Pennsylvania Highways Blog - Events

Winter 2007 SWPA Meet Notes

nospam@example.com (Webmaster) — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 17:14:17 -0800

Saturday was the latest edition of the longest running road enthusiast meets and I'd like to thank all who traveled both near and far to attend.

The meet began at 12 PM at Garfield's in the Uniontown Mall on US 40 near the US 119 interchange. The food and conversation was excellent as always. I provided each attendee with a copy of the 2007 PennDOT map.

After the lunch portion, we headed down US 40 to see the newBrownsville Connector. We decided to make the Searights Toll House the first stop, and it's best that we did. I noticed that one of the windows appeared to be open. Upon further examination, it wasn't open but rather someone had taken one of the bricks from the steps and smashed the window. Also the screen door at the entrance had been ripped and pulled at in several places. The police were called and they said they'd notify the proprietors.

The next stop was to see the new US 40 connector that just opened east of Brownsville. What struck those of us who attended the 2006 gathering was that the former partially constructed interchange just north of PA 166 where US 40 traffic had to turn to continue has been replaced by an at-grade intersection. Even though last year, we noticed grading for what appeared to be the other entrance/exit ramps had taken place which is noted on the US 40 page. Also, PA 166's northern terminus has not moved to intersect the new US 40 alignment, but still ends at the former intersection a block to the south. There is grading for the future PA Turnpike 43 interchange which will be a temporary end until the loop around Brownsville is completed.

Heading back to Uniontown, we took a small detour over a new connector road that has been built between PA 51 and US 40 and will also serve an interchange of PA Turnpike 43. It is five lanes wide (four travel lanes and a center turn lane), and it was built through the location where I attended the groundbreaking for the Uniontown/Brownsville section seen on the PA Turnpike 43 page.

We took PA 43/PA Turnpike 43 south and stopped at the current end at Gans Road before continuing south into West Virginia to see how they are progressing on their section. From PA 857/WV Secondary 857, you can see the bridge on the state line has been finished complete with a "Welcome to West Virginia" sign gantry at the southern end. Turning off onto Morgan's Run Road we got an up-close look at another pair of spans taking shape and saw a completed section of WV 43 with signage already installed. Back at 857 we kept heading south to the Cheat Lake interchange to see the construction taking place in preparation of the directional T interchange between I-68 and WV 43.

After turning around we headed back to Garfield's where we said our goodbyes, Merry Christmases, Happy New Years, and headed to our respective destinations.

Looking to the Past, Planning For the Future

nospam@example.com (Webmaster) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:51:54 -0700

One of the things that we're not that good about in Pennsylvania is planning for the future. Tonight myself and others in my area decided to do something about that. During this week, Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County has been holding a public Charrette at the University of Pitt at Greensburg campus.

We were put into groups and asked to evaluate different plans for the area of US 30 in Latrobe near the shopping centers. The first plan would create almost another town along 30 from PA 981 to PA 982 which no one liked because the minimum building height would be six stories. Obviously this would destroy the views of the Laurel Ridge and trying to keep the area rural. The second plan would be to keep more of the area in a rural setting but enhance the existing developments along the corridor. The third plan would be a "Greenway" solution where most of the businesses would be removed and more of the area returned to a natural state.

While most seemed to prefer the latter, I was in favor of the second plan. The first plan and last plan would eliminate the shopping areas of Latrobe 30 Plaza, Mountain Laurel Plaza, Wildcat Commons, and Unity Plaza. Stores such as Giant Eagle and Wal*Mart would be gone. I highly doubt Wal*Mart will have gone the way of Montgomery Wards by the year 2020. Although people probably said the same about Wards in 1980 so who knows.

I also threw out the idea of completely bypassing current US 30 with an expressway to remove the through traffic from the highway and sign the current alignment as Business US 30. Actually not my idea, but the "Route 30 Relocation" proposal from the Pittsburgh Area Transportation Plan devised in the 1960s. An existing demonstration of this can be seen between Sadsburyville and Exton where the current 30 is an expressway and the original is a business route. Then you could redesign any area along the corridor without having as much traffic as before to contend with. However, my idea was shot down...again. Oh well, so much for trying to undo past mistakes.

Route 30 Masterplan - Smart Growth

It's Their Party, and They'll Toll if They Want To

nospam@example.com (Webmaster) — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 23:47:00 -0700

Today was Community Day on the Findlay Connector (PA Turnpike 576/Southern Beltway), but my second visit to the completed roadway. However, unlike during the National meet, the State Police did not chase me off the expressway.

The event was much like the first one I attended, and the first the PTC did, prior to PA Turnpike 66 opening. There were food booths and entertainment in the form of at Exit 2/US 30. The PTC had a booth with information on the entire Southern Beltway project, Turnpike maps, and E-ZPass applications. Port Authority buses made continual loops of the six-mile-long section between PA 60 and US 22, that will open this Wednesday, for people to see the expressway, while others hiked and biked the alignment. Pictures of the event will be posted on the updated PA Turnpike 576 page that will debut on Wednesday.

Getting Around: Did You Too Miss the Turnpike's Party on Route 576? - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

National Road Enthusiast Meet (Day 3)

nospam@example.com (Webmaster) — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 23:55:00 -0700

The final day of the meet featured differing modes of transportation. We started out by taking PA 60 into the city for a cruise on the Gateway Clipper to see some of the numerous bridges as well as some of the sights along the Allegheny River. We had lunch at the Red Star Tavern in Station Square, where I had announced a mere 364 days earlier of my intention to hold a National meet.

Back on land we turned back to the west to take in PA Turnpike 576 at the US 30 interchange. Once on the expressway ROW itself, I heard what sounded like a car traveling at a quick pace. Turning around as we headed northbound, I didn't see anything until I looked over the median mound that is common place on PTC extensions only to see the "Christmas Tree" lightbar of a State Police cruiser. He caught up to us and only said to turn around; however, I was only yards away from getting Adam Prince the first PA Turnpike 576 northern end picture. Considering the alternative, we were very fortunate. Even on foot, I get pulled over by the Pennsylvania State Police!

The final event of the three day meet was to take in a ball game at the site of the 77th All Star Game at PNC Park. Surprisingly the Pirates managed to win 3-2 over the St. Louis Cardinals, while the Steelers playing NFL's version on the same day lost.

After the game, we returned to the Comfort Inn on Steubenville Pike where I thanked all for attending and being part of the first National meet. Then we called it a night and went on our respective ways.

States represented/number attended:
California - 1
Georgia - 1
Kentucky - 1
Maryland - 1
Michigan - 2
New York - 2
Pennsylvania - 2
Tennessee - 2
Virginia - 1
West Virginia - 1

National Road Enthusiast Meet (Day 2)

nospam@example.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 23:35:00 -0700

Today was the second day of the first National Road Enthusiast Meet. We began the day at Primantis on PA 60/Steubenville Pike in Robinson Township. Everyone seemed to enjoy this slice of Pittsburgh, and I highly recommend stopping to have a Primanti's sandwich...or a Roethlis-burger at Peppi's, unless you're a Browns fan.

After that we jumped in our vehicles and traveled down PA 60 to Crafton to see the Industrial Highway. It is the remnant of one of the many cancelled highways in the Pittsburgh area, and now relegated to an access road.

Following that small excursion we headed back north on PA 60 to I-79 south for a visit to the Pittsburgh Regional Traffic Management Center at the PennDOT District 11-0 office in Bridgeville. South of the Parkway West interchange we saw some of the I-79 reconstruction taking place.

Dominic Munizza of PennDOT gave us an extensive tour of the center and demonstrated some of features of the ITS network. He showed how the VMS boards can be changed as well as the HAR (Highway Advisory Radio) stations can broadcast messages. We also got a demonstration of the cameras that line the expressways. In fact, we got to the TMC just after legendary Pittsburgh Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope had just been involved in an accident at the Banksville Road interchange.

The group met in the evening for dinner at another local chain with a road motif: Quaker Steak & Lube at The Pointe at North Fayette. Afterwards we took to our vehicles and headed into the city to check out the view from Mount Washington which overlooks the "Golden Triangle."

National Road Enthusiast Meet (Day 1)

nospam@example.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 22:27:16 -0700

Pennsylvania has been the site of many firsts: first computer (Philadelphia), first commercial radio station (Pittsburgh), and first road enthusiast meet (Greensburg). What a better site to hold the first National Road Enthusiast Meet than where it all began.

The first day was a journey back in time with some aspects of the present. Myself and four attendees traveled the Lincoln Highway from Robinson to Somerset County. We were joined for a while by Brian Butko, who has authored several books on the Lincoln Highway and other road-related products.

We began our trip by taking PA 60 from the US 22/US 30 cloverleaf into Pittsburgh then south on PA 837 to the Fort Pitt Bridge and the Boulevard of the Allies to the Parkway East. Taking the US 30 exit, we followed it to Greensburg where we then traveled on Toll Gate Road to enter the city as those who traveled then PA 1 did many times. On the eastern side of the city, we followed old segments near Westmoreland Mall, Hyundai of Greensburg, and a long section known locally as Frye Farm Road.

In Latrobe, we turned south on PA 981 to access the old alignment where we spotted a rare Lincoln Highway marker that is located in the front lawn of a home. We passed the Latrobe Country Club which is owned by professional golfer Arnold Palmer in Youngstown and continued through to where the alignment joins the current eastbound lanes.

We stopped at the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor office in Ligonier where a few picked up some Lincoln Highway merchandise. Continuing eastward on US 30 we stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial and the site of the Quecreek Mine Accident.

I offered to show everyone the Sipesville Fire Hall, where the families waited for word of their trapped family members. While we were waiting, a member of the Sipesville VFD stopped and asked us if we wanted to see inside. It was quite a change from when I remember it in 2002 when I was in The Pennsylvania Miners Movie and filming took place there. Then we got to see the new hall that was built to replace the old, which was to be moved to the Quecreek site. However, the building could not make the journey in one piece, but would have to be cut into four sections. More than likely, it will just be demolished.

All-Star City

nospam@example.com (Webmaster) — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 23:30:00 -0700

We don't have much to celebrate in terms of the American pastime in the Steel City; however, we did tonight. The eyes of the baseball world turned to Pittsburgh for the 77th annual “Mid-summer Classic” and fifth to be played in the city.

The American League has won every All-Star Game since 1996, and the last that was played in Pittsburgh in 1994 was won by the National League. Don’t fret NL fans; at least your team-by-association has only been in a win-less slump for a decade and not your favorite and/or hometown team. The Pirates have not produced a winning team in 14 years and counting. At least this edition of the All-Star Game featured two of the hometown team’s players: Jason Bay and Freddy Sanchez. Jason Bay managed to get a starting gig with a campaign blitz spearheaded by the club to get him in the line-up.

The National League was winning going into the last inning, and it looked like the streak of them winning All-Star Games in Pittsburgh would continue. That was until the final inning when Pirate fans know all to well what happens: the lead was erased. The NL would fall to the AL, for the 11th consecutive year by a score of three to two. A one run loss, which is all too familiar for the regular home team.

Aside from baseball, it was a time for the “City of Champions” to shine in the spotlight. The All-Star Game was the most watched program that week with 14.5 million tuning into view the yearly AL/NL battle. People from all over the country and world came to not only see the game but partake in the activities before.

What I do not understand is people still have the idea that Pittsburgh is the “Smoky City” as seen in film reels from the 1940s. Even Jason Bay, who was the first Pirate to start an All-Star Game since Andy Van Slyke (who once bashed Pittsburgh for not having a beltway; wonder what he thinks of PA Turnpike 576?), mentioned people coming up to him saying they were expecting a smoky, gloomy city.

I’m sorry, but I can not understand in this day and age why people would still think that! All it takes going to Google Image Search, and typing in “Pittsburgh,” or even going to the picture pages of I-279, I-376, I-579, etc. to see what it looks like nowadays. I guess they aren’t football fans or don't own a TV, since the only winning team in Pittsburgh is usually featured at home at least once a season on Monday Night Football.

Pittsburgh Gives Red-Carpet Welcome - WPXI-TV Pittsburgh

Happy Birthday Interstate System!

nospam@example.com (Webmaster) — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 20:21:00 -0700

Today I had the honor to be a part of Pennsylvania's celebration of the signage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 which took place at the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg.

Dignitaries, media, and those who were a part of the re-enactment of the 1919 Army convoy that showed a young kid by the name of Eisenhower the necessity of good transportation, gathered at the Gettysburg Middle School for a shuttle bus to the event at the farm, which ironically can not be accessed via any Interstate. The bus ride was a nice jaunt through the historic borough. I sat next to a gentleman from Omaha, Nebraska who was representing Werner Enterprising trucking. He gave me a foam stress reliever in the shape of a Werner 18-wheeler. He mentioned he had never visited anything in Pennsylvania, but had driven through it many times. Not surprising, considering only two routes from New England to the rest of the country bypass the Commonwealth.

At the farm, we got a tour of the house where dignitaries such as Winston Churchill and Nikita Khrushchev visited the Eisenhowers. After everyone had taken the tour, it was time for the press conference.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation, Allen Biehler was appropriately the first speaker. Others included Joe Brimmeir, CEO of the PTC, J. Richard Capka from the Federal Highway Administration, and Ted Leonard from the Pennsylvania AAA Federation.

After the press conference, I introduced myself to Rich Kirkpatrick who is PennDOT’s Press Secretary and invited me to the event. He praised the work I have done on the site and said it is a great resource, especially the history of the highways. While talking with him, Secretary Biehler came over to speak with Rich. At that point, I introduced myself and Mr. Kirkpatrick remarked, “This is the guy who does that website.” He gave me a Interstate 50th pin, similar to the graphic on the AASHTO site.

While waiting for the bus back to the school, I overheard a man talking about the weather. I introduced myself and he did as well, mentioning he was a representative from the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors which own pahighways.org. I mentioned that I own the .com and that I had discovered they owned the .org one day.

Back at the middle school we had a lovely catered meal. I had the honor to sit at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. While standing in line, I got to talk with Director of ODOT Gary Ridley. I mentioned that I liked the new Oklahoma shield, and we began discussing the states that used their outlines for their shields. I also mentioned that I have been to Oklahoma storm chasing, and that I had talked with Gary England of KWTV-TV for a paper in college. Mr. Ridley mentioned that Gary helps them with winter forecasts to determine where ODOT crews will be needed. The others at the table asked me what organization I was from, I said, “I do a website called Pennsylvania Highways,” Mr. Kirkpatrick happened to be walking behind me and said, “It is a great website and resource.”

All in all, I had a great time and was honored that PennDOT even considered inviting me. Many thanks to Rich Kirkpatrick and the PennDOT Press Office.

Pennsylvania Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Interstate System - PennDOT

If You Cater it, They Will Come

nospam@example.com (Webmaster) — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 23:56:00 -0800

I attended the ground breaking ceremony for the Uniontown to Brownsville section of the Mon-Fayette Expressway today. I have already updated the PA Turnpike 43 Exit Guide and MFE/SB Progress Map. Pictures of the ceremony are on the PA Turnpike 43 page.

This was the first ground breaking I have attended. It was pretty much what I expected with local and state officials there to give speeches on how each helped to create the Mon-Fayette Expressway. Then there was the ceremonial first spade toss of dirt to signal the start of construction followed by a catered lunch for all who attended which included stromboli, hot wings, BBQ wings, vegetables, cake, and cookies. I gave it four out of five stars.

One of the speakers was Senator J. Barry Stout, who is one of many state officials who spearheaded the project. He also happens to be the Chairman of the State Transportation Committee. After the ceremony I introduced myself and asked if I could interview him. He gave me his business card and told me to call his office sometime.

Officials Launch Expressway's Uniontown-to-Brownsville Link - Uniontown Herald Standard