It’s only a bit more than a quarter-mile long, but the section of Washington Pike between Alpine and Boyce roads in South Fayette is a congested, dangerous area.
That two-lane section has a daily average traffic count of about 15,000, about 1,278 from 4 to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and receives an “F” grade in Pennsylvania Department of Transportation parlance. Left turns across traffic back up traffic and lead to more than the average amount of rear-end and T-bone accidents.
PennDOT outlined plans Tuesday at the Upper St. Clair Community and Recreation Center that would add traffic lights and turning lanes at each intersection, plus a left turning lane from Boyce to Washington. The project, expected to cost $4.8 million, is in preliminary design and should be ready for a year of construction by late 2026.
Erik Porter, PennDOT’s project manager, told several dozen residents that Washington Pike is projected to add another 1,278 vehicles a day over the next 20 years. Jim Prisk, leading the design team for consultant McCormick Taylor, said the proposed changes will raise the grade for that section to between “B” and “C” because the left-turn lanes will allow through traffic to keep moving.
“It should really help,” Prisk said. “It’s really going to allow that middle section not to back up.”
Officials said the intersections at Boyce and Alpine will be extra wide to allow tractor-trailers to navigate turns easily. The traffic lights also will be coordinated to allow through traffic to pass both intersections.
Widening Washington Pike to allow turning lanes can be accomplished without taking any full properties because designers will take some land from each side. Overall, 20 residential and three commercial properties are expected to lose a small part of their land, and PennDOT will pay others for easements used during construction.
Two lanes of traffic will be maintained throughout construction by moving traffic to one side while working on the other side.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.