Pennsylvania's first "diverging diamond" interchange coming to Washington County (Columbia: real estate, design)

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mon

I'd even settle for an extra lane of traffic on the combined road and a 2-lane exit to 79N, but I guess neither will happen.

HELLO?!?!?!

I just said that the I-70/I-79 multiplex would be widened from four lanes to six, and the ramp to continue on I-79 NB would be widened from one lane to two. Both will happen.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I was going by the first sentence the OP wrote saying it was the interchange of I-70 and I-79.

Better read it again

Originally Posted by Gnutella

The interchange between I-70/I-79 and Murtland Avenue

(emphasis added)

For roughly three(?) miles through there, the interstate is both 70 and 79.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I'll read the article when I have time later this afternoon.

I was going by the first sentence the OP wrote saying it was the interchange of I-70 and I-79.

No, I said it was the interchange between I-70/I-79 and Murtland Avenue. I-70 and I-79 form a two-Interstate multiplex on one highway alignment for four miles past Washington, and I was accounting for both of them. It's the same way the Pennsylvania Turnpike is signed as both I-70 and I-76 for 86 miles between the New Stanton and Breezewood interchanges.

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

One part of me thinks anything will be an improvement on that stretch of the freeway.

If you look at page 6-37 of this document, you'll see that there are plans to reconstruct and widen I-70 between Washington and New Stanton. You'll see it listed as two projects:

"I-70, North Junction to Westmoreland County Line, reconstruction/widening"

"I-70, Washington County Line to New Stanton, reconstruction/widening"

"Reconstruction" means they're digging all the way down to the dirt and relaying the entire highway. "Widening," at the very least, means that they're moving the inner lanes away from the median barrier. How far away they move them away from the median barrier depends on whether or not they reconstruct it with four lanes or six. If it's six lanes, then there will be 12' between each of the inner lanes and the median barrier. If it stays four lanes, then there will be 4' between each of the inner lanes and the median barrier. Both would be AASHTO-compliant.

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

The other part of me thinks the fine people of Washington -- who use I-70 as their main street and don't bother getting up to highway speeds as they mosey from exit to exit -- are going to turn this into a horror movie! Sure hope I'm wrong.

That's the beauty of six lanes. Even if the people doing the "moseying" screw up the right lane, then there's still two more lanes with which everybody can pass them.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Lobick

70 & 79 are the same road there, thus your confusion I guess.

I'm not confused anymore. Thanks.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Lobick

No interstates are getting lights. Can't you simply read things first before you comment on them? It would really raise the level of discourse.

My reply was obviously directed towards Hopes false information. How about reading the thread yourself before responding to me. It would really raise the level of discourse.

[Craziaskowboi]

A list of current and future reconstruction projects on I-70 from the West Virginia state line to New Stanton can be found here.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

My reply was obviously directed towards Hopes false information. How about reading the thread yourself before responding to me. It would really raise the level of discourse.

I read Hopes' post, knew it was formed on an incorrect reading of the article and posted a clarification (see above), but I imagine that you didn't follow your own advice. I did the same to your post. She was gracious and admitted an error, you've not taken a similarly mature course but instead doubled down.

It's informative and somewhat ironic that you've posted this explanation. This practice is precisely why so many threads in which you participate go off the rails. You post uninformed assertions and others feel compelled to comment on your misinformation, creating avalanches of responses built off of ignorant or incorrect foundations.

I would suggest uniformly, to everyone, that they read the linked source material or articles prior to posting in any thread and avoid the practice of using another poster's interpretation of that material as a basis on which to comment.

[LIRefugee]

As for me, I look forward to trying it.

Also, the picture on the first post is a representation of an intersection in Missouri. Undoubtedly, for this new one, the Interstates will be on the bridge while 19 follows the new pattern below.

[Copanut]

Ah, who cares about that area, nothing but trailer parks in Wash County.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by LIRefugee

Also, the picture on the first post is a representation of an intersection in Missouri. Undoubtedly, for this new one, the Interstates will be on the bridge while 19 follows the new pattern below.

Ah, that makes things make alot more sense & proof that I apparently can't read. I thought it was a rendering for the Washington proposal.