Thruway Progress Work on north end of tunnel continues
CRANBERRY TWP — Work crews are making progress on the MSA Thruway, a tunnel passing under state Route 228 near the Interstate 79 north off-ramp that township officials expect will decrease traffic on the state route significantly during peak hours.
Crews finished working on the southern side of the tunnel in mid-October, shifting the project to the northern end. The tunnel will eventually connect Cranberry Woods on the south to Cranberry Springs on the north, with I-79 exit traffic having access through a roundabout in Cranberry Woods.
There is no current estimate as to when work on the northern side of the tunnel will finish, but the entire project — including the paving phase — is expected to be finished in winter 2021.
The township expects the Thruway to reduce eastbound delays on Route 228 by one-third near the Cranberry Woods interchange, and reduce total traffic on Route 228 between I-79 and Cranberry Springs by slightly less than one-quarter during morning and 10% during evening rush hour.
