S.R. 0070 Section K10

Cost: $73.3 million
Client: PennDOT District 12-0
Contact: Sean Sepe, P.E. (724-439-7322)
Project Letting: November 2017

S.R. 0031 Interchange (Exit 51) Reconstruction and Dual Bridge Replacement - This project included studying interchange reconfiguration options, and bridge replacement alternatives (dual I-70 mainline bridges over S.R. 0031 with substandard underclearance and one Township Road Bridge over mainline I-70). Safety was a primary design component, particularly with the substandard ramp alignments and weaving patterns. The SPK team evaluated several interchange reconfigurations including a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI), a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI), and variations with traffic circles at the ramp termini. The final configuration selected for final design was a modified diamond interchange; primarily due to the prevailing topography. Final design included a complex STIC initiative Design/Build traffic control plan to maintain two lanes of uninterrupted traffic in each direction throughout the construction duration. In order to accomplish this, mainline I-70 embankments were widened, structures were widened to allow placement of the concrete longitudinal joints at 6’ or 12’. During construction, a short section of I-70 will have 3 lanes on one side and 1 lane on the other to accommodate bridge construction at the interchange. S.R. 0031 is being widened to include a center turn lane. The length of S.R. 0070 reconstruction is 3.2 miles.