Good news for Mercer County commuters: Interstate 376 has reopened ahead of schedule following the demolition of the Route 318 bridge. PennDOT crews worked through the weekend to ensure the highway was ready for Monday's rush, and their round-the-clock efforts paid off. The closure, which started at 7:00 p.m. on April 19 near the Shenango Township, was initially slated to last until the early hours of April 22.

According to PennDOT's announcement, the work on the bridge meant that motorists had to navigate around a significant roadblock, since lanes were shut down between the West Middlesex exit and the nearby onramp, traffic was expected to be impacted significantly but the crews worked with an efficiency that got the lanes open well before the dreaded Monday morning traffic. Westbound lanes were in business by 3:00 a.m. today, with eastbound lanes following suit before the morning light really began to press through.

The cleared debris heralds the onset of a reconstruction phase set to begin within the span of this coming week. PennDOT's diligent laborers have removed the old bridge, including its central piers that once divided eastbound from westbound, clearing the path for a new structure to connect the arteries of regional transit.

Motorists should keep an eye out for additional lane restrictions that will sporadically dot I-376's landscape amid the ongoing construction project. As the PennDOT blueprint unfurls, sections of the highway are to expect short-term closures to facilitate safe, paced progress, these interruptions will be broadcasted well in advance to allow drivers to plan accordingly and minimize disruption to their daily routes.