Could Travel on I-79 Become More Congested This Weekend? Yes

It's not like travelers on I-79 haven't seen traffic backups before, but this time we know it's coming and it's not going to be pretty.

Weather permitting, the stretch of highway between the Wexford and Cranberry exits [73 and 78, respectively] will be down to a single lane in both directions on Saturday and Sunday, PennDOT District 11 announced.

Starting at 6 a.m. Saturday and continuing until about 11 a.m. Sunday, crews will be milling, paving and line-painting on the approaches at the bridges over Warrendale-Bayne Road and Mingo Road.

"Significant delays should be expected," PennDOT said in a press release.

The work is part of a $10 million project that is scheduled to be completed this fall.

The project includes deck replacements, latex overlays, expansion dam replacements, substructure repairs, bituminous paving, drainage and guide rail upgrades, pavement markings, culvert cleaning and stream restoration, and other improvements on several I-79 bridges.

All ramps and exits will remain open.

The prime contractor for the project is Swank Construction Co. LLC of New Kensington.

If you want to check traffic conditions on I-79 and other major roads before you travel, log on to 511pa.com or call 511.

You can also sign up for PennDOT’s I-79 email notification list for traffic and construction advisories in Allegheny County by sending your email address to jstruzzi@state.pa.us and writing “Subscribe – I-79” in the subject line.