In 1929, the route was under construction from PA 51 to Redstone and opened the following year, removing the designation from Tony and Henderson Road.  Also in 1930, the sections from Springfield to the Salt Lick Township line and PA 31 to Pleasant Grove was paved.

In 1931, the route was under construction from Donegal to Stahlstown and completed the following year.  Also in 1932, the route was paved from New Florence to Cramer.

In 1954, the route was moved from Fayette Avenue in Belle Vernon to the current PA 201 alignment to end at PA 71 at the current I-70 interchange.  In 1964, another change in the routing took place when the southern terminus was moved from I-70 at the Donora/Monessen interchange to its current location.

Near Connellsville, the route has come under some scrutiny.  Truck traffic utilize the route to access stone quarries, lumber companies, and other dairy and agricultural enterprises in the mountains.  On May 18, 2001, a runaway truck entering the borough collided with a home, and another did the same to the one next door in Fall 1999.  Fortunately, in both cases the residents were not injured.

So far PennDOT has announced that they will spend $1.5 million on warning signs and truck run-off ramps.  However, a complete bypass of the area might come about in the future.

Another borough along the path of 711 is solving its similar problems in a different way.  After about a decade of debate over seven alignments for a bypass route around Ligonier, PennDOT finally narrowed down the improvements to two options.  While the two bypass alternatives would require construction of a two-lane highway, the "no-build" alternative would involve some improvements to existing roads, signs and signals.  A new roadway could cost from $12 million to $18 million, depending on which route is selected.  Construction could start in 2005.

Resigned in 1969 on its current location.

In 1952, the route was decommissioned.  It was signed on its current alignment in 1964.

In 1978, the western terminus was moved from US 222 in Willow Street to New Danville.  In 1985, it was moved to its final location.