should wrap up sometime around the end of construction season, which means around Thanksgiving.
