Crews Will Be Grooving on I-79, and That Means Traffic Delays Saturday

Grooving on I-79?

Yup. That's what crews will be doing Saturday in the area between the Wexford and Cranberry exits.

It's technically called mechanical grooving, and crews will be doing it on the new deck on the southbound bridge over Warrendale Bayne Road, according to PennDOT District 11.

That means traffic will be restricted to one lane between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday on southbound I-79 .

Here's a shock: You should expect delays.

The work is part of a $10 million project to improve several I-79 bridges that is scheduled to be completed this fall.

The prime contractor for the project is Swank Associated Companies Inc. of New Kensington.

As always, PennDOT advises motorists to use caution, slow down and expect changing traffic patterns when traveling through the area.

If you're wondering how bad traffic is, you can always log on to 511pa.com before hopping in the car. Before you put your vehicle in gear, you can also call 511 to check traffic conditions on I-79 and other major roadways. 

If you wait until you are stuck in traffic to make that 511 call, you'll probably find out what you already know -- there is congestion, and traffic is moving slower than posted speed limits.

Plan accordingly. Call first. Take a different way.