Route 356 in Allegheny Township to reopen after 3 years of work
Oct. 17—After waiting three years, Alle-Kiski Valley motorists have something to toot their horns about.
Vicki Scott of Leechburg plans to spread the good news of Route 356 reopening Thursday in Allegheny Township.
"Thank goodness," Scott said Wednesday afternoon while visiting Leechburg Public Library with her grandson.
Scott thought the road would remain closed until mid-November, but she is thrilled the project is ahead of schedule.
Mark Kmetz, PennDOT's assistant construction engineer for the area confirmed Route 356 is scheduled to reopen completely sometime Thursday evening — Friday at the latest.
Route 356 is a state road that serves as a major thoroughfare for more than 12,900 vehicles daily.
For Scott, the news is welcome.
"My car appreciates it because of the potholes and windy turns that was on White Cloud Road," she said.
The detour for motorists is on rural White Cloud Road, which connects with Route 56 near The Bonfire restaurant. The windy and rural nature of White Cloud Road may have contributed a multi-motorcycle pileup a few years ago and speeding incidents.
"At least it will be a smooth road. I'm retired, but I used to drive it at least four times a week," Scott said of the new and improved Route 356. "It's a pain that has gone away."
"I'm glad because they widened it ...," Scott said. "For us drivers, it's happy news."
The reopening is ahead of schedule by a few weeks, Kmetz said.
Crews are finishing minor guardrail upgrades and doing other final jobs such as road sealing and painting, Kmetz said.
The closure was necessary because of a $15.9 million PennDOT project that began in 2020 to improve the highway's connection to the Freeport Bridge near the township's River Forest neighborhood, across from Freeport. It ultimately takes traffic to the Route 28 Expressway's Exit 17 and into Butler County.
Patti Klasnick of Gilpin has traveled Route 356 since 2001.
"I'm excited because it makes my life easier. I just hope people don't speed on Route 356. Because it's an easier road to travel, doesn't mean it's safer," Klasnick said. The speed limit along Route 356 is 45 mph.
"I think it will save me travel time with the new road because it will be more of a straight shot, and driving visibility will be better," Klasnick said.
Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce by email at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter .
