The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 11-0 will oversee a large roadwork project at the Broughton Road-Baptist Road intersection in Bethel Park, starting this spring.

On Monday, March 26, weather permitting, crews from Plum Contracting, Inc., of Greensburg, PA, will begin the $3.9-million project to improve safety and reduce congestion at that intersection.

Work includes reconstructing and widening the intersection to add turning lanes, improved drainage, retaining walls, new traffic signals, curbing and bituminous resurfacing. Overall work will conclude in the fall of 2013.

Detours and lane closures will be needed during the initial phases of the work for extensive excavation activities. To allow the work to occur, the following restrictions will be implemented at approximately 7 a.m. on March 26 and continue through late November 2012:

• Eastbound Broughton will be closed between Paxton Drive and Sansue Drive, but westbound Broughton will remain open in a single lane from Sansue to Paxton.
  o   Posted Detour: Take Route 88 (Library Road) northeast to Route 51. Then, take Route 51 southeast to Brownsville Road before taking Brownsville south to the Broughton-Curry Hollow Road intersection.

• All of Baptist will be closed in both directions between Broughton and Higbee Drive.
  o   Posted Detour: Take Route 88 northeast to Route 51. Then, take Route 51 southeast to Brownsville before taking Brownsville west onto Baptist (or vice versa).

• Northbound Baptist will be closed between Broughton and Horning Road, but southbound Baptist will remain open in a single lane from Horning to Broughton.
  o   Posted Detour: Take Route 88 northeast to Route 51. Then, take Route 51 southeast to Brownsville before taking Brownsville west onto Baptist.

About 28,000 vehicles use the Broughton-Baptist intersection on an average day, according to PennDOT. Motorists are advised to use caution and expect delays and changing traffic patterns when traveling through that area.

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