PITTSBURGH -- Interstate 376 is being expanded on Friday -- but don't worry, it doesn't involve any construction delays for drivers.
The highway runs from the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Monroeville to downtown Pittsburgh -- at which point, multiple, confusing roadway designations came into play as drivers continued toward Pittsburgh International Airport.
But now, PennDOT is stretching the I-376 name all the way to the airport -- scrapping the "Route 60" and "Route 22/30" designations along the way -- and through Allegheny into Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer counties.
"In order to earn the interstate designation, there's a whole series of interchange ramps changes throughout, not only Allegheny County, but also in Beaver and Lawrence counties to meet that standard, so now we've got not only a clear designation, but a much safer highway," said PennDOT secretary Allen Biehler.
New road signs were being posted on Friday. PennDOT said the change will make it easier for drivers to navigate I-376.
In addition to being good for drivers, the change may benefit the Pittsburgh region's economy, because potential businesses will now see an interstate highway next to the airport when they look at maps instead of only seeing Route 60.
"When businesses are looking to expand or move here, one of the first considerations is transportation access. Today's announcement will help move the Pittsburgh region onto the lists of site selection consultants and other business investment decision makers," said a statement from Dennis Yablonsky, CEO of the
Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
Earlier this year, the Interstate 279 section of the corridor between Interstate 79 and the Fort Pitt Tunnel was converted to become Interstate 376.
Allegheny County has estimated that it lost out on 4,000 jobs and $5 million in new business investments in the late 1990s because an interstate did not run past the airport.
"This redesignation makes clear to everyone that we have an interstate highway system that connects to Pittsburgh International Airport, to the (Pennsylvania) Turnpike and to I-80," Yablonsky said. "Our region already has a great position on that map -- within 500 miles of almost half of the U.S. and Canadian population -- and the extended I-376 is one more way to reach both that market and that potential workforce."
Route 60 is now only in Allegheny County, running between Pittsburgh's West End and I-376 in Robinson Township. The part of Route 60 that's owned and maintained by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will still be a toll road.
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