Rigs rerouted on I-70

By Linda Metz, Staff writer
Observer-Reporter
Washington, Pa.
August 29, 2009

Truck drivers traveling from Interstate 70 west to Route 18 in Washington will no longer be allowed to use the Jefferson Avenue exit.

Instead, beginning Sept. 4, truckers will be diverted to the Jessop Place exit and back onto I-70 east, where they then will use the eastbound Jefferson Avenue exit to get into Washington and to Routes 18 and 844.

"For quite some time, we've been trying to figure out some creative ideas to make that traffic flow better," said state Department of Transportation traffic engineer Rachel Duda.

Motorists familiar with the exit know that traffic often backs up onto I-70, causing safety hazards on the busy highway.

And Duda said that while attempts to ease the congestion have been made in the past, there really is nothing that can be done other than detouring trucks from using the exit.

According to Duda, the backup is caused by the exit's sharp bend and the two traffic signals at the bottom that are located within close proximity of each other.

After several engineering studies and traffic counts, including one completed within the past six weeks, it was PennDOT's decision to permanently close the westbound exit to truck traffic.

"The eastbound off-ramp can accommodate all the vehicles without impeding Interstate 70," Duda explained.

She added that the traffic restriction is permanent, at least until a final solution to the traffic problem can be determined.