Traffic Nightmare? PennDOT Plans Route 65 Upgrades During Bridge Closing

A road resurfacing and upgrade project scheduled to take place in late May on Route 65 is expected to bring additional traffic restrictions in the area of the  — also designated as an alternative detour during repairs to a nearby bridge.

Beginning Saturday, the Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge will close until mid-November as part of a $16.6 million repair project. 

PennDOT spokesman James Struzzi said the Route 65 resurfacing work — scheduled to occur about three months later — isn’t expected to cause any significant impacts to detouring traffic from the .  

“The resurfacing work on Route 65 will be done during off-peak hours when traffic volumes are considerably less,” Struzzi said. “There should not be any significant impacts to detouring traffic because of this work.”

The estimated $5 million to $6 million resurfacing and milling project will span from the Beaver County line at Ambridge Borough through  and  to the Sewickley Bridge.

Sewickley officials previously  about the cost of providing additional traffic control during the bridge closing. 

Struzzi said officials will be monitoring traffic flows and making adjustments as needed. However, he said motorists tend to find their own routes after a closure goes into effect.

“Many people will go north to other bridges instead of traveling through Sewickley,” Struzzi said.

About the same time, a second $1 million to $2 million resurfacing project will occur farther southbound along Route 65 in Emsworth from Charles Willow Street to Hazelwood Avenue.

The repaving projects are scheduled to go out for bid in late March, with work slated to begin in late May or early June. The Route 65 upgrades are expected to be complete this fall.