Mon-Fayette stretch under construction

Section 51F, a two-mile stretch of roadway between Route 166 to Dunlap Creek, part of the Uniontown to Brownsville Phase 2 expressway project, was the main topic. Phase 2 includes construction of the western portion of the expressway from the Route 40/Toll Road 43 Cloverleaf Interchange in Centerville Borough, Washington County, to the Brownsville Connector/Redstone Way Interchange in Redstone. Phase 2 also includes completion of the Expressway/Route 119 interchange at the eastern end of the project in Uniontown.

Mike Houser, a project manager for the Turnpike Commission, told residents the purpose of last night's meeting was to let them know the impact a project of this size will have. He said there would be noise and vibrations from blasting and dust, which they'll try to keep minimal.

Ed Keilman, superintendent for New Enterprise, a contractor on the project, said Phase 2 is already under way. Pink ribbons have been set up along the roadway to mark the expressway's center.

In September, Keilman said they will begin major dirt operations, moving the dirt to three areas to deposit along the roadway. This is scheduled to take them into 2010.

Another project along the two miles of roadway is the relocation of Simpson Road. Keilman assured residents, however, that there would be no road closures or detours any time during the project.

Keilman added that the Simpson Tunnel, an abandoned train tunnel, would be closed.

New to the project will be the construction of the 180-foot tall, 1,700-foot long Dunlap Bridge over Dunlap Creek, which is expected to be completed in November 2011.

Residents concerned with the blasting were told that it is expected to start in August and end in 2010.

Keilman said residents within 1,000 feet of the blasting zone have or are currently signing up for a pre-blast survey. A third-party company will inspect their residences and place seismographers on their land to measure for any large blasts.

Keilman said they will begin the blasting at the southern end of the project in the direction of Brownsville and complete the blasting at the northern end closer toward Uniontown.

Keilman also alerted residents they may feel what's called an air blast, which is something of a shock wave through the air after the blast; it normally doesn't cause damage to a structure.

Residents also asked if the underground phone line would be moved along old Simpson Road. Keilman said the phone line would be dug up and placed on the new polls installed by Allegheny Power later this year.

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