Editing Interstate 79 (section)

==History==
[[File:Interstate7079Washington.jpg|thumb|left|I-79 merging with [[Interstate 70|I-70]] in [[Washington, Pennsylvania]]]]
The [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]] authorized the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission]] to build two extensions in the 1950s. The Northwestern Extension, authorized in 1953, was to stretch from the main [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]] north to [[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie]] and would have included a lateral connection between [[Ohio]] and [[New York (state)|New York]], what was later built as [[Interstate 90|I-90]].<ref>Pennsylvania Turnpike Northwestern Extension Act, P.L. 706, No. 229, passed July 28, 1953</ref> The Southwestern Extension, authorized in 1955, was to run south from the main line near [[Pittsburgh]] to [[West Virginia]], where it connects with an extension of the [[West Virginia Turnpike]].<ref>Pennsylvania Turnpike Southwestern Extension Act, P.L. 174, No. 52, passed June 14, 1955</ref> Except for the section between Washington and [[Greater Pittsburgh]], which was included as part of [[Interstate 70|I-70]],<ref>{{cite map |author = Public Roads Administration |url = https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interstate_Highway_plan_August_14,_1957.jpg |title = Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, as adopted by the American Association of State Highway Officials |date = August 14, 1957 |scale = Scale not given |location = Washington, DC |publisher = Public Roads Administration |via = [[Wikimedia Commons]] }}</ref> the first portion of I-79 to be added to the plans was north from Pittsburgh to Erie, along the [[U.S. Route 19|US&nbsp;19]] corridor.

{{Infobox road small
|state=PA
|type=I 1957
|route= 179
|location=[[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie]]
|formed=November 12, 1958
|deleted=1968
}}
{{Infobox road small
|state=PA
|type=I
|route=279
|location=[[Pittsburgh]]
|formed=September 16, 1989
|length_mi=13.32
}}
In September 1955, two short urban portions were designated:<ref>{{cite map |author = Bureau of Public Roads |date = September 1955 |map = Erie |map-url = https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erie,_Pennsylvania_1955_Yellow_Book.jpg |title = General Location of National System of Interstate Highways Including All Additional Routes at Urban Areas Designated in September 1955 |scale = Scale not given |location = Washington, DC |publisher = Government Printing Office |page = 74 |oclc = 4165975 |via = Wikimedia Commons }}</ref><ref>{{cite map |author = Bureau of Public Roads |date = September 1955 |map = Pittsburgh and environs |map-url = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pittsburgh,_Pennsylvania_1955_Yellow_Book.jpg |title = General Location of National System of Interstate Highways Including All Additional Routes at Urban Areas Designated in September 1955 |scale = Scale not given |location = Washington, DC |publisher = Government Printing Office |page = 77 |oclc = 4165975 |via = Wikimedia Commons }}</ref>
* I-179: A spur from I-90 north to Erie, currently absorbed into I-79.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix79.html |title = 3-digit Interstates from I-79 |work = kurumi.com }}{{sps|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>
* [[Interstate 279|I-279]]: A western bypass of Pittsburgh, connecting I-70 with I-80S (now [[Interstate 76 (Ohio–New Jersey)|I-76]]); it and I-79 later swapped designations.

The number&nbsp;79 was assigned in 1958,<ref>{{cite map |author = Bureau of Public Roads |url = https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interstate_Highway_plan_June_27,_1958.jpg |title = Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, as adopted by the American Association of State Highway Officials |date = June 27, 1958 |scale = Scale not given |location = Washington, DC |publisher = Bureau of Public Roads |via = Wikimedia Commons }}</ref> and an extension south along I-70 to Washington and beyond to [[Charleston, West Virginia|Charleston]] was approved on October 18, 1961.<ref>{{cite news |work = [[Charleston Daily Mail]] |title = Third Route Alters Interstate Picture, SRC Tells Mayors |date = October 20, 1961 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> This extension also paralleled US&nbsp;19 to near [[Sutton, West Virginia|Sutton]], where it turned westerly to reach Charleston. (The part of US&nbsp;19 from Sutton south to [[Interstate 77|I-77]] at [[Beckley, West Virginia]], has since been four-laned as [[Corridor L]] of the [[Appalachian Development Highway System]].)

On December 21, 1967, the first section of I-79 in West Virginia, between exits&nbsp;125 (Saltwell Road) and 132 (South Fairmont), opened to traffic.<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Daily Mail |title = 5-Mile I-79 Link Will Open December 21 |date = December 7, 1967 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> This {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in|adj=on}} section bypassed part of [[West Virginia Route 73]] (WV&nbsp;73) between [[Bridgeport, West Virginia|Bridgeport]] and [[Fairmont, West Virginia|Fairmont]]. Another {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in}} opened in July 1968, extending the highway on a bypass of downtown Fairmont to exit&nbsp;137 (East Park Avenue).<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Daily Mail |title = 5 Miles of I-79 Opens in Marion |date = July 20, 1968 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> It was further extended {{convert|9.5|mi|km}} toward [[Morgantown, West Virginia|Morgantown]] on October 15, 1970, bypassing more of WV&nbsp;73 to exit&nbsp;146 (Goshen Road) south of that city.<ref>{{cite news |work = [[Charleston Gazette]] |title = Gov. Moore Will Open I-79 Segment |date = October 10, 1970 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Gazette |title = Moore Opens I-79 Portion, Restates Vow |date = October 16, 1970 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref name="RDR">Release Date Report. [[West Virginia Department of Transportation]]. August 2003.</ref>

On June 29, 1970, the swap of I-79 and I-279 was approved. At the same time, I-76 was extended west from [[Downtown Pittsburgh]] over former I-79 to the new location of I-79 west of Pittsburgh, so I-279 only ran north from Downtown Pittsburgh. On December 3, 1971, I-76 was rerouted to [[Pennsylvania Turnpike|bypass Pittsburgh]], and I-279 was extended to I-79 utilizing the former section of I-76.<ref>{{cite web |first = Richard |last = Weingroff |date = June 27, 2017 |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/i76.cfm |work = Ask the Rambler |title = Was I-76 Numbered to Honor Philadelphia for Independence Day, 1776? }}</ref> The changes took effect on October 2, 1972.<ref name=1972news>{{cite news |title = Interstates Renumbered |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15491728/interstates_redone_10272_february/ |access-date = November 30, 2017 |work = The Pittsburgh Press |date = February 24, 1972 |page = 8 |via = [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

On June 29, 1973, I-79 was extended from West Virginia exit&nbsp;146 to exit&nbsp;148 ([[Interstate 68|I-68]]), where, at one point, traffic was forced onto the newly opened west end of Corridor E (now I-68) to exit&nbsp;1.<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Daily Mail |title = 5 More Miles of I-79 Being Opened Today |date = June 29, 1973 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> A further extension of {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}}, including the Uffington Bridge over the [[Monongahela River]] southwest of Morgantown, was opened on August 30, 1973, leading north to exit&nbsp;155 ([[Star City, West Virginia|Star City]]).<ref>{{cite news |work = [[Charleston Gazette]] |title = 6-Mile Stretch of I-79 Open |date = August 31, 1973 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Gazette |date = September 5, 1973 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> This completed I-79 from north of Bridgeport to north of Morgantown.

To the south of Bridgeport, the first two sections were both opened on December 22, 1971. One of these ran {{convert|10|mi|km}} from exit&nbsp;51 ([[Frametown, West Virginia|Frametown]]) to exit&nbsp;62 (Sutton), and the other from exit&nbsp;105 ([[Jane Lew, West Virginia|Jane Lew]]) to exit&nbsp;115 ([[Nutter Fort, West Virginia|Nutter Fort]]).<ref>{{cite news |work = [[Dominion News]] |title = Two I-79 Sections Opened |date = December 23, 1971 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Daily Mail |title = 40 Miles More of I-79 Open |date = December 23, 1971 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Gazette |title = I-79 Mileage Increased to 40 |date = December 23, 1971 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work = Dominion News |date = January 23, 1972 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><!--describes the {{convert|40|mi|km}} in use--> On September 19, 1973, another {{convert|7.5|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch was opened, from exit&nbsp;105 (Jane Lew) south to exit&nbsp;99 ([[Weston, West Virginia|Weston]]).<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Daily Mail |title = I-79 Segment Opened by Governor Moore |date = September 20, 1973 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref>

In 1973, significant portions of the Interstate were completed.<ref name="RDR"/> I-79 opened from exit&nbsp;62 to exit&nbsp;99. Another {{convert|23.9|mi|km}}, from exit&nbsp;67 ([[Flatwoods, West Virginia|Flatwoods]]) north to exit&nbsp;91 ([[Roanoke, West Virginia|Roanoke]]), opened on November 28, 1973, along with the section from exit&nbsp;115 north to exit&nbsp;117 ([[Anmoore, West Virginia|Anmoore]]),<!--or was Anmoore earlier? it was certainly open by then--> completing the route between Frametown and Morgantown except in the Bridgeport area.<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Daily Mail |title = More of I-79 to Be Opened Tomorrow |date = November 27, 1973 }}</ref><ref name="AutoXU-25">{{cite news |work = Charleston Gazette |title = Open I-79 Increasing by 25.17 Miles |date = November 28, 1973 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref>

A {{convert|5.5|mi|km|adj=on}} extension from exit&nbsp;51 south to exit&nbsp;46 ([[Servia, West Virginia|Servia]]) opened on February 1, 1974,<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Gazette |title = Additional Interstates to Open |date = January 30, 1974 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> and County Route&nbsp;11 to [[West Virginia Route 4|WV&nbsp;4]] near [[Duck, West Virginia|Duck]] was widened to handle the increased load.<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Gazette |title = Highway Project Bids to Be Opened |date = March 8, 1972 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><!--completion date set for August 30, 1973--> On the same day, two lanes opened from exit&nbsp;155 ([[Osage, West Virginia|Osage]]) north to the state line.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}<!--article says Osage to PA; later article says four lanes will open later-->

On October 16, 1974, two pieces of I-79 were opened: the other two lanes{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}} of the {{convert|6.6|mi|km}} from exit&nbsp;155 to the state line and {{convert|7.1|mi|km}} between exits&nbsp;117 (Anmoore) and 125 (north of Bridgeport). On the same day, the eastern end of [[Corridor D]] and the western end of Corridor E, both connecting to I-79 (at exits&nbsp;119 and 148), were opened. This completed I-79 in West Virginia north of exit&nbsp;46 (Servia);<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Gazette |title = Moore Will Open 22 New Miles |date = October 8, 1974 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Gazette |title = 22 Miles of Roads Opened |date = October 17, 1974 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work = [[The Daily Courier (Arizona)|Daily Courier]] |location = Prescott, Arizona |title = W. Va. to Open Over 22 Miles of Highways |date = October 10, 1974 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> it was extended south to exit&nbsp;25 ([[Amma, West Virginia|Amma]]) in late November<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Gazette |title = Holiday Travelers to Find I-79 Nonstop from Amma |date = November 28, 1974 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref><!--article says Amma to Big Otter&nbsp;— maybe Big Otter to Servia was earlier?--> and to [[U.S. Route 119|US&nbsp;119]] north of [[Clendenin, West Virginia|Clendenin]] (exit&nbsp;19) on November 13, 1975.<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Gazette |title = New I-79 Stretch Will Open Today |date = November 13, 1975 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> It was opened from exit&nbsp;19 to exit&nbsp;9 ([[Elkview, West Virginia|Elkview]]) on November 18, 1977,<ref>{{cite news |work = Charleston Daily Mail |date = November 18, 1977 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> and finally completed to I-77 in 1979.<ref name="RDR"/>

On July 25, 1975, I-79 was opened between exits&nbsp;1 and 14 in Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite news |work = Daily Courier |location = Prescott, Arizona |title = I-79 Opening Today in Greene County |date = July 25, 1975 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> The last piece of I-79 between West Virginia and Erie—the [[Neville Island Bridge]] over the [[Ohio River]]—opened on September 3, 1976.<ref>{{cite news |work = [[Valley Independent]] |title = Interstate 79 opened in Erie |date = September 4, 1976 }}{{page needed|date=March 2022}}</ref> In 1984, the route was extended about {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} further to the north, with the opening of a new segment between [[U.S. Route 20|US&nbsp;20]] and [[Pennsylvania Route 5|PA&nbsp;5]] in Erie.<ref name= "pa highways">{{Cite web |title = Pennsylvania Highways: Interstate 79 |url = https://www.pahighways.com/interstates/I79.html |access-date = March 22, 2022 |website = Pennsylvania Highways }}{{sps|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref> 

I-79 was completely rebuilt from the West Virginia state line to Erie from 1991 to 1993. Pavement was rebuilt bridge decks replaced, and rest area rebuilt.<ref>{{cite news |last = Grata |first = Joe |date = March 31, 1991 |title = PennDOT to Restrict I-79 Lanes This Year |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4JQcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=92MEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6903%2C8477225 |department = Road Report |work = The Pittsburgh Press |page = A14 |via = Google News Archive Search }}</ref>

Milepost based exit numbers were introduced to the Pennsylvania portion in 2001.<ref name= "pa highways"/>

In 2000, construction began on the interchange with the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Cranberry. It was opened to traffic in 2004.<ref name= "pa highways"/>

In late 2008, the missing ramps of the I-79/I-376 interchange (PA&nbsp;60 was designated as the route for southbound traffic seeking to go to [[Pittsburgh International Airport]] and for airport traffic seeking to go northbound on I-79) were completed.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.post-gazette.com/local/neighborhoods/2008/08/02/Missing-links-take-shape-at-I-79-Parkway-West/stories/200808020112 |title = 'Missing links' take shape at I-79/Parkway West |work = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette }}</ref>

In June 2009, I-376 was extended west and north of Downtown Pittsburgh, and I-279 was truncated back to the section only running from Downtown Pittsburgh north to I-79.

During 2010, PennDOT undertook a $20.8 million improvement of I-79, Neville Island Bridge as well as other intersections.<ref name=gazette>{{cite news|last=Schmitz|first=Jon|title=Neville Island Bridge project to bring closures, restrictions |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/transportation/neville-island-bridge-project-to-bring-closures-restrictions-353997/|publisher=www.post-gazette.com|access-date=11 November 2012|date=18 August 2009}}</ref>

On December 22, 2010, WVDOT competed construction on a new interchange to serve Route 173.<ref name="Fairmont opens">{{cite news |last = Panuska |first = Mallory |title = Gateway Connector opens today |url = http://timeswv.com/local/x1053122549/Gateway-Connector-opens-today |access-date = December 22, 2010 |newspaper = [[Times West Virginian]] |location = Fairmont, West Virginia |date = December 22, 2010 }}</ref>

In 2010, construction began on improvements to exit 88. This was competed in December 2012.

Construction began in 2011 on improvements to the interchange with Interstate 70 in South Strabane. They were competed in Summer 2013.<ref name= "pa highways"/>

In 2020, a new safety system went into effect to better warn motorists about the sharp curvature between the PA 60 interchange and PA 51 interchange.<ref name= "pa highways"/>

Construction of the PA 576 interchange was completed on June 24, 2022.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blazina|first=Ed|title=Pennsylvania Turnpike finishes Southern Beltway, ready to begin Mon-Fayette Expressway|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=June 19, 2022|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2022/06/19/southern-beltway-mon-fayette-expressway-pennsylvania-turnpike/stories/202206160141|accessdate=June 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Southern Beltway fully opens Friday|publisher=KDKA-TV|location=Pittsburgh, PA|date=June 23, 2022|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/full-southern-beltway-opens-friday/|access-date=June 27, 2022}}</ref> This involved construction of a new underpass.

In 2025, WVDOT expects to compete a six-lane widening between Harrison County and the Pennsylvania state line.<ref>https://transportation.wv.gov/communications/PressRelease/Pages/Work_on_Interstate_79_widening_and_bridge_projects_nearing_completion_in_Harrison_Marion_and_Monongalia_counties.aspx</ref>