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Mon–Fayette Expressway

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"Pennsylvania Route 43" redirects here. For the 1920s to 1940s road, see U.S. Route 22 in Pennsylvania.
Mon–Fayette Expressway
Route information
Maintained by WVDOH, PennDOT, & PTC
Length70 mi (110 km)
Existed1977–present
Southern section
South end I-68 in Cheat Lake
North endLua error in Module:Jct at line 204: attempt to concatenate local 'link' (a nil value). near Brownsville
Northern section
South end US 40 / PA 88 near West Brownsville
Major intersections I-70 in Fallowfield Township
PA 136 near New Eagle
North end PA 51 in Jefferson Hills
Location
CountryUnited States
CountiesMonongalia, Fayette, Washington, Allegheny
Highway system
← WV 42WV→ WV 44
← PA 42PA→ PA 44

The Mon–Fayette Expressway is an interstate tolled freeway that is planned to eventually link Interstate 68 near Morgantown, West Virginia with two branches to Interstate 376 near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which will be used as an option to bypass the congested Squirrel Hill Tunnel along I-376. The ultimate goal of the highway is to provide a high speed north-south connection between Morgantown and the eastern side of Pittsburgh while revitalizing the economically distressed towns in Fayette and Washington counties, serving as an alternative to Interstate 79 to the west.

Although it is being built to Interstate Highway standards, with the exception of the eastern leg of the northern terminus (which is expected to receive the Interstate 576 moniker) most of the freeway is not expected to become part of the Interstate Highway System.[1] As a result, the highway uses state highway monikers instead, as it does not parallel an existing U.S. Route for its entire length, though it does parallel U.S. Route 40 and U.S. Route 119 for portions of its length. The route, in its three jurisdictions, uses the number 43 for familiarity-based reasons, and is thusly known as West Virginia Route 43, Pennsylvania Route 43, and PA Turnpike 43. The route is mostly maintained by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, while the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation maintains small portions of the highway and the West Virginia Division of Highways maintains the short West Virginia portion of the route. Despite the numerous agencies overseeing the highway, it is intended to be one highway.

Part of the West Virginia portion of the highway was opened June 21, 2011. The portion of the highway includes the I-68 interchange and Exit 1 in Cheat Lake, which provides access to Bowers Lane and WV Route 857.[2] A ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the entire West Virginia portion of the highway (which allows the southernmost 1.7 miles of PA Turnpike 43 to open) was held on July 11, 2011,[3] while the final portion of the Brownsville to Uniontown segment is expected to open in 2012.[4] This will bring an uninterrupted 58-mile (93 km) stretch of highway between I-68 and the current northern terminus at Pennsylvania Route 51 in Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania. Construction on the 24-mile (39 km) stretch that will connect the highway's current northern terminus at Jefferson Hills to Pittsburgh and Monroeville is pending due to funding limitations.[1]

History

PA 136 exit sign.

The Mon-Fayette Expressway designation is derived from the Monongahela River and Fayette County because initially, the highway was proposed in the 1950s as a way to link the coke- and steel-producing towns situated in the Monongahela River Valley. The coke and steel industry waned in the 1970s and nearly collapsed in the early 1980s. Today, the Monongahela River Valley considers the expressway to be an important tool for economic redevelopment.

The construction history of the Mon-Fayette Expressway is complex. PennDOT initiated construction in 1973, and the first segment opened in 1977.[1] This segment consisted of a partial cloverleaf interchange at U.S. Route 40 and a 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch of four-lane highway that spurred south of the new interchange toward Fredericktown. Despite severe financial constraints, PennDOT built the remainder of the ramps at the U.S. 40 cloverleaf along with a separate 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch of highway near California in the early 1980s.[1] Once construction stalled, the project was transferred to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) under Act 61 legislation in 1985.[1] While PennDOT assessed preliminary engineering and right-of-way options in the 1970s and early 1980s, the PTC accelerated design work and began unveiling detailed plans in earnest by the late 1980s.[1] Funding appropriated through the PTC allowed construction to resume in 1988, and on October 12, 1990, the entire stretch from U.S. Route 40 to Interstate 70 opened to traffic.[1] Initially, the PTC did not have adequate funding to construct new sections, but Representative Austin Murphy secured congressional funds that directed PennDOT to build a 4-mile (6.4 km) stretch of the expressway south of Uniontown.[1] Aside from being part of a larger project, the new segment was designed to provide high speed access between the Uniontown bypass, Fairchance, and a new business park. This section, dubbed the Chadville Demonstration Project, opened in November 1992.

Ground level view under Morgan Run Bridge looking northbound.

In the early 1990s, the Pennsylvania State Legislature passed a bill that hypothecated a portion of the state’s fuel excise revenue to the PTC. This new revenue stream initially provided the funding to complete an 8-mile (13 km) section from the southern terminus of the Chadville Demonstration Project to the West Virginia state line as well as a 17-mile (27 km) section from the Interstate 70 interchange to Pennsylvania Route 51 in Jefferson Hills. On March 1, 2000, most of the section between the Chadville Demonstration Project and the West Virginia state line opened to traffic.[1] The entire segment from Interstate 70 to Route 51 was open by April 12, 2002,[1] which included the Joe Montana Bridge, named after the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who grew up in the immediate area in nearby Monongahela, Pennsylvania.[5]

In 2006, construction began on a 17-mile (27 km) stretch that will connect the oldest section of the expressway near Fredericktown to the northern terminus of the Chadville Demonstration Project. This is known locally as the "Uniontown-to-Brownsville Project". Due to limited funding, construction on this section was split into two phases. The first phase involved construction of an 8-mile (13 km) section of expressway running parallel to a hazardous stretch of U.S. Route 40 between Brownsville and Uniontown. Phase 1 opened on October 23, 2008.[1]

Sunset view of Rubles Run Bridge, the northernmost bridge on WV 43. The Mason–Dixon Line runs across the northern point of the bridge.

The West Virginia portion of the highway opened on July 11, 2011.[3] A $22,983,635 contract was issued in December 2008 to build WV 43 to an interchange with Bowers Lane, which will provide access to County Route 857.[6][7] On June 24, 2009, a $11,635,544 contract was let to build the final connection between WV 43 and I-68. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 3, 2009. When finished, this contract will allow direct access between the Mon-Fayette Expressway and Interstate 68 at Exit 10. The existing diamond interchange at Exit 10 will gain high-speed ramps to serve the westbound I-68 to northbound WV 43 and southbound WV 43 to westbound I-68 movements. Without American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, this interchange was not planned to be started until 2013.[8] Future plans call for a stack interchange between WV 43 and I-68, but that project will be completed when traffic volumes merit.[9]

Future

The second phase consists of a 9-mile (14 km) section that will connect the first phase of this project to the oldest portion of the expressway near Fredericktown. Additionally, the second phase includes a stack interchange at U.S. Route 119 in Uniontown. Construction on phase 2 is well underway, and the new interchange at U.S. Route 119 opened on December 13, 2010[4] while the remainder of phase 2 is planned to open in 2012. The connection to the northern end of the Chadville Demonstration Project has been accomplished via U.S. 119, and U.S. 119 between the new interchange and the Chadville Demonstration Project received a dual PA 43 route designation.

The connection between Jefferson Hills and I-376 is in limbo.[1] All environmental clearances have been obtained, and right-of-way acquisition has begun. However, construction is expected to cost at least $3.6 billion, and funding has not been identified. A public-private partnership was explored but nothing feasible resulted. It is unlikely that any new construction will commence in the near future unless a new tax is imposed.

Toll configuration

The Mon-Fayette Expressway is mostly a toll road. Unlike the Pennsylvania Turnpike mainline and the Northeast Extension, which uses long-distance tickets, the Mon-Fayette Expressway utilizes fixed tolls collected at regular intervals. Also, ramp plazas exist at many of the on- and off-ramps. In 2008, the PTC retrofitted all toll plazas to accept E-ZPass. On June 8, 2010, the PTC opened the Express E-ZPass lanes at the northernmost toll plaza.[10]

Like the Southern Beltway, the Mon–Fayette Expressway will have no direct connection to the Pennsylvania Turnpike's mainline despite being built and maintained by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. (Both the tolled section of I-376 & the tolled section of Pennsylvania Route 66 as well as the Northeast Extension have direct connections to the Turnpike's mainline.) Both highways, however, will have indirect connections with the Turnpike's mainline via I-376.

In West Virginia, legislators have flip-flopped a few times regarding whether or not WV 43 will be a toll road. When tolls were first proposed, West Virginia had planned to work with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to collect tolls at the existing Pennsylvania mainline plaza, but this plan was not accepted by the West Virginia Legislature. Instead, West Virginia planned to construct a toll plaza north of Goodwin Hill Road.[11][12] But it has recently been decided that when the road opens in July 2011, it will not be a toll road. This is due to disputes over camera enforcement of toll violations at the toll booths, which were to be all electronic tolling. The state does still reserve the right to build the toll booths in the future if the electronic enforcement dispute is settled.[13]

Exit list

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Mason–Dixon Line4.26.8West Virginia – Pennsylvania state line

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FairchanceFairchance mainline toll plaza

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RedstoneRedstone mainline toll plaza

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California mainline toll plaza

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AlleghenyJefferson HillsJefferson Hills mainline toll plaza

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1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

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Criticism

Generally, residents of the Monongahela River Valley support the Mon-Fayette Expressway, but the roadway has generated controversy in Allegheny County.[14] Critics often point to the low traffic volumes on the existing segments to help justify their dissent. Critics claim that such low volumes prove that the expressway is unfeasible. Supporters also consider the low traffic volume, but they claim that traffic volumes are low because of the segmented nature of the overall highway.[15] It is likely that usage will increase to an extent once the connection to Interstate 68 and phase 2 of the Uniontown–Brownsville section is finished.

In the 1990s, the Mon-Fayette Expressway project was expanded to include another highway, which is commonly referred to as the Southern Beltway. The Southern Beltway is planned to be a high-speed east-west link between the Mon-Fayette Expressway, Interstate 79, U.S. Route 22, Interstate 376, and Pittsburgh International Airport. A 6-mile (9.7 km) section of the beltway between Pittsburgh International Airport/Interstate 376 and U.S. Route 22 opened to traffic in 2006.[16] The new road has been designated as Pennsylvania Route 576.

The PTC built several non-tolled roads in conjunction with the Uniontown-to-Brownsville project. One such road outside of Brownsville extended a four-lane section of U.S. Route 40, eliminating a forty-year-old freeway stub in the process. Another road connecting U.S. Route 40 and Pennsylvania Route 51 was built near Uniontown. These roads were necessary to provide access to Exits 22 and 15 respectively, but the access routes were also designed to improve local connections and foster economic development.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kitsko, Jeffrey J. (March 14, 2010). "PA Turnpike 43: Mon-Fayette Expressway". PA Highways. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  2. ^ "First Exit of Mon-Fayette Expressway Opens". The State Journal. Charleston, WV. June 22, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Mon Fayette Expressway Opens in Monongalia County". The State Journal. Charleston, WV. July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Buckley, Chris (December 11, 2010). "Mon/Fayette Expressway Section Opens Monday". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  5. ^ "The Mingo Creek Viaduct (Joe Montana Bridges) Washington County, PA" (PDF). Modern Steel Construction. Chicago: American Institute of Steel Construction. November 2003. ISSN 0026-8445.
  6. ^ "Mon-Fayette Expressway Moves Closer to Cheat". Dominion Post. Morgantown, WV. July 6, 2009. p. 4A. Retrieved July 6, 2009.
  7. ^ Robbins, Richard (March 4, 2009). "Expressway Plan Hailed for W. Pa". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  8. ^ "West Virginia 2009–2014 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan". West Virginia Department of Transportation. p. 115. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accesdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)[dead link‍]
  9. ^ Shaner, Cassie (January 11, 2010). "W.Va. Could Open Mon-Fayette this Year". Dominion Post. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  10. ^ "Express E-ZPass Lanes to Open June 8 on Mon-Fayette Expressway" (Press release). Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. June 4, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  11. ^ Beard, David (June 24, 2010). "Expressway to Open in Spring 2011". Dominion Post. Morgantown, WV. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  12. ^ "Traffic May Move in November on Road". Dominion Post. Morgantown, WV. p. 1B. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  13. ^ Staff (June 13, 2011). "New Toll Roads Less Likely". MetroNews. Charleston, WV. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  14. ^ Grata, Joe (April 13, 2002). "Mon-Fay Expressway now 13 Miles Longer". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  15. ^ Vellucci, Justin (December 8, 2008). "Expressway to a Battleground". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  16. ^ "PA Route 60 to U.S. Route 22—Welcome". Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. September 2010. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "urlhttp://www.paturnpike.com/monfaysb/60to22/60to22.htm" ignored (help)

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